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Recently Updated Plant Articles

Loblolly Pine

Loblolly Pine (Pinus taeda)

Updated March 4th, 2024

A pine native to the southeastern US, favoring moist bottomlands, also widely planted in forestry.

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Atlantic White Cedar

Atlantic White Cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides)

Updated February 20th, 2024

An evergreen conifer native to acidic, sandy wetlands of the Atlantic and Gulf coasts.

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American Sweetgum

American Sweetgum (Liquidambar styraciflua)

Updated January 26th, 2024

A distinctive tree with star-shaped leaves and hard, spiky fruits. Native to southeastern North America where it tends to be found on moist to wet sites.

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Recently Updated Ecoregion Articles

a flat landscape of sparse marshland and mud flats, a body of water behind, forests and then mountains in the distance
North America » Marine West Coast Forest »

Cook Inlet

Updated February 29th, 2024

Lowlands in Alaska around a body of water opening to the Pacific, and the region in which Anchorage is located.

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A huge snow-covered mountain in the distance, with a flat, open landscape in front of it, some low plants in the foreground
North America » Northwestern Forested Mountains » Boreal Cordillera »

Alaska Range

Updated February 28th, 2024

Mountains in southcentral Alaska reaching to the highest elevations in North America, but interrupted by many larger valleys.

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a river in the foreground, and a flat landscape with mostly evergreen trees, tall snowy mountains in the distance
North America » Northwestern Forested Mountains » Boreal Cordillera »

Copper Plateau

Updated February 23rd, 2024

A cold, flat, poorly-drained region in Southcentral Alaska, surrounded by ice-covered mountains.

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Recently Updated ID / Comparison Guides (See All)

collage of Prairie Fleabane and Annual Fleabane

Prairie Fleabane (Erigeron strigosus) vs. Annual Fleabane (Erigeron annuus)

Updated March 14th, 2024

These closely-related species are visually similar and can occur together in the same habitats, tend to bloom around the same time, and their flowers are nearly indistinguishable. E. annuus favors moister, more disturbed habitats with richer soil, and tolerates more shade, whereas E. strigosus ranges farther west and south, prefers drier, sunnier, slightly less disturbed habitats, and is more tolerant of alkaline soil.

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collage of Atlantic White Cedar and Northern White-Cedar

Atlantic White Cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) vs. Northern White-Cedar (Thuja occidentalis)

Updated February 20th, 2024

These two species only overlap in the wild in a small part of New England, but both are widely planted in landscaping. Both have scale-like foliage and seed cones releasing wind-dispersed seeds. They can be told apart by their foliage arrangement, density, and color, seed cones, and shape. Some trees can be distinguished by bark. Both prefer moist conditions, but Atlantic white cedar is more restricted to wetlands. The two species have no overlap in soil pH, with Atlantic white cedar limited to sites with acidic soils (pH <5.5), whereas Northern White Cedar is most likely on more calcium-rich soils (pH > 5.5.)

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collage of Atlantic White Cedar and Eastern Redcedar

Atlantic White Cedar (Chamaecyparis thyoides) vs. Eastern Redcedar (Juniperus virginiana)

Updated February 20th, 2024

These two species are easily confused where their ranges overlap, especially on mature trees with scalelike foliage. They can be told apart easily by closely examining their seed cones, and by bark, shape, and foliage color. Although they can occur near each other, they have little habitat overlap by specific site. Redcedar is much more common and widely adaptable, and prefers drier sites. Atlantic white cedar is limited to acidic wetlands. Both are occasional in landscaping.

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