Tennessee : Flora & Fauna

Varied terrain and fertile soils encourage Tennessee to have an abundance of flora. There are at least 150 kinds of native trees which include Tulip poplar (the state tree), shortleaf pine, and chestnut, black, and red oaks commonly found in the eastern part of the state while varieties of oak, hickory, ash, and pine are found in the Highland Rim. . Gum maple, black walnut, sycamore, and cottonwood grow in the west, and cypress is plentiful in the Reelfoot Lake area. In East Tennessee, rhododendron, mountain laurel, and wild azalea blossoms create a blaze of color in the mountains. More than 300 native Tennessee plants, including digitalis and ginseng have been utilized for medicinal purposes. 20 plant species were listed as threatened or endangered in Tennessee in 2003 which includes the Blue Ridge goldenrod, Cumberland rosemary and sandwort, and Tennessee purple coneflower.

Mammals found in Tennessee include the raccoon (the state animal), white-tailed deer, black bear bobcat, muskrat, woodchuck, opossum, and red and gray foxes. The European wild boar was introduced by sportsmen in 1912. More than 250 bird species reside in Tennessee. The most common game birds include the bobwhite quail, ruffed grouse, mourning dove, and mallard duck.
Seventy-six animal species were listed as endangered or threatened as of 2003, including the seven species of darter, gray and Indiana bats, pallid sturgeon, bald eagle, Carolina northern flying squirrel, least tern, and white warty back pearly mussel.