North American Prairies Vegetation

Total Page:16

File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb

North American Prairies Vegetation Plant Formations in the North American Prairies BioProvince Peter Martin Rhind North American Prairie Grassland These grasslands can be roughly divided into tall grass prairie in the east, short grass prairie in the west and mixed grass prairie between the two. This reflects increasing aridity from east to west. For thousands and possibly millions of years, fire has been an important natural factor. Consequently many of the plant species are adapted to tolerate fire. In fact, tall grass prairie tends to be replaced by forest when protected from fire. Also prior to man’s intervention, prairie provided grazing for literally millions of buffalo and other grazing animals. Tall-grass prairie is largely composed of bunchgrass and sod forming grasses. The dominant species are Andropogon gerardii, Panicum virgatum, Schizachyrium scoparium and Sorghastrium nutans. Before man’s interference tall-grass prairie formed a dense cover commonly reaching heights of up to 3 m, but most of the canopy today is less than 1 m. In short-grass prairie Bouteloua gracilis and Buchloe dactyloides are the dominant sod forming species, while other important grasses are Agropyron smithii, Hilaria jamesii, Koeleria cristata, Muhlenbergia torreyi, Sporobolus crytandus and Stipa comata. These short-grass prairies are thought to be more of a true climax community than tall- grass prairies, and many of the species are draught resistant. The dryness of this habitat was shown in the 1930s when the so-called ‘dust bowls’ were created as a result of trying to plow short-grass prairie. Mixed-grass prairie is a blend of tall and short grass prairie species, and in fact, represents a large ecotone between this two prairie types. Typical dominants are species of Agropyron, Bouteloua, Colamovilfa, Schizachrium, Sporobolus and Stipa. Although grasses dominate the prairies and characterize the landscape there are also large numbers of other, often colourful, flowering plants from other families. The Asteraceae are particularly prominent with different taxa characterizing each of the seasons - Gaillardia and Senecio in spring, Helianthus, Ratibida, Rudbeckia and Silphium in midsummer and Aster and Solidago in the fall. Most of the endemic species are also forbs such as Amorpha nana (Fabaceae), Astragalus barrii, A. gracilis, A. hyalinus, A. pectinatus, A. plattensis (Asteraceae), Lespedeza leptostachya (Fabaceae), Psoralea cuspidata, P. hypogaea, P. linearifolia (Fabaceae), Carex hookerana (Cyperaceae), Daucosma laciniatum, Eryngium leavenworthii, Eurytaenia texana (Apiaceae), Eriogonum correllii, E. vischeri (Polygonaceae), Haplopappus engelmannii (Asteraceae), Lesquerella angustifolia, L. arenosa, L. auriculata, L. calcicola, L. engelmannii, L. ovalifolia, L. recurvata, L. sessilis (Brassicaceae), Oenothera fremontii (Onagraceae), Phlox andicola, P. oklahomensis (Polemoniaceae), Tomanthera densiflora (Scrophulariaceae), Valeriana texana (Valerianaceae) and the moss Aschisma kansanum (Pottiaceae). The prairies are not completely treeless - Populus deltoides var. occidentalis (Great Plains Cottonwood) and sometimes other species form gallery forests along many of the large streams, and dwarf stands of Quercus macrocarpa var. depressa occur in some of the wetter areas. Also Pinus ponderosa, Picea glauca and other species can be found in the Black Hills, but these represent a dome-like outlier of western American cordillera. A type of prairie also extends on to Edwards Plateau in south central Texas where grass taxa such as Andropogon, Bouteloua and Buchloe can be found. However it also shares a number of species with the Chihauhuan and Tamarlipan deserts and as such represents a transition zone to the Sonoran BioProvince. Nevertheless, the area is important in its own right and supports a number of endemic species such as Anemone edwardensis Copyright © 2010 Peter Martin Rhind (Ranunculaceae), Quercus texana (Fagaceae), Streptanthus bracteatus (Brassicaeae), Styrax platanifolia, S. tenax (Styracaceae), Lythrum ovatum (Lythraceae), Galium correllii (Rubiaceae), Matelea edwardsensis (Asclepiadaceae), Forestiera reticulata (Oleaceae), Physostegia correllii (Lamiaceae), Buddleja racemosa (Loganiaceae), Campanula reverchonii (Campanulaceae), Erigeron mimegletes (Astereaceae), Verbesina lindheimeri (Asteraceae), Dasylirion heteracanthium (Nolinaceae), Yucca rupicola (Liliaceae) and Tridens buckleyanus (Poaceae). Further information required References Hazlett, D. L. 2004. Vascular plant species of the Comanche National Grassland in southeastern Colorado. United States Department of Agriculture. McKell, C. M. & Garcia-Moya, E. 1989. North American Shrublands. In: The Biology and Utilization of Shrubs. Ed. C. M. McKell. Academic Press, Inc. Moss, E. H. 1971. The parkland or grove belt of Alberta. In: World Vegetation Types. Ed. S. R. Eyre. Macmillan. Qian, H. 1999. Floristic analysis of vascular plant genera of North America north of Mexico: characterization and phytogeography. Journal of Biogeography, 26: 1307-1321. Ricketts, T. h. et al. 1999. Terrestrial Ecosystems of North America - a conservation assessment. World Wildlife Fund, USA and Canada. Island Press, Washington. Sims, P. L. 1989. Grasslands. In: North American Terrestrial Vegetation. Eds. M. G. Barbour and W. D. Billings. Cambridge University Press. Vanderhorst, J., Cooper, S. V. & Heidel, B. L. 1998. Botanical and vegetation survey of Carter County, Montana. United States Department of the Interior Bureau of Land Management. Watt, F. B. 1969. The Natural Vegetation of the Southern Great Plains of Canada. In: Vegetation, Soils and Wildlife. Eds. J. G. Nelson & M. J. Chambers. Methuen. Copyright © 2010 Peter Martin Rhind .
Recommended publications
  • C10 Beano2.Gen-Wis
    LEGUMINOSAE PART DEUX Papilionoideae, Genista to Wisteria Revised May the 4th 2015 BEAN FAMILY 2 Pediomelum PAPILIONACEAE cont. Genista Petalostemum Glycine Pisum Glycyrrhiza Psoralea Hylodesmum Psoralidium Lathyrus Robinia Lespedeza Securigera Lotus Strophostyles Lupinus Tephrosia Medicago Thermopsis Melilotus Trifolium Onobrychis Vicia Orbexilum Wisteria Oxytropis Copyrighted Draft GENISTA Linnaeus DYER’S GREENWEED Fabaceae Genista Genis'ta (jen-IS-ta or gen-IS-ta) from a Latin name, the Plantagenet kings & queens of England took their name, planta genesta, from story of William the Conqueror, as setting sail for England, plucked a plant holding tenaciously to a rock on the shore, stuck it in his helmet as symbol to hold fast in risky undertaking; from Latin genista (genesta) -ae f, the plant broom. Alternately from Celtic gen, or French genet, a small shrub (w73). A genus of 80-90 spp of small trees, shrubs, & herbs native of Eurasia. Genista tinctoria Linnaeus 1753 DYER’S GREENWEED, aka DYER’S BROOM, WOADWAXEN, WOODWAXEN, (tinctorius -a -um tinctor'ius (tink-TORE-ee-us or tink-TO-ree-us) New Latin, of or pertaining to dyes or able to dye, used in dyes or in dyeing, from Latin tingo, tingere, tinxi, tinctus, to wet, to soak in color; to dye, & -orius, capability, functionality, or resulting action, as in tincture; alternately Latin tinctōrius used by Pliny, from tinctōrem, dyer; at times, referring to a plant that exudes some kind of stain when broken.) An escaped shrub introduced from Europe. Shrubby, from long, woody roots. The whole plant dyes yellow, & when mixed with Woad, green. Blooms August. Now, where did I put that woad? Sow at 18-22ºC (64-71ºF) for 2-4 wks, move to -4 to +4ºC (34-39ºF) for 4-6 wks, move to 5-12ºC (41- 53ºF) for germination (tchn).
    [Show full text]
  • Threatened and Endangered Species Evaluation for Operating Commercial Nuclear Power Generating Plants
    PNNL-14468 Threatened and Endangered Species Evaluation for Operating Commercial Nuclear Power Generating Plants M. R. Sackschewsky January 2004 Prepared for the License Renewal and Environmental Impacts Branch Office of Nuclear Reactor Regulation U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission and the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC06-76RL01830 DISCLAIMER This report was prepared as an account of work sponsored by an agency of the United States Government. Neither the United States Government nor any agency thereof, nor Battelle Memorial Institute, nor any of their employees, makes any warranty, express or implied, or assumes any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed, or represents that its use would not infringe privately owned rights. Reference herein to any specific commercial product, process, or service by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the United States Government or any agency thereof, or Battelle Memorial Institute. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the United States Government or any agency thereof. PACIFIC NORTHWEST NATIONAL LABORATORY operated by BATTELLE for the UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY under Contract DE-AC06-76RL01830 PNNL-14468 Threatened and Endangered Species Evaluation for Operating Commercial Nuclear Power Generating Plants M. R. Sackschewsky January 2004 Prepared for the U.S. Department of Energy under Contract DE-AC06-76RL01830 Pacific Northwest National Laboratory Richland, Washington 99352 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, as amended, and related implementing regulations of the jurisdictional federal agencies, the U.S.
    [Show full text]
  • Applicant's Environmental Report –
    Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report Applicant’s Environmental Report – Operating License Renewal Stage Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Nuclear Management Company, LLC Units 1 and 2 Docket Nos. 50-282 and 50-306 License Nos. DPR-42 and DPR-60 April 2008 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant License Renewal Application Appendix E - Environmental Report TABLE OF CONTENTS Section Page ACRONYMS AND ABBREVIATIONS.................................................................... xi 1.0 PURPOSE OF AND NEED FOR ACTION ................................................... 1-1 1.1 Introduction and Background........................................................................ 1-1 1.2 Statement of Purpose and Need .................................................................. 1-2 1.3 Environmental Report Scope and Methodology ........................................... 1-3 1.4 Prairie Island Nuclear Generating Plant Licensee and Ownership ............... 1-4 1.5 References ................................................................................................ 1-7 2.0 SITE AND ENVIRONMENTAL INTERFACES............................................. 2-1 2.1 General Site Description............................................................................... 2-1 2.1.1 Regional Features and General Features in the 6-Mile Vicinity............................................................................................. 2-2 2.1.2 PINGP Site Features......................................................................
    [Show full text]
  • Establishment of Prairie Species in Iowa by Seeding and Transplanting Paul Arthur Christiansen Iowa State University
    Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Retrospective Theses and Dissertations Dissertations 1967 Establishment of prairie species in Iowa by seeding and transplanting Paul Arthur Christiansen Iowa State University Follow this and additional works at: https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd Part of the Botany Commons Recommended Citation Christiansen, Paul Arthur, "Establishment of prairie species in Iowa by seeding and transplanting " (1967). Retrospective Theses and Dissertations. 4000. https://lib.dr.iastate.edu/rtd/4000 This Dissertation is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa State University Capstones, Theses and Dissertations at Iowa State University Digital Repository. It has been accepted for inclusion in Retrospective Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of Iowa State University Digital Repository. For more information, please contact [email protected]. This dissertation has been microfihned exactly as received 68-2808 CHRKTIA.NSEN, Paul Arthur, 1932- ESTABLISHMENT OF PRAIRIE SPECIES IN IOWA BY SEEDING AND TRANSPLANTING. Iowa State University, Ph.D., 1967 Botany University Microfilms, Inc., Ann Arbor, Michigan ESTABLISHMENT OF PRAIRIE SPECIES IK IOWA BY SEEDING AKD TRANSPLANTING by Paul Arthur Christiansen A Dissertation Submitted to the Graduate Faculty in Partial Fulfillment of The Requirements for the Degree of DOCTOR OF PHILOSOPHY Major Subject: Botany (Plant Ecology) Signature was redacted for privacy. In Charge of Major Work Signature was redacted for privacy. Signature was redacted for privacy.
    [Show full text]
  • Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board
    Illinois Endangered Species Protection Board BIENNIAL REPORT JULY 2006-JUNE 2008 (With addenda covering biennia July 2002 to June 2006) ENDANGERED SPECIES PROTECTION BOARD AS OF JUNE 30, 2008 Members: R. Dan Gooch, Chairman Dr. John E. Ebinger, Vice-Chairman Dr. Chris A. Phillips, Secretary Marilyn F. Campbell John A. Clemetsen Dr. James R. Herkert Susanne Masi Dr. Tom Nelson Dr. Mike Retzer Staff: None ENDANGERED SPECIES TECHNICAL ADVISORY COMMITTEES (ESTACs) AS OF JUNE 30, 2008 PLANTS: REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANS: Dr. John E. Ebinger, Chair Scott Ballard Susanne Masi Dr. Ron Brandon William McClain Dr. Mike Dreslik Randy Nÿboer Dr. Merideth Mahoney Dr. Loy R. Phillippe Dr. Chris Phillips, Chair Dr. Ken Robertson Mike Redmer John Schwegman Beth Shimp BIRDS: Dr. John Taft Marilyn Campbell Dr. James R. Herkert, Chair INVERTEBRATE ANIMALS: Dr. Jeff Hoover Dr. Tim Cashatt Vern Kleen Kevin Cummings Brad Semel Dr. Chris Dietrich Dr. Douglas Stotz Dr. Chris Taylor Dr. Jeff Walk Dr. Steven Taylor, Chair Dr. Mike Ward Jeremy Tiemann Dr. Dan Wenny Dr. Paul Tinerella James Wiker MAMMALS: Chris Anchor FISHES: Bob Bluett Dr. Brooks Burr Dean Corgiat Dr. Mike Retzer, Chair Dr. George Feldhamer Bob Rung Dr. Ed Heske Trent Thomas Dr. Joyce Hofmann Jeremy Tiemann Joe Kath Dan Sallee Dr. Tom Nelson, Chair On the cover, clockwise from upper left: Illinois Chorus Frog (Pseudacris streckeri), Illinois Threatened; Indiana Bat (Myotis sodalis), Illinois and Federally Endangered; Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid (Platanthera leucophaea), Illinois Endangered, Federally Threatened; River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna), Illinois Endangered; and, Leafy Prairie Clover (Dalea foliosa), Illinois and Federally Endangered. 2 PREFACE The Illinois Endangered Species Protection Act, originally enacted in August of 1972 and revised in July of 1986 and January of 2000, requires that the Endangered Species Protection Board prepare and make available a report of its accomplishments biennially.
    [Show full text]
  • January 1999 Marlin Bowles, Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL 60532; Timothy
    ESTABLISHING RECOVERY TARGETS FOR ILLINOIS PLANTS A REPORT TO THE ILLINOIS ENDANGERED SPECIES PROTECTION BOARD January 1999 Marlin Bowles, Morton Arboretum, Lisle, IL 60532; Timothy Bell, Dept. of Biological Sciences, Chicago State University, 950 S. King Dr. Chicago IL 60628-1598; Marcella DeMauro, Will County Forest Preserve District, 22606 S. Cherry Hill Rd., Joliet, IL 60433 SUMMARY We develop reclassification criteria for six federal threatened and Illinois-listed plant species based on their population sizes and distribution, life-history characteristics, biological information, population demography and trend analysis, ecological requirements, and habitat conditions. This information is used to conduct viability analyses and to develop indices projecting the viability of these species in Illinois. These estimates of population viability are used to develop recovery strategies and targets based on minimum numbers of viable populations in different Illinois Natural Divisions occupied by the species. Management and restoration can be used to increase population viability, and thus achieve species recovery targets. The viability analyses and projections, and recovery targets, are dynamic and can be altered as new information is gained. TABLE OF CONTENTS PAGE INTRODUCTION AND PROBLEM 1 OBJECTIVES 1 METHODS 2 Landscape distribution and abundance of populations 2 Biological information 3 Ecological habitat information 4 Demographic information 4 Integrated Trend Analysis 5 Non-integrated Trend Analysis 5 Factor resolution 8 Population
    [Show full text]
  • 2016 SCIENCE REPORT the Nature Conservancy in Illinois
    2016 SCIENCE REPORT The Nature Conservancy in Illinois Table of Contents 2016 FEATURE 4 Scientific Research at Emiquon’s Ahsapa 4 2016 Research at Project Sites 8 Illinois River: Emiquon & Merwin Preserve At Spunky Bottoms 8 Indian Boundary Prairies 23 Kankakee Sands 25 Mackinaw River Program 26 Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie (MNTP) 32 Nachusa Grasslands 37 Other Research Projects by Staff or Supported by The Nature Conservancy in Illinois 58 Professional Publications 61 Research Reports and Popular Publications 63 Presentations & Posters 64 Interviews & Media Coverage 72 Compiled and edited by Sarah Hagen, Allison Cisneros, Krista Kirkham, Sally McClure, and Jeff Walk; May 2017 Front Cover: The Emiquon Water Control Structure separates the Illinois River and the Emiquon Preserve. Photo credit: Doug Blodgett/The Nature Conservancy. 2 The goal of this report is to summarize and catalog the diverse array of research being conducted on The Nature Conservancy’s project areas in Illinois that occurred during 2016. Special thanks go to the researchers who are listed throughout the document and provided information on their projects. Thanks also to the staff of The Nature Conservancy in Illinois who contributed information for this report. Jason Beverlin Illinois River Program Deputy Director K. Douglas Blodgett Illinois River Program Director Allison Cisneros Midewin Volunteer Coordinator Cody Considine Nachusa Grasslands Restoration Ecologist Karl Gnaedinger Indian Boundary Prairie Project Manager Kathryn Gorman Midewin Assistant Volunteer Coordinator Sarah Hagen Spatial Ecologist Fran Harty Director of Special Projects Tharran Hobson Illinois River Restoration Manager Megan Hoff GLOBE Intern Mark Jones Field Steward Krista Kirkham Assistant Aquatic Ecologist Bill Kleiman Project Director for Nachusa Grasslands Travis Kuntzelman IBP Restoration Technician Aaron Lange Conservation Information Specialist Elyse Leannaise IBP Restoration Specialist John Legge Chicago Conservation Director A.
    [Show full text]
  • The Vascular Flora of Clay Prairie State Preserve (Butler County, Iowa): Recommendations to the Iowa State Preserve System
    Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS Volume 120 Number 1-4 Article 5 2013 The Vascular Flora of Clay Prairie State Preserve (Butler County, Iowa): Recommendations to the Iowa State Preserve System Edwin L. Freese William R. Norris Western New Mexico University Let us know how access to this document benefits ouy Copyright © Copyright 2013 by the Iowa Academy of Science, Inc. Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/jias Part of the Anthropology Commons, Life Sciences Commons, Physical Sciences and Mathematics Commons, and the Science and Mathematics Education Commons Recommended Citation Freese, Edwin L. and Norris, William R. (2013) "The Vascular Flora of Clay Prairie State Preserve (Butler County, Iowa): Recommendations to the Iowa State Preserve System," Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS, 120(1-4), 21-34. Available at: https://scholarworks.uni.edu/jias/vol120/iss1/5 This Research is brought to you for free and open access by the Iowa Academy of Science at UNI ScholarWorks. It has been accepted for inclusion in Journal of the Iowa Academy of Science: JIAS by an authorized editor of UNI ScholarWorks. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Jour. Iowa Acad. Sci. 120(1-4):21–34, 2013 The Vascular Flora of Clay Prairie State Preserve (Butler County, Iowa): Recommendations to the Iowa State Preserve System EDWIN L. FREESE1 and WILLIAM R. NORRIS2* 133493 S Ave., Adel, Iowa 50003 2Department of Natural Sciences, Western New Mexico University, PO Box 680, 1000 W. College Ave., Silver City, New Mexico 80062 Clay Prairie State Preserve (1.2 ha) is an upland prairie located in Butler County, IA, and represents one of the last remnants of black-soil tallgrass prairie in northeast Iowa.
    [Show full text]
  • Union Slough NWR Habitat Management Plan January 2016
    Union Slough NWR Habitat Management Plan January 2016 Habitat Management Plans provide long-term guidance for management decisions, set goals, objectives and strategies needed to accomplish refuge purposes, and identify the Fish and Wildlife Service’s best estimate of future needs. These plans detail program planning levels that are sometimes substantially above current budget allocations and as such, are primarily for Service strategic planning and program prioritization purposes. The plans do not constitute a commitment for staffing increases, operational and maintenance increases, or funding for future land acquisition. The National Wildlife Refuge System, managed by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, is the world's premier system of public lands and waters set aside to conserve America's fish, wildlife and habitats. Since the designation of the first wildlife refuge in 1903, the System has grown to encompass more than 150 million acres, 550 national wildlife refuges and other units of the Refuge System, plus 38 wetland management districts. Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge Habitat Management Plan i Executive Summary Located in north-central Iowa in the southeast corner of the Prairie Pothole Region, Union Slough National Wildlife Refuge (NWR) provides critical habitat for native prairie and wetland wildlife in a landscape dominated by intensive agriculture. Union Slough NWR, which includes seven adjacent Union Slough Waterfowl Production Areas (WPAs), contains a diverse mixture of habitats including marshes, river bottomlands, and prairies/grasslands. Together, these areas total approximately 3,334 acres that follow a nine-mile stretch of Union Slough, a relict pre-glacial riverbed. The habitats of the Refuge function as a regionally significant nesting and stopover site for migratory waterfowl and birds and support unique assemblages of resident plants and wildlife.
    [Show full text]
  • Science Yearbook 2012
    Science Yearbook 2012 Pitcher’s Thistle, MI Compiled by Kayri Havens-Young 2012 1 Executive Summary The Chicago Botanic Garden’s Plant Science and Conservation department had a remarkable year in 2012. On the research Front, a new weevil (Rhinocyllus conicus) introduced as a bio-control For weed thistles was discovered impacting the already threatened Pitcher’s thistle (Cirsium pitcheri). Garden scientists have been working For over 15 years to recover this important dune species. In Colorado, experiments were set up to test new post-wildFire restoration methods as part oF our Post-wildfire restoration plots – Pine Ridge, CO ongoing work with the Bureau of Land Management. From exploring biodiversity benefits of green roofs in Chicago, to understanding the impacts of climate change on rare plants in the Western U.S., and From developing sustainable pollination strategies For crops to developing tools to better conserve Fungi, Garden scientists and students are positively impacting plants and plant communities around the world. Training the next generation oF plant scientists and conservation biologists continues to be an important activity in the department. The joint CLM interns collecting seed in NM graduate program with Northwestern University is growing and thriving. Many oF our students received prestigious Fellowships and awards in 2012. Over 120 interns contributed to important stewardship activities on public lands as part oF our Conservation and Land Management Intern Program. Students From middle school through to post-doctoral researchers worked alongside Garden scientists as part oF the Science Career Continuum. Garden scientists contributed their expertise to conservation meetings and workshops in Taiwan and Korea and beyond.
    [Show full text]
  • Plant Inventory Smith-Reiner Drumlin State Natural Area County: Dane T06N R12E Sec15 Site Code: 13ROCK01
    Plant Inventory Smith-Reiner Drumlin State Natural Area County: Dane T06N R12E Sec15 Site Code: 13ROCK01 Observers: R. Henderson, T. Cochrane Dates: 9/18/83, 7/28/92, 7/26/94, & M. Martin 5/16/01, 5/29/01, 8/6/10 West East Scientific Name Common Name Status Drumlin Drumlin Egre Achillea millefolium Yarrow y y Amorpha canescens Lead-plant y y y Andropogon gerardi Big bluestem y y y Andropogon scoparius Little bluestem y y y Anemone cylindrica Thimbleweed y y y Anemone patens Pasque flower y y y Antennaria plantaginifolia Plantain-leaved pussytoes y y y Apocynum cannabinum Indian hemp y Arabis lyrata Sand cress y y y Arenaria stricta Stiff sandwort y y y Artemisia caudata Beach wormwood y y y Asclepias syriaca Common milkweed y y Asclepias verticillata Whorled milkweed y y y Asclepias viridiflora Short green milkweed y y Aster azureus Sky-blue aster y y y Aster ericoides Heath aster y y y Aster laevis Smooth blue aster y y y Aster linariifolius Flax-leaved aster y y y Aster ptarmicoides Stiff aster y y Aster sericeus Silky aster y y y Astragalus canadensis Canadian milkvetch y Bouteloua curtipendula Side oats grama y y y Bromus kalmii Prairie brome y Carex meadii Mead's sedge y y Carex richardsonii Richardson sedge C y Carex umbellata Umbell sedge y y y Castilleja sessiliflora Downy yellow painted cup y y Ceanothus americanus New Jersey tea ? ? Celastrus scandens American bittersweet y Cirsium discolor Native field thistle ? ? Comandra umbellata False toadflax y y Coreopsis palmata Prairie tickseed y y y Cornus racemosa Gray dogwood y y
    [Show full text]
  • Prairie Bush Clover (Lespedeza Leptostachya) the Prairie Bush Clover Is a Threatened Alkaloids from Wild Plants Are Used As Species
    U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service Threatened and Endangered Species Prairie Bush Clover (Lespedeza leptostachya) The prairie bush clover is a threatened Alkaloids from wild plants are used as species. Threatened species are animals the active agents in anesthetics, and plants that are likely to become insecticides, anticancer drugs and muscle endangered in the foreseeable future. relaxants. Loss of prairie bush clover Endangered species are animals and would eliminate forever the opportunity plants that are in danger of becoming for future biological research and the extinct. Identifying, protecting, and potential for such medical and restoring endangered and threatened agricultural benefits. species is the primary objective of the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service's What does prairie bush clover look endangered species program. like? Prairie bush clover is a member of the What is prairie bush clover and where pea family. Also known as slender-leaved does it occur? bush clover, it has a clover-like leaf Prairie bush clover (Lespedeza comprised of three leaflets about an inch leptostachya) is a federally threatened long and a quarter inch wide. Flowering prairie plant found only in the tallgrass plants are generally between nine and prairie region of four midwestern states. eighteen inches tall with the flowers loosely arranged on an open spike. It is a member of the bean family and a midwestern “endemic” – known only The pale pink or cream colored flowers from the tallgrass prairie region of the bloom in mid-July. The entire plant has a upper Mississippi River Valley. grayish-silver sheen, making it easy to distinguish from its more round-leaved Why be concerned about prairie bush cultivated relative, the sweet clover Photo by USFWS; Phil Delphey clover? (Melilotus species).
    [Show full text]