| Plants of the Forest | |||
| Common Name: | English Ivy | Scientific Name: | Hedera helix |
| Blooms: | No Information | Native: | No. Introduced Plant |
| Special Comments: | English ivy is a pervasive plant seen growing throughout the floor of Marcel's Forest. Because it vigorously resprouts and easily out-competes natives, the presence of English ivy has caused concern among redwood forest biologists and managers.
Evidence of why biologists are concerned about this plant can be seen along the loop between Smiley Face and the Big Stump. A weighted-down tanoak tree covered in English ivy hangs over the trail. While English ivy is not a parasite, the tree will eventually fall over from the sheer weight of the vines. A native of Eurasia, English ivy belongs to the same plant family as do several species of ginseng. |
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