Many plants take home in the New River Basin and thrive in there own ways. One of the most note worthy plants are the Rhododendrons. Two rhododendrons grow at New River Gorge National River; the state flower, called great rhododendron, and Catawba rhododendron, a migrant that occurs along the New River from North Carolina. Both shrubs are members of the Heath family which are plants that thrive in acidic soil such as those found in the New River Gorge. Rhododendrons are most often found on shaded hillsides where they often grow in dense thickets that shade out many other plants that take home beneath them.
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Another plant you may see is Hemlock. These trees are large and sprawling. Hemlocks dwell in moist creek hollows. Their long drooping branches provide winter cover for man small mammals. They also act as hiding places for several species of birds that take home here. Without the Hemlock trees here it would be nearly impossible for many of the plants that grow below and around it, could not flourish due to the large increase in temperature and sunlight. These changes in environment could easily overwhelm the plants and cause many to die out completely.
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Not all plants are helpful however. The Tree of Heaven is one species of plant that has become extensively invasive. Tree of heaven is a deciduous tree that can obtain a height up to 80 feet (25m) and 6 feet (1.8m) in diameter. The leaves are arranged alternately and are pinnately compound. Leaves can become very large, 1 to 3 feet (30 to 90cm) long and contain 10-40 leaflets (Miller 2004). The leaflets are located on reddish-green stalks and are entire except for one or more coarse teeth near the base, each with a large gland underneath. The bark of tree of heaven is smooth and gray in color.
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