Hobbies And Interests
Leafy Prairie Clover
The leafy prairie clover is a flowering plant found in Illinois, Alabama and Tennessee. It likes a dry summer climate and a wet spring and fall. The plant has medium purple or rose-pink colored petals. It blooms in late summer for one to two months. The plant has a life-span of less than eight years. There are only 14 sites left where the leafy prairie clover has survived. Its habitat has been heavily developed, which has threatened its survival. Other threats include grazing by rabbits and deer and off-road vehicle use.
Santa Cruz Cypress
An endangered tree in the United States is the Santa Cruz cypress. The tree was widespread in glacial times, but it's now only found in scattered areas around Santa Cruz and San Mateo counties in California. It is a coniferous tree with densely packed, thin branches and cones. The tree reaches maturity on average at 11 years. There were just over 5,000 Santa Cruz cypress trees in 1998. Urban development, genetic introgression and logging are believed to be endangering the tree.
Florida Torreya
The Florida torreya is one of the oldest trees discovered in Gadsden and Liberty counties in Florida. Found in 1835, the tree has a strong odor when it's cut or bruised. The tree has a number of uses, such as riverboat fuel, fence posts and shingles to Christmas trees. Once thought to have about 600,000 in Florida, there are now believed to be around 200 left.
Rock Gnome Lichen
The rock gnome lichen grows in dense colonies. There are 35 areas where it has been identified in Tennessee, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia. It grows in humid, high altitude areas on rocks. The rocks need to be moist and have partial shade. The rock gnome lichen is endangered due to human activity. Hikers, climbers and sightseers trample on the lichen. Also, the change in temperature, logging and exotic insect pests have contributed to its endangerment.
Green Pitcher Plant
The green pitcher plant is a carnivorous plant that has been reduced to small areas in Georgia, North Carolina and Alabama. It needs highly saturated, moist soil in upland areas and along boggy streams. It can grow up to 30 inches tall and has yellow-green tubular, pitcher-like leaves. Each pitcher has liquid and enzymes that can digest insects. The insects' nutrients are absorbed into the plant's tissue. The plant has been lost to flooding, urban development and agriculture.