H. Willoughby

One greatly used and good plant in Ohio is a Juniperus virginiana, commonly known as the Eastern Red Cedar. They are scattered all over the East United States. The Eastern Red Cedar falls in the phylum Coniferophyta. Eastern red cedars are very valuble and can grow in all kinds of soil conditions, but its mostly found in Piedmont. So they are scattered all through the state except for high mountains. Their mature leaves average 1/16 inches in length. their leaves are smooth, shiny, dark, green, and somewhat needle like. the leaves occur in groups of three. The little round fleshy fruit they produce is 1/4 to 1/3 inches in diameter. The average tree is 40 to 50 feet tall and has a diameter of 1 to 2 feet. Thats the average, some may grow much larger. The bark on a eastern red cedar is a light reddish-brown. Eastern red cedars also repel insects. These trees are used in landscaping because they help all the other plant life around them stay green and flourish. The leaves have been used to boil and make tea, and boiled to soak you r feet in to help cure feet fungus.

A very annoying and irritating plant is Toxicodendron radicans, commonly known as eastern poison ivy. Poison ivy is in the phylum Anthophyta. Eastern poison ivy is found in the
eastern part of the United States. Poison ivy control is not easy, you can either remove it by hand or use very strong chemicals. Since the late 1950's poison ivy has gotten way nastier. The increase in CO2 has the plant growing
larger leaves and putting out more poisonous oil. Over 80% of people are
sensitive to the oil of the poison ivy plant. Poison ivy causes a nasty red rash that itches very bad. Poison ivy can be transfered through touching the plant, burning the plant, the oil being in water, and residue on clothing. The oil
spreads through the lymphatic system. The antigen then affixes itself in the
skin and underlying tissue. The rash can pop up anywhere on your body. Eating
poison Ivy can be fatal and destroy your organs. After the oil is in contact
with the skin for a few minutes water and soap are ineffective, only ivy unlock
can help. Poison ivy is a very tenacious plant, it sends runners out to emerge a
new location. Poison ivy repellent and cream are said to not work completely in
the real world. Poison ivy is most likely in all of our yards. So after we mow
it or weed whack it the leaves stay in our yards for years.

Works Cited

"Google Images" Google. Web. 13 Feb. 2012. http://www.google.com/images?hl=en.

Poison Ivy. Web. 13 Feb. 2012 http://www.poison-ivy.org/>

Vyn, Katie. "Interesting Facts on thee Red Cedar Tree EHow.com. " EHow How to Videos, Articles & More - Discover the Expert in You EHow.com. Web. 13 Feb. 2012. .