Savannah Species List

Pearl Crescent

Order:Nymphalidae

Family:Nymphalinae

Genus:Phyciodes

Species: P. tharos

Identifying Characteristics: Upperside is orange with black boarder, crossed with fine black marks. Underside of hindwing had dark marginal patch containing light colored crescent. Wingspan 3.2-4.5 cm.

Special Adaptations: Males patrol open areas for females. Eggs laid on underside of host plant leaves. Large range and habitat.

Eastern Tailed Blue

Order:Lycaenidae

Family:Polyommitinae

Genus: Cupido

Species: C. comyntas

Identifying Characteristics: One narrow tail on hindwing. Upperside of male, iridescent blue. Summer females usually brown, spring females smaller with much blue on base

s. Underside of wing pale blue with black bar, distinct black spots and 3 large orange spots on outer margin near tail. Wing Span 2.2-2.9 cm.

Special Adaptations: Males patrol near host plants during daylight hours. Females lay eggs on flower buds, caterpillars eat buds, seeds, and flower.

Clouded Sulphur

Order:Pieridae

Family:Coliadinae

Genus: Colias

Species: C. philodice

Identifying Characteristics: Upper surface of males wings bright clear yellow with solid black edging, lower side of forewing with some dark submarginal spots, hindwing with silver cell spot rimmed with orange-pink usually doubled. Females have 2 forms: yellow form with uneven black edging, enclosing yellow spots, and a white form which is greenish-white rather than yellow. Wing Span: 3.8-7 cm.

Special Adaptations: Very large range and habitat. Egg laid singly on hosts, caterpillars eat leaves.

Hackberry Emperor Butterfly:

Order:Nymphalidae

Family:Apaturinae

Genus: Asterocampa

Species: A. celtis

Identifying Characteristics: Varies geographically. Upperside is reddish brown. Forewing has one submarginal eyespot, a jagged row of white spots and and a cell that has one solid black bar and two separate black spots. Wing span: 3.5-6.3 cm. Fly is fast erratic manner and rest upside down on tree trunks.

Special Adaptations: Males perch on tall objects in sunny areas to watch for females. Eggs laid in clusters and caterpillars feed communally. Caterpillars overwinter in groups gathered inside dead rolled leaves.

Indian Grass:

Order:Cyperales

Family:Poaceae

Genus:Sorghastrum

Species:S. nutans

Identifying Characteristics: Perennial grass that is 3-7' tall. Tight bunches of flowering clums and their leaves. Clums are light green to pale yellow. Blades are alternate leaves up to 2' long, dull to dark green, flat and hairless.

Special Adaptations: Dominant grass of prairies in historical times. Often used for tallgrass prairie restoration.

Flowering Spurge

Order:Euphorbiales

Family:Euphorbiaceae

Genus:Euphorbia

Species: E. corrolata

Identifying Characteristics: 1/2-3' tall. Central stem in light green and hairless. Leaves are hairless, 1-2" long and 1/2" wide broadly linear or narrowly oblong with smooth margins. Alternate along the stem except at the apex where they occur is whorls of 3 beneath the flowers. Each flower contains a yellow cyanthium of very small yellow flowers which is surrounded by 5 petal like structures that are white.

Special Adaptations: Can be found in a wide range of habitats. Attract wasps, flies, and bees.

American Hogpeanut

Order:Fabales

Family:Fabaceae

Genus:Amphicarpaea

Species:A. bracteata

Identifying Characteristics: Viney, spreading to 5 feet. Flowers are tubular like and is pink to white. Leaves have 3 leaflets and are alternate on stem. Hairy stem.

Special Adaptations: Edible flowers, stems, seeds and leaves.

Common Evening Primrose

Order:Myrtales

Family:Onagraceae

Genus:Oenothera

Species:O. biennis

Identifying Characteristics: Alternate lance shaped leaves, that look similar to willow leaves, usually on a central stem, but there can be other stems off of that. Stems are light green or red and covered with white hairs. 4 yellow flowers. Likes full sun and somewhat sandy soil.

Special Adaptations: Favors disturbed areas.

Shrub Carr Ecosystem

Eastern Wood Peewee

Order:Passeriformes

Family:Tyrannidae

Genus:Contopus

Species:C. virens

Identifying Characteristics: Adults are grey-olive on upperside and light on underside with olive color

ing on breast. Whitish wingbars. Call is a "peee-a-weeee".

Special Adaptations: Very large habitat.

Softleaf Arrowwood

Order:Dipsacales

Family:Caprifoliaceae

Genus:Viburnum

Species:V. molle

Identifying Characteristics:Leaves broadly egg shaped or heart shaped, toothed, soft hairy beneath. Fruits are small and dark blue with a single ridge. Twigs hairless.

Special Adaptations:No other arrowwood has hairy, heart shaped, toothed leaves.

Question Mark Butterfly

Order:Lepidoptera

Family:Nymphalidae

Genus:Polygonia

Species:P. interrogationis

Identifying Characteristics: The silver mark on underside of hindwing is broken into two parts and looks like a question mark. Upperside of wing is red-orange with black spots. Live in wooded areas with some

open spaces.

Special Adaptations: Most adults will stay in Northern U.S. to hibernate while others will migrate.

Black Capped Chickadee

Order:Passeriformes

Family:Paridae

Genus:Poeile

Species:P. atricapillus

Identifying Characteristics: Black cap and bib, white cheeks, grey back, wings, and tail, and whitish underside with buffy sides. Short neck and large head. Long, narrow tail and a short bill. Mostly found in forests.

Special Adaptations: Considered year long residents, but some may wander during the fall b

ecause of food shortages.

Longhair Sedge

Order:Cyperales

Family:Cyperaceae

Genus:Carex

Species:C. Comosa

Identifying Characteristics: Smooth growing up to 5' high. Flat leaves that are mid to dark green. Produces yellow flowers that bloom in spring and summer. Grows in wetlands.

Special Adaptations: Grows in shallow water with lots of sunshine.

Soft Rush

Order:Juncales

Family:Junaceae

Genus:Juncus

Species:J. effusus

Identifying Characteristics: Grass like growing up to 3 and 1/2 feet high. Stems are dark green, soft, round, with dark lines, and sharp tips. Flowers in single clusters near the middle of the stem. Grow in shallow water or moist soils.

Special Adaptations: Provide habitat for micro and macro invertebrates.

Raccoon

Order:Carnivora

Family:Procyonidae

Genus:Procyon

Species:P.lotor

Identifying Characteristics: Greyish fur with black mask on face. 5 digit paw with no webbing.

Special Adaptations: Can stand on hind legs, swim, climb, and have a dual cooling system to regulate their body temperature.

Bitter Nightshade

Order:Solanales

Family:Solanaceae

Genus:Solanum

Species:S. dulcamara

Identifying Characteristics:Climbing plant. Leaves are 2-4 inches long, some entire, others having 3 lobes. Flowers are purple. Fruit is oval, red, and juicy and have many seeds.

Special Adaptations: Can block out other plants from sunlight due to its vineyness.

Cardinal Flower

Order:Campanulales

Family:Campanulaceae

Genus:Lobelia

Species:L. cardinalis

Identifying Characteristics: Scarlet flowers. 1-11/2 in long. Leaves are alternate and toothed. 5 petals, 5 stamen.

Special Adaptations: Depends on hummingbirds for pollination.

Swamp Ecosystem

Black Willow

Order: Salicales

Family:Salicaceae

Genus:Salix L.

Species: Salix nigra

Identifying Characteristics: Leaves are alternate, long, and slender.

Leaves are ab

out 5-10 cm long and droop a bit. Bark is brown to blackish and somewhat scaley.

Special Adaptation: Grow in many types on soil, but its shallow roots need abundant moisture. Most

commonly found near water and in swamps.

Wood Frog

Order:Anura

Family:Ranidae

Genus:Rana

Species:Rana sylvatica

Identifying Characteristics: 2 in. -2.8 in long, females usually longer than

males. Adults

are usually brown, tan or rust colored and usually have a dark eye mask. Underside of frogs is usually pale with a yellow or green cast.

Special Adaptations: Large range due to its freeze tolerance.

Zoned Cork Hydnum

Order:

Family:

Genus: Phellodon

Species:Phellodon tomentosus

Identifying Characteristics:Thin, brown cap, flat or shallowly depre

ssed. Surface velvety. Cap may be pale dingy yellow on margin to dark brown towards center.

Special Adaptation: Cap turns black in KOH(potassium hydroxide) and and grey to black in FeSO4(iron sulfate).

Slippery/Red Elm

Order:Rosales

Family:Ulmaceae

Genus:Ulmus

Species: Ulmus rubra

Identifying Characteristics: Leaves are 10-18cm long and have a rough t

exture, coursely double serrated margin, and oblique base. Hairy buds and twigs. Easily identified from Am

erican Elm by looking at bark sample. Bark cut will be red instead of having red with white lines like in the American Elm. Grows in moist soils next to water or in wetlands. Medicinal.

Special Adaptations: Elastic and shock resistant. Less susceptible to Dutch Elm Disease

.

Eastern American Toad

Order:Anura

Family:Bufonidae

Genus:Bufo

Species:Bufo americanus americanus

Identifying characteristics: Usually some shade of brown. Has 1-2 warts on its dark spots. Have chests that are cream or white colored with spots.

Special Adaptations: Often stay in one area where temperatures are cool, there is loose soil, and abundant food.

Clearweed

Order:Urticales

Family:Urticaceae

Genus:Pilea

Species:Pilea pumila

Identifying characteristics:Stems are smooth, round, hairless, and translucent. Leaves are opposite, ovate, hairless and coarsely serrated. The upper surface is dark green while the lower surface is light green or almost white.

Special Adaptations: Found in many different areas, but t

ypically in moist woodlands.

Jewelweed

Order:Geraniales

Family:Balsaminaceae

Genus:Impatiens

Species:Impatiens capensis

Identifying Characteristics: Leaves are elliptical or triangular and are slightly toothed. Leaves are bluish green in color with a whitened underside. Flower is bright orange to red and forms a triangular tunnel. Found in moist, shaded areas.

Special Adaptations: Relieves itching from poison ivy, oak, stinging nettle and insect bites.

Dryad's Saddle Fungus

Order:Polyporales

Family:Polyporaceae

Genus:Polyporus

Species:Polyporus sqamosus

Identifying Characteristics: Stick out of shelves at lower part of dead tree trunks with its thick stem. Body is yellow to brown and has scales on its upper side. Cap is depressed in middle. On the underside there are many pores. Commonly found on dead elm trees and living maples.

Special Adaptations: Plays an important part in woodland ecosystem because it decomposes many dead trees.