Types of Prairies
Black Soil Prairie
Typically mesic-wet prairie growing on deep, well-developed soils. These same soils are
the ones best suited for crops.
Dry Prairie
Prairie communities growing under dry moisture conditions. They may still have some
tallgrass species, but are typically dominated by intermediate grasses such as little
bluestem, sideoats grama, and prairie dropseed.
Hill Prairie
Occurs on steep, thin soils with a south-southwest exposure
Limestone Prairie
Generally associated with thin soils over limestone bedrock.
Mesic Prairie
Prairie communities growing under intermediate moisture conditions. They are typically
dominated by tallgrass species such as big bluestem, Indian grass and switchgrass.
Sand Prairie
Typically dry prairie growing on deep sandy soils.
Tallgrass Prairie
Lush native grasslands found in the eastern great plains and midwest in areas with high
rainfall and rich soils. They are dominated by big bluestem and Indian grass.
Wet Prairie
Prairie communities growing under relatively wet conditions. They are typically dominated
by tallgrass species such as slough grass, bluejoint grass and big bluestem, and may also
show an increase in sedge species.*
*Definitions from the Nature Conservancy community and landform descriptions.
When you visit please take only pictures, leave only footprints...
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