Poor Mountain Natural Area Preserve is a
Natural Area Preserve located on
Poor Mountain in
Roanoke County
Roanoke County ( ) is a county located in the U.S. state of the Commonwealth of Virginia. As of the 2020 census, the population was 96,929. Its county seat is Salem, but the county administrative offices are located in the unincorporated Cave ...
,
Virginia. The preserve protects the world's largest population of piratebush (''
Buckleya distichophylla''), a globally rare parasitic shrub. The mountain derives its name from the fact that the soils on its slopes are poor, due to their base of metamorphosed
sandstone bedrock.
The preserve's pine-oak/heath woodlands include
Table Mountain pine,
eastern hemlock, several species of
oak, and shrubs including
huckleberry,
mountain laurel, and
fetterbush Fetterbush is a common name for several plants in the family ''Ericaceae'', and may refer to:
*''Leucothoe (plant), Leucothoe'' – several species including:
**''Leucothoe fontanesiana'' (fetterbush)
*''Pieris (plant), Pieris'' – several species ...
.
Poor Mountain Natural Area Preserve is owned and maintained by the
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation. The preserve is open to the public, with improvements including a small parking area and of trails.
[
]
See also
* List of Virginia Natural Area Preserves
References
External links
Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation: Poor Mountain Natural Area Preserve
Virginia Natural Area Preserves
Protected areas of Roanoke County, Virginia
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