Federally Listed Species in West Virginia with Potential for Pocahontas County

 

Pocahontas County is home to other significant rare and federally-listed plants. Surveys and floristic studies have documented a number of important taxa in the area, often associated with unique habitats like the high-elevation spruce forests and bogs.

🌿 Federally Listed Species in West Virginia with Potential for Pocahontas County

Several federally listed (Endangered or Threatened) plants are tracked by the West Virginia Natural Heritage Program and may occur in or near Pocahontas County's suitable habitats, such as the Monongahela National Forest and its unique botanical areas:

• Virginia Spiraea (Spiraea virginiana): Listed as threatened.

• Small Whorled Pogonia (Isotria medeoloides): A member of the orchid family, listed as threatened.

• Harperella (Ptilimnium nodosum): Listed as endangered.

• Northeastern Bulrush (Scirpus ancistrochaetus): Listed as endangered.

• Shale Barren Rockcress (Arabis serotina): Listed as endangered. This plant is a West Virginia/Virginia endemic, meaning it is found nowhere else in the world, specifically on mid-Appalachian shale barrens.

🌲 Notable Rare Plants and Endemics Found in Pocahontas County

Pocahontas County's diverse habitats—including Red Spruce forests, Northern Hardwoods, and unique community types like Cranberry Glades Botanical Area (a type of acidic sphagnum bog) and Blister Swamp—support a flora that is considered more "natural" than the state average.

• Sweet Fern (Comptonia peregrina): Found in Pocahontas and several other nearby counties.

• Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea): Ranked S1 (critically imperiled) in West Virginia.

• White Monkshood (Aconitum reclinatum): Ranked S3? (vulnerable/uncertain) in West Virginia.

• Climbing Fumitory (Adlumia fungosa): Ranked S2? (imperiled/uncertain) in West Virginia.

• Significant occurrences tracked by the WV Natural Heritage Program have been found, including:

  • Butternut (Juglans cinerea)

  • Allegheny Plum (Prunus alleghaniensis var. alleghaniensis)

The relatively low amount of floristic work specifically focused on Pocahontas County suggests that a thorough survey could still yield more new occurrences and potentially new species records for the area.

🌿 Key Rare & Endemic Plant Species

1. Virginia Spiraea (Spiraea virginiana)

(Federally Listed as Threatened)

Feature	Description
Type	Perennial shrub, typically 3 to 10 feet tall.
Appearance	Produces dense, terminal clusters (corymbs) of creamy white flowers in June/July. The leaves are variable, sometimes toothed.
Reproduction	Primarily reproduces clonally (vegetatively) by root fragmentation, which is triggered by its habitat. Sexual reproduction (seeds) is rare, contributing to its low genetic diversity.
Specialized Habitat	River Scour Habitat: It is an obligate riparian species, meaning it is only found along the banks of high-gradient mountain streams and rivers (like the Greenbrier River in Pocahontas County). It thrives on sandbars, gravel bars, and crevices in scoured bedrock. This plant is adapted to survive periodic, intense flooding and erosion (scour), which removes competitive woody species.

 

The Cranberry Glades Botanical Area, located in Hillsboro, West Virginia, is one of the most fascinating and ecologically significant natural areas in the state and is a key location for many of Pocahontas County's rare plants.

It's a protected area within the Monongahela National Forest, and is often referred to as a "piece of the far north" dropped into the central Appalachians.

Here are the key characteristics and ecological features of the Cranberry Glades:

1. Unique Ecological Environment

• The Glades: The area is composed of a series of four peat bogs, or "glades," which are formed from ancient, poorly-drained stream bottoms. These bogs are incredibly acidic and nutrient-poor, mimicking the conditions of far northern, or boreal, environments.

• Northern Relicts: The cool, wet, and acidic conditions allow numerous northern relict species—plants and animals that were widespread during the last Ice Age but now only survive in these isolated, high-elevation, cold pockets—to flourish far south of their typical range.

2. Notable Rare Species and Flora

The Cranberry Glades is a botanical paradise, home to species rarely found in the southern U.S.:

• Carnivorous Plants: It's famous for its variety of insect-eating plants, including:

  • Round-leaved Sundew (Drosera rotundifolia)

  • Purple Pitcher Plant (Sarracenia purpurea)

• Orchids and Heaths: The area supports rare orchids and members of the heath family, such as the Small Cranberry (Vaccinium oxycoccos) and various rare sedges and grasses.

• Northern Trees: The surrounding forests often contain remnants of Red Spruce (Picea rubens) and Balsam Fir (Abies balsamea), which are typically found much further north in Canada and New England.

3. Visitor Information

• Accessibility: The best way to experience the area is via a 4,000-foot-long boardwalk that loops through two of the largest glades, protecting the fragile ecosystem and allowing visitors to see the unique flora up close without disturbing the environment.

• Location & Hours: It is located near Hillsboro, WV, and is part of the Monongahela National Forest.

  • Address: Hillsboro, WV 24946

  • Rating: 4.8 stars

  • Map Link: Cranberry Glades Botanical Area Map

The glades are a must-see for anyone interested in West Virginia's rarest and most unique plant life!