Lady Gaga Fern: Newly Discovered Plant with 'Fluid Definitions of Gender' Named after Pop Star

A new genus of fern recently discovered by Duke researchers has officially been named in honor of pop star Lady Gaga. According to researchers, the new type of fern - which already includes 19 species within its class and can be found throughout parts of Arizona, Texas, Mexico, Central America, and South America - has somewhat "fluid definitions of gender" during a specific period of its growth. What a unique and beautiful plant species to be named after the influential Lady Gaga!

According to the fern's study leader Kathleen Pryer (also a Duke University biology professor and director of the Duke Herbarium) Gaga's name was brought up in the name-picking process for specific reasons. A Duke University press release explains that certain members of the new species have a distinct DNA sequence that coincidentally spells out GAGA. The press release also insists that during a precise stage of some of the fern species' bisexual reproduction development, they closely resemble the heart-shaped costume the Mother Monster wore at the 2010 Grammy Awards (above). And again, during a specific stage of growth, the Gaga genus "has somewhat fluid definitions of gender." As most Little Monsters know, Lady Gaga is a strong, supportive force in the LGBT community.

"We think that her second album, 'Born this Way,' is enormously empowering," Pryer told the New York Times. "Especially for disenfranchised people and communities like LGBT, ethnic groups, women - and scientists who study odd ferns!"

Just another honor for Lady Gaga to check off her ever-growing, uniquely impressive check-list! (Fun fact: a small new species of wasps from Thailand were also named after Gaga just in September).