This high quality priairie remnant has persisted on a small powerline right of way. The site is small in size covering approximently 5000 square feet. While casual botanical surveys of the site have yet to reveal any state listed species, the site is remarkabley free of troublesome exotic herbaceous plants like spotted knapweed, ox eye daisey, sweet clovers and crown vetch which plague that majority of the states limestone prairie remnants. Even the the woody plant species invading the grassland is composed mostly of native plants, such as, Yellow oak, fragrant sumac, black walnut, ash and ironwood (dominant). The problematic Morrow's and Amur honeysuckles are present at this site as well as autumn olive albeit in small amonts.
Below is a list of some of the native species observed at this site.
Graminoids:
Sorgastrum nutans
Andropogon gerardii
Schizachyrium scoparium
Bouteloua curtipendula
Danthonia spicata
Carex spp.
Forbs:
Hepatica sp.
Blephilia ciliata
Zizia aptera
Pycnanthemum incanum
Calystegia spithamaea
Monarda fistulosa var. mollis
Monarda clinopodia
Mianthemum racemosum
Uvularia spp.
Helianthus spp.
Lespedeza spp.
Solidago juncea
Solidago nemoralis
Allium cernuum
Woody plants (within grassland area):
Quercus muhlenbergii
Quercus alba
Fraxinus sp.
Rhus aromatica
Ostrya virginiana
Juniperus virginiana
Ceanothus americana
Tilia americana
Plus many other species. I hope to eventually get the time to completely survey the grassland.
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| A recent visit revealed many Rosa carolina plants in bloom |
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| Another large flowered plant currently in bloom is Calystegia spithamaea |
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| Blephilia ciliata |
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| A view from the downhill end of the grassland |
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