Prairie Species

Prairie Vole

Order:Rodentia

Family:Cricetidae

Genus:Microtus

Species:M. ochrogaster

Identifying characteristics: Head and body 31/2- 5 in. long. Tail is about 1 inch long. Grayish to dark brown. Tail short for a vole, belly is whitish or yellowish. Found in prairies and other dry habitats.

Special Adaptations: create runways underground and through vegetation that is used f

or predator protection and a food source.

Little Bluestem

Order:Cyperales

Family:Poaceae

Genus: Schizachyrium

Species: S. scoparium

Identifying Characteristics: Forms in dense mounds, 18-24 inches high. Slender, blue-green stems, red with white seeds that appear in september.

Special Adaptations: Year round plant. Prefers dry, sandy soils, but can tolerate a wide ranges. Cannot live near marshes or other wetlands due to moist soils.

Staghorn Sumac

Order:Sapindales

Family:Anacardiaceae

Genus:Rhus

Species:R. typhina

Identifying Characteristics: Deciduous shrub or small tree. Alternate, pinnately compound leaves, each with 9-31 serrated leaflets. Fruit is most identifiable characteristic: dense clusters of small red to pinkish dropes at the end of each branch.

Special Adaptations: Grows in dry or poor soils that other plants may be intolerant to.

Panicgrass

Order:Cyperales

Family:Poaceae

Genus:Panicum

Species:P. dichotomiflorum

Identifying Characteristics: Tall perennial grass, about 3-31/2 feet tall. Growing in bunches.

Special Adaptations: grows in dry soils.

Big Tooth Aspen

Order:Salicales

Family:Salicaceae

Genus:Populus

Species:P. grandidentata

Identifying Characteristics:Leaves similar to trembling aspen, but are larger and also have

larger teeth. Bark is greenish and thin when young, when older, bark becomes a grey co

lor and gets thicker and has grooves.

Special Adaptations: Is able to adapt to a wide variety of soil types. Prefers sandy soils.

Queen Anne's Lace

Order:Apiales

Family:Apiaceae

Genus:Daucus

Species:D. carota

Identifying Characteristics:Grows up to 4 feet tall in dry areas. Leaves are fern like. Tiny white flowers blooming in lacy, flat topped clusters. Each flower has a dark purpleish center.

Special Adaptations: May be considered a invasive plant due to the fact that it was introduced from Europe. Will sometimes crowd out other native plants.

Prairie Cup Plant

Order:

Family:

Genus:Silphium

Species:S. perfoliatum

Identifying Characteristics: 4-10 feet tall. Central stem is thick, hairless and square. Large leaves that join together on a central stem to form a cup that can hold water. Sunflower like.

Special Adaptations: Grow in a variety of soil types.

Sky Blue Aster

Order:Asterales

Family:Asteraceae

Genus:Symphyotrichum

Species:S. oolentangiense

Identifying Characteristics: 1.5-3 feet tall. Leave are alternate and as they move up the stem they become shorter and more narrow. Compound flowers that consist of about 10-20 flowers that are lavender or light blue in color.

Special Adaptations: Rather small distribution. Dry to moist prairie like soils.