Academic discovers a new plant

İZMİR - Anatolia News Agency

Turkish academic Mehmet Fırat has discovered a new plant, known to have existed since the beginning of earth, while conducting research in the mountains in the eastern province of Hakkari. He has named the plant Clinopodium Hakkaricum.

“The name of Hakkari is usally associated with negative events. We gave this name to the plant so that the city could be associated with something good,” he said. Fırat said the plant, a relative of mint and thyme, grew from the rocks in the Zap Valley in September. “Locals told me that they dried and used it in some meals. It should be taken under protection, because dynamite is being used in the valley to open it up for roads,” Fırat said.