A species of plant that humans introduced (on purpose or by accident) to a new area where it would not be found naturally.

A non-native species that aggressively reproduces and invades native plant habitats, taking away the food, water, and space that the native plants need to survive.

Classification is the process of organizing organisms into groups based on similarities. Scientists use basic traits to group organisms into taxonomic classes (groups).

These groupings start broad and are further broken down into more specific groups within the larger group. A species is the most specific category within the classification system.

All plants are classified in the Kingdom Plantae.

• Alabama is home to over 3,000 species of native plants.
  • 28 of those species are endemic (found only in Alabama)
• #9 in overall plant diversity in the United States!
• #2 in carnivorous (meat-eating) plant diversity in the United States!
• #1 in pitcher plant diversity in the United States!
• There are roughly 200 species of trees in Alabama, making it a hotspot for tree diversity in the United States.

• Dig Into Plants Webpages – learn about the native plants that are growing in your Outdoor Classroom.
• NWF Native Plant Finder – enter your zip code and see what plant species are native to your area as well as which butterfly species use the plant as a host for their caterpillars.
• Audubon Society Native Plants Database – enter your zip code and see plant species native to your area as well as what kinds of birds they attract.

The Longleaf Pine is Alabama's state tree. It was once the dominant pine species across the southeastern United States but is now present in only 4% of its historic range.

The majority of longleaf forests in Alabama occur in the Southeastern and Southern Coastal Plains, with some presence in the Piedmont and Ridge and Valley areas.

These ecosystems is home to over 100 threatened and endangered wildlife species, some of which can not exist in other ecosystems.

Longleafs depend on fire for survival and have special adaptations throughout their life cycle that allow them to survive fire.

To read more about longleafs, visit our Dig Into Plants: Longleaf Pine webpage.

• Nectar is produced just inside the top of the pitcher, luring prey (food) in.
• Once an insect or other prey drinks some nectar, it falls down into a liquid inside of the pitcher.
• The inside walls of the pitcher are smooth and waxy with downward-pointing projections, making it very difficult for prey to escape.
• The prey then dies and is digested by the plant.

• Native plants also provide shelter from predators for birds and other wildlife.
• The nuts, berries, seeds, acorns, flowers, and leaves of native plants also provide a source of food for other native wildlife like the Eastern gray squirrel, cottontail rabbit, and box turtle.
• Native plants require less water than non-native plants because they have lived here for a long time and have adapted to the local climate (seasonal weather and temperature).

• They are not supposed to be here. Humans brought them here (either on-purpose or accidentally).
• Non-native plants have diseases that can kill our native plant species.
• Non-native plants can invade and take over the habitat including the food (nutrients in the soil), water and space that the native plants need to survive,

• Non-native plants are not a good source of food for native wildlife.
• Non-natives typically require more water than natives. Water is a precious resource we should use wisely.
• If the non-native plants reduce the native plant populations (number of native plants in the area) then the native wildlife populations will also decline (or be smaller) due to a lack of healthy food.

Sciencing

Alabama Forestry Commission