5 Magnificent United States Woody Shrubs

We hope that each of you, our readers, will greatly enjoy and appreciate this article we present about these 5 Magnificent United States Woody Shrubs. It was certainly our true pleasure to compile the various information for you. May it provide you with both education and increased awareness.

While amazing, these few species listed herein represent only a portion of the natural wonders found throughout the region, though. Yet, it’s our belief that they serve as fully excellent representations of the wonders found here. Check out some of our other articles for similar marvels.

American Wintergreen

American Wintergreen Facts

• Leading off this article about these 5 Magnificent United States Woody Shrubs comes the aptly-named beauty called the American Wintergreen.
• This botanical beauty most frequently goes by the informative common name that we’re using herein throughout its range. It does have other names it’s known by, though. These include such distinctive terms as checkerberry, boxberry, and the eastern teaberry.
• Many scientific professionals often refer to it by yet another term, however. These individuals, such as researchers, commonly use its purely technical name when speaking of it. But, for laypeople, that’s the somewhat difficult to pronounce moniker of Gaultheria procumbens.
• The remarkable Angiosperm received that official name due to the work of the renowned Swedish botanist, Carl Linnaeus. That eminent zoologist recorded the first formal acknowledgement of it as a separate and distinct species, as he did with many others, in 1753.
• Fortunately, this stunning product of Nature and botanical evolution also appears to be maintaining a population base that’s both quite stable and sufficient. This pleasantly surprising state further seems to hold true throughout the entirety of its known native range.
• The IUCN, therefore, does not currently have a listing for the American Winterberry. Any such listing would appear on the organization’s published Red List of Threatened Species. That status remains open to change, however. It’s future as a species still isn’t fully secure.
• As most, if not all, species on earth today, it faces potential threats to its continued existence. These include such factors as habitat degradation or outright loss. Human expansion serves as the chief cause of these. Its greatest danger, though, likely comes from climate change.

American Wintergreen Physical Description

The stunning flora known as the American Wintergreen very likely qualifies as one of the most easily recognized plants in its habitat range. It also clearly possesses a distinctive visual appeal. It easily catches the eye of those lucky enough to encounter it for reasons wholly other than size.

That’s because this marvelous work of Nature and evolution also ranks as a moderately small variety of low-growing, ground hugging shrub. It’s so small, in fact, that most mature specimens only average 4 – 6 in (10 – 15 cm) in height. Nature, however, packs a lot of beauty into its small form.

It’s numerous leaves additionally develop as evergreen in nature. This foliage also typically develops as either ovoid or elliptical in shape. Each leaf typically ranges in length from 0.75 – 2 in (2 – 5 cm). They also remain relatively narrow, though, ranging in width from 0.5 – 0.75 in (1 – 2 cm).

Distinctively, these also change the color they show with the seasons. This aspect typically begins as a deep, forest-green shade for much of the year. In the Autumn, though, this slowly changes. As this season approaches, the many leaves transform their coloring to a startlingly deep purple hue.

The deep green of the early leaves serves to easily augment the beauty of the flowers it also develops. These form in early summer, remaining small. These hang in groups, in a pendulous manner. Their coloring typically presents as bright white, but a light pink sometimes appears.

The fruit of the captivating American Wintergreen also draws its own attention. That’s due to the fact that this aspect of the plant develops as a bright red in color. Each remains small, though. Its dazzling berries, their color standing out from the foliage, averages 0.25 – 0.35 in (6 – 9 mm) across.

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Phylum: Tracheophytes
• Class: Angiosperms
• Order: Ericales
• Family: Ericaceae
• Genus: Gaultheria
• Species: G. procumbens

American Wintergreen Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

The stunning American Wintergreen evolved as native to a region of the globe well known for its abundance of natural beauty. More precisely, as its most popular common name clearly hints at, it developed, and remains solely native to, several parts of the continent of North America.

Even there, though, this wonder only appears in portions of the continent. The plant makes its home in the northeastern sections of Canada and the United States. It’s even seen as far north as Newfoundland, westerly to Manitoba and as far to the south as the state of Alabama.

The very nature of the flora also restricts its own natural expansion. That’s true since it evolved to strongly prefer soils with a high acidity level. Most frequently, these regions occur in deciduous, hardwood or pine forests. Examples of this beauty rarely appear anywhere else, in fact.

These regions work to provide it with its optimal habitat requirements. The amazing plant prefers shaded or semi-shaded areas, which such areas provide, along with the soil needs. Intriguingly, however, the amazing Angiosperm usually only produces fruit when it grows in sunny areas.

The undeniably beautiful American Wintergreen develops from rhizomes, rather than seeds. These rarely survive forest fires, though, leaving it vulnerable. Pollination, meanwhile, takes place due to the actions of a wide variety of insects, including beetles, flies, and various species of bee.

It also serves a vital role within its ecosystem. A multitude if animals consume the edible fruits, though rarely in large quantities. The fruits and berries alike remain throughout the winter, providing food for numerous species. This includes deer, turkey, grouse, bear, moose, and fox.

Witch-Hobble

Witch-Hobble Facts

• Next up in this compilation of 5 Magnificent United States Woody Shrubs is the distinctively-named marvel known as the Witch-Hobble.
• This delicate, lesser-known botanical marvel most frequently goes by the deceptively uninspiring common name due to its nature. Yet, it also has several other alternate titles. These include hobble-bush, alder-leaved viburnum, American wayfaring tree, and moosewood.
• Within the scientific community, however, it’s possibly better known by its technical designation. Like many such monikers, though, that’s somewhat difficult for the layperson to pronounce. That’s true because this marvel bears the cumbersome tag Viburnum lantanoides.
• This wonder of Nature received that specific epithet due to the efforts of André Michaux. That highly esteemed French botanist recorded the first formal acknowledgement of the plant as a separate and distinct species. He achieved that scientifically noteworthy deed in the year 1803.
• The primary honorific reflects old folklore, since some individuals believed the plant could trip or hobble witches or people traveling through the woods. The name hobblebush, meanwhile, refers to the way its branches frequently root at nodes and form a tangled understory.
• Thankfully, the intriguing Witch-Hobble appears to be continuing to maintain a thriving population base that’s both stable and sufficient. This most pleasant state of affairs further seems to hold true throughout its entire range. The IUCN thus does not place it on its Red List.
• Nevertheless, it still faces multiple potential threats to its continued existence as a species. Like all forms of life on earth today, most of those stem from the activities of mankind. These numerous perils include the closely intertwined dangers of habitat loss and climate change.

Witch-Hobble Physical Description

The Witch-Hobble is a distinctive woody shrub that often catches the attention of those fortunate enough to encounter in its native habitat. Unlike some of its relatives, however, it does so for a variety of reasons. That’s due to the fact that it’s both visually appealing and of impressive stature.

This remarkable product of botanical evolution develops as a deciduous, multi-stemmed species, often forming dense thickets. Mature specimens also vary significantly in dimensions due to local conditions. This typically ranges from between 3 – 10 ft (0.9 – 3.1 m) in both height and width.

The branches form sprawling, arching stems that commonly bend to the ground and root at their tips, forming new clones. On these, the bark appears smooth and gray-brown when young, yet becoming slightly rougher with age. The twigs remain slender, hairy, and brown to gray in color.

Its foliage also merits its own deserved measure of attention. The many leaves evolved as opposite in arrangement, and quite broadly ovate or heart-shaped with a pointed tip. These further reach comparatively large sizes, averaging 4 – 8 in (10 – 20 cm) in length, and 4 – 7 in (10 – 18 cm) wide.

Like some of its relatives around the world, this foliage also possesses coarsely serrated edges. Their texture, though, remains soft and velvety due to fine hairs on both surfaces. These present striking colors, too, consisting of bright green in summer, turning vibrant purple, red, or burgundy in fall.

Yet, it’s doubtless the blooms of the Witch-Hobble that garner the most interest from the average viewer. Though individually small, they appear in large clusters 4 – 6 in (10 – 15 cm) wide. Large sterile, white or cream flowers ring the outer edge, surrounding small fertile flowers in the center.

Not to be outdone, the fruit of the plant contrasts with this wonderfully. Measuring only about 0.25 in (0.64 cm) in diameter, these ripen from green to red to dark blue-black in their hues. This constitutes a type known as a drupe, meaning that it’s fleshy and contains a small stone within it.

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Phylum: Tracheophyta
• Class: Magnoliopsida
• Order: Dipsacales
• Family: Adoxaceae
• Genus: Viburnum
• Species: V. lantanoides

Witch-Hobble Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

The attractive Witch-Hobble evolved as indigenous to a moderately broad portion of the surface of the earth. Exactly where that native zone of habitation lies won’t surprise many of you, though. That’s true since this marvelous flora developed as native to a specific portion of North America.

There, gorgeous woody shrub’s found almost exclusively to the eastern portion of that continent. The majority of that greater range lies within the national borders of the United States. It’s common in the northeast, including Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Massachusetts, and New York.

From there, however, its territory extends southward, staying along the southeastern edge of the landmass. That area extends through the Appalachian Mountains. There, it lives in the states of Pennsylvania, West Virginia, Virginia, North Carolina, Northern Georgia, and northeastern Alabama.

Yet, the vibrant masterpiece of Nature also resides further northward of this region, too. That range extends into the southeastern parts of Canada. There, it’s principally found from southeastern Ontario through southern Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, and into Newfoundland.

The amazing species displays moderate levels of adaptability in regards to its choice of habitat. It mostly thrives in cool, moist forest environments and forms a common shrub of hardwood ecosystems. These are often dominated by sugar maple, American beech, and yellow birch.

In these settings, it displays a preference for partial to full shade. It grows well in understory layers beneath tall canopy trees. The plant’s common on cool slopes, in ravines, and along streambanks. It also grows in mountainous terrain at higher elevations in the southern part of its range

This creation of evolution plays a valuable ecological role in the forests of eastern North America where it appears. It doesn’t merely represent just another variety of shrub in the understory. This species contributes greatly to forest structure, wildlife food webs, and plant community dynamics.

It generally forms surprisingly dense thickets in the shaded understory, especially in very moist, mature hardwood forests. Under those conditions, it helps to stabilize the soil on slopes and in ravines. Along the way, it also provides microhabitats for many insects, small mammals, and birds.

The Witch-Hobble also serves as a vital food source for numerous denizens of the woodlands. Its fruit ripens in late summer to early fall. These feed songbirds, ruffed grouse, chipmunks, foxes, and other small mammals. Deer and moose browse the foliage and twigs, especially in the winter season.

It achieves its pollination via the actions of a multitude of insect species. Those mainly include different species of bees, hoverflies, and butterflies. It reproduces by both seed propagation and layering. The latter method occurs when low-hanging branches touch the ground and take root.

Great Rhododendron

Great Rhododendron Facts

• Our next choice for inclusion in this listing of these 5 Magnificent United States Woody Shrubs is the stunning creation of Nature named the Great Rhododendron.
• This magnificent botanical marvel most frequently goes by this fully deserved common name throughout its range. Yet the stunning plant also has several other, less often used general titles. These include the terms rosebay rhododendron and great laurel, among others.
• In the scientific community, though, it’s perhaps much better known by its technical title. That’s a term that, while somewhat lengthy, remains reasonably simple for the layperson to pronounce. That’s because it holds the technical moniker of Rhododendron maximum.
• This breathtaking variety of flora received that particular appellation due to the efforts of Carl Linnaeus himself. The esteemed Swedish botanist accomplished the first official recognition of the plant as a separate and distinct species. He achieved that notable deed in 1753.
• It stands out from its many related species due to sheer size. That’s true since it represents one of the largest of all known varieties of rhododendron. Due to the combination of beauty and dimensions, it’s become extremely popular for landscaping in appropriate climates.
• Although the Great Rhododendron appears in a very specific range, it seems to be maintaining an abundant wild population. That further seems to hold true across the entirety of its known native range. The IUCN thus lists it as Least Concern on its Red List of Threatened Species.
• It nevertheless still faces at least a few potential threats to its continued existence as a species in the wild. Most of these dangers stem from human activities, both directly and indirectly. Chief among these are the dual related threats of habitat loss and ongoing climate change.

Great Rhododendron Physical Description

The stunning Great Rhododendron truly merits its name. It also quickly captivates those who encounter it, either in the wild or when cultivated. Its beauty alone isn’t the only reason for this, though. That’s due to the fact that it clearly earns the title great, given its impressive size.

This variety of evergreen shrub generally attains heights measuring around 13 ft (4 m) at its full growth. Some specimens, however, grow significantly larger than this. In fact, under fully ideal environmental conditions, the amazing Angiosperm sometimes reaches heights of 33 ft (10 m)!

Its primary branches occasionally become quite thick and sturdy. These often display a thick, broken bark-like texture, quite similar to a tree. This also typically shows as a light brownish-tan shade. Its numerous smaller branches, meanwhile, generally display a lighter green color.

The breathtaking plant also boasts some remarkable foliage. Its leaves develops as bluish-green elongated ovals, with a leathery texture. Depending on the size of plant, these range in length from 3.5 – 7.5 in (9 – 19 cm). Each also usually measures from 0.8 – 1.57 in (2 – 4 cm) in total length.

Yet its unquestionably the flowers of the Great Rhododendron that unquestionably form its most appealing feature. These fabulous bell-shaped blooms typically appear in clusters. Normally, a group holds between 16 – 24 of these, all of which range in color from a pale white to purplish pink hue.

The fruit of this marvel of botanical beauty develops as an extremely dry capsule structure. This part of the plant averages approximately 0.6 – 0.8 in (1.5 – 2 cm) in length. Despite its comparatively small size, though, each of these structures contains a large number of extremely small seeds.

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Phylum: Tracheophytes
• Class: Eudicots
• Order: Ericales
• Family: Ericaceae
• Genus: Rhododendron
• Species: R. maximum

Great Rhododendron Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

The aptly-named Great Rhododendron evolved as endemic to a moderately broad expanse of the surface of the globe. That exact location, however, likely won’t surprise many people. That’s because this remarkable flora evolved as native to a portion of the continent of North America.

There, the hauntingly beautiful plant appears mostly within the United States, with a small portion occurring in southeastern Canada. It lives almost exclusively in the Appalachian Mountains, along the eastern section of the United States. That range extends from Alabama to Nova Scotia.

Although it’s proven itself to be adaptable, it shows decided preferences in its choice of habitat. That’s reflected in the fact that it evolved in the mountains. There, it principally occurs in regions of partial shade, possessing a precise combination of rich, moist, acidic, and well-drained soils.

The greatest concentration of the Angiosperm occurs in what’s now the Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This protected area straddles the borders of Tennessee and North Carolina. In total, the plant appears in 12,000 sq mi (31,080 sq km) in the southern portions of these mountains.

In its native environment, the Great Rhododendron tends to dominate much of the understory. The floral marvel mainly reproduces via vegetative cloning, but also does so through sexual means. Its primarily pollinators consist of mulitiple local insect species, such as bees and butterflies.

Following blooming, the dry seed capsules appear between the months of March and August. Each contains about 400 small seeds. Some animals, mainly deer, feed on the plant. But, for humans, the leaves are relatively toxic. Certain chemicals in the species do have medicinal uses, though.

Mountain Laurel

Mountain Laurel Facts

• Appearing now in this compendium of 5 Magnificent United States Woody Shrubs comes the beautiful flora named the Mountain Laurel.
• This stunningly beautiful variety of flora most frequently goes by the largely descriptive common name due to its range. The beauty does have at least two other general names, though. These consist of the somewhat unsual terms of spoonwood and calico-bush.
• In the halls of science, however, it’s perhaps much better known by its technical title. Fortunately, that’s a much simpler term for the layperson to pronounce than most such tend to be. That’s because this natural marvel bears the official moniker of Kalmia latifolia.
• The Indigenous Peoples of its region long knew of its existence, of course. But the first recorded mentioning of the plant by European explorers occurred in the year 1624. Much later, in 1750, the Swedish explorer, Pehr Kalm, sent samples of the amazing flora to his friend.
• That friend was none other than the highly esteemed Swedish botanist, Carl Linnaeus himself. Subsequent to his reception of the delivered specimens, he accomplished the first formal acknowledgement of the magnificent plant as a separate and distinct species of shrub.
• Thankfully, the remarkable Mountain Laurel continues to possess a base population in the wild that’s both stable and sufficient. That pleasant trend further seems to hold true throughout its native range. The IUCN thus currently lists it as Least Concern on its published Red List.
• Yet it nonetheless faces many potential threats to its continued existence as a species. Most of these dangers stem from the actions of humans, like most species on earth today. These perils include such dangers as habitat degradation and loss. It also faces the threat of climate change.

Mountain Laurel Physical Description

The visual splendor known as the Mountain Laurel generally captures the full attention of those fortunate enough to encounter it. While some flora do so due solely to their beauty, this marvel of evolution takes things up a notch. That’s because it also boasts some respectable measurements.

The mesmerizing Angiosperm attains an average height that ranges from roughly a surprising 6.5 – 10 ft (2 – 3m). Under ideal conditions, though, some individual specimens greatly exceed this. In point of fact, the remarkable species remains capable of reaching up to as much as 40 ft (12 m).

Each specimen produces multiple thin, branching trunks. These structures each show many separate stems, even thinner, yet equally branching in structure. Both the trunks and the numerous stems display a mainly smooth surface that ranges in color from light green to light brown with age.

The foliage of this remarkable gift of Nature develops as fully evergreen. These also evolved as notably elongated in shape. But they vary significantly in size from plant to plant. Overall, though, the leaves average 0.75 – 4 in (2 – 10 cm) in length. Their width ranges from 1 – 2 in (2.5 – 5 cm).

While these leaves, themselves worthy of notice, present a deep, waxy green, the flowers of the Mountain Laurel present a vastly different appearance. Astonishingly, these usually appear with a hexagonal shape. Occasionally, however, some examples produce blooms with a hexagonal shape!

These breathtaking flowers undoubtedly represent the most appealing aspect of the plant for most viewers. The impressive Angiosperm produces these in large clusters, suspended from thin stems. Blooms present either bright white or light pink shades, varying from specimen to specimen.

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Phylum: Tracheophytes
• Class: Eudicots
• Order: Ericales
• Family: Ericaceae
• Genus: Kalmia
• Species: K. latifolia

Mountain Laurel Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

The fabulous Mountain Laurel evolved as indigenous to a zone of habitation that’s reasonable in size, yet also quite specific in its nature. The general location of its presence likely won’t surprise many people, however. That’s true since its native to a portion of what’s now North America.

Within that range, though, the species appears naturally almost exclusively within the borders of the United States. But even there the plant only developed as native to the Appalachian Mountains, and the surrounding regions. A tiny portion of that range also extends as far as Ontario, Canada.

The breathtaking Eudicot also manifests very precise requirements and preferences for its choice of habitat. Those remain reflected in the very name of the flora. It’s evolved to flourish best in the environmental and geographical conditions common to temperate mountainous regions.

The impressively versatile plant typically appears in mountainous forest regions, and on rocky slopes. It also typically prefers soils with a moderately high level of acidity. These frequently include such varied locations as pastures and cool meadows, in addition to the local wooded areas.

The charming Mountain Laurel achieves its pollination through the concerted actions of a great multitude of sources. Like most flowering plants, that includes local bees species. Yet the wonder of creation also attracts a large number of butterflies and hummingbirds to its fragrant blooms.

This ingenious flora also evolved a surprising and extremely unique method of assuring success in this area. The filaments of the stamens in the flower bend under tension as the gorgeous bloom grows. That’s released upon the landing of an insect, thereby forcefully flinging the pollen onto it.

Regardless of its obvious beauty, though, this fabulous species remains quite toxic to many creatures. That includes goats, cattle, deer, horses, and sadly, humans. Despite this, it served several uses in herbal medicine in the past. This included various applications as a natural analgesic.

American Cranberrybush

American Cranberrybush Facts

• Closing out his article about these 5 Magnificent United States Wody Shrubs we present the brilliantly colored beauty known as the American Cranberrybush.
• This stunning creation of countless ages of evolution most frequently goes by the informative common name for understandable reasons. It does have other, less often used names that it’s known by, though. That’s a normal situation, though, true for many of earth’s species.
• These alternate general appellations include the terms highbush cranberry and the similar high bush cranberry, for starters. However, this botnical wonder’s also known to some people in its range as the cranberrybush viburnum. Whichever term one uses, though, it’s gorgeous.
• Professionals, such as researchers, though, generally refer to it by its formal, technical name. That’s the somewhat difficult to pronounce term of the Viburnum trilobum. The lovely flora also bears an extremely close relationship to similar species in other parts of the world.
• The Angiosperm further received the technical name due to the efforts of the American botanist Humphrey Marshall. The noted researcher and plant dealer accomplished the first recorded official recognition of the plant as a separate and distinct species in 1785.
• For the moment, the American Cranberrybush appears to be maintaining a population base that’s both sizeable and sufficient. This fact also seems to hold true throughout the entirety of its range. The IUCN, therefore, has no listing for it on its Red List of Threatened Species.
• The natural wonder must be considered to be facing at least some threats to its continued existence as a species, however. That’s because most species now do. Habitat loss, due to human expansion, poses a threat. Its greatest danger, though, comes from climate change.

American Cranberrybush Physical Description

The gorgeous American Cranberrybush easily impresses those fortunate enough to encounter it. It does so, though, for several reasons. While sheer physical size certainly isn’t its only appeal, this particualr characteristic of the plant nevertheless does merit a certain level of appreciation.

The flora evolved as an excellent example of a deciduous shrub. In this category, however, it ranks as an above average sized member. That’s due to the fact that individual specimens attain heights of as much as 13 ft (4 m). Most individual examples, though, remain slightly smaller in size.

The natural construction of this particular flora further enhances its distinctiveness. The bark of the captivating shrub develops as relatively rough in nature, with a somewhat scaly texture. This aspect of the amazing Angiosperm also presents a gray color, that varies from light to slightly dark.

Its stems also arch sharply vertically, and develop as quite densely packed. The numerous short, thin twigs that branch off of these typically manifest a reddish-brown hue. These it also generall tends to produce in copious quantities, making for the presence of yet another dense structure.

Its foliage, lovely in its own right, meanwhile, usually develops as opposite, and three-lobed in structure. These develop as only moderate-sized, though. Each averages 2.25 – 4.75 in (6-12 cm) in length, and 2-4 in (5-10 cm) in width. Their shape actually remains very similar to maple leaves.

The stuning flowers of the American Cranberrybush also stand out. These present a brilliant white shade, and generally appear in groupings up to 5 in (13 cm) in diameter. The fruit develops as small, with an oblong shape. Each averages 0.6 in (1.5 cm) in length by 0.5 in (1.2 cm) in width.

• Kingdom: Plantae
• Phylum: Angiosperms
• Class: Eudicots
• Order: Dipsacales
• Family: Adoxaceae
• Genus: Viburnum
• Species: V. trilobum

American Cranberrybush Distribution, Habitat, and Ecology

The remarkable American Cranberrybush evolved as native to a region of the globe well known for its abundance of natural beauty. That’s due to the fact that this wonder of Nature and evolution developed in the portion of the earth that now forms the continent known as North America.

As its very name indicates, the majority of that indigenous zone of native habitation consists of a specific part of the United States. There, though, it only lives within the far northern sections, from coast to coast. The great majority of its native population, however, appears in the northeast.

Yet its habitat range also extends into the extreme southeast sections of the nation of Canada. Outside of these two areas, a handful of small, thinly populated concentrations also appear elsewhere in both of the countries. Its presently unknown if this is a wholly natural occurrence.

Within these areas, however, it seems to be highly adaptible in regards to its habitat requirements. Due to this flexibility, it makes its home in a very wide variety of regions. These include such diverse ecosystems as sandy swamps, moist woodlands, forested bogs, and even roadside ditches.

Like most of its kindred around the world, the American Cranberrybush achieves pollination via the actions of various local insects. Mosts specimens produce fruit after 5-6 years. At that time, numerous animals consume the fruits, especially birds, thereafter spreading the seeds via droppings.

Despite its name, however, it’s not actually a variety of cranberry at all. The common name derives from the strong visual resemblance of its fruit to true cranberries. Though rather sour to human taste, the fruits do remain fully edible, and contain high amounts of several types of vitamins.

5 Magnificent United States Woody Shrubs

We hope that each of you enjoyed reading, and hopefully learning some things from, this article we’ve written about these 5 Magnificent United States Woody Shrubs. It’s also our hope that doing so has left you with either a new or renewed appreciation for such awesome wonders of Nature.

Unfortunately, however, many of their numerous kindred situated around the world now find themselves facing strong threats to their continued existence as a species. Many of those dangers, in fact, stem from the actions of mankind. We must do all we can to protect and preserve them all.

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