Like most local prairies, it had Bluestem as the dominant grass.
This one, however, had huge stands of Bee Balm (Monarda) mixed in.
There are five species of Monarda locally, some with several heads per stem; some with only one.
On all of the summer expeditions, we seemed to find a lot of Smilax. This Catbriar or Greenbriar is a wiry vine with wicked hooked prickles. It reaches up from the ground and down from the trees to catch and tear clothing, skin, and hair.
Struggling through a quarter mile of Smilax and Dewberry brambles is enough to dampen the enthusiasm of even the most ardent field botanist.
On one trip through the bottomlands, we found one wet area that abounded in grasses, sedges, and rushes. This is one of the species of the genus Carex, which is a sedge.
The genus Cyperus is immediately recognizable, but determination to species often requires minute dissection to examine the mature achenes. This sample probably isn't old enough to identify.
A few species of Cyperus can be sight-identified. This is the
common
Cyperus strigosus.
Several kinds of Rhynchospora or Beak-rush were collected.
Despite the
common name, this too is a sedge.
The Juncaceae or Rush Family is nearly as difficult to work with as the
sedges. This is a
species of Juncus.
In all the wet places of the park, American Germander (Teucrium
canadense) is
sure to be. The corolla of this mint is unusual, having all five lobes
in one lower lip and
no upper lip at all.
In the rich bottomland woods are some not-so-common trees. For example,
a few
American Elms (Ulmus americana) survive here. Most American Elms
have died
of Dutch Elm disease. This species of Elm has smooth, large leaves up to
about 5 inches
long.
Tilia, called Basswood or Linden, is very much a creek- and
river-bottom plant.
It has large, simple, serrate leaves.
The most diagnostic feature of a Tilia is the long, strap-like
bract which subtends
and is fused to the slender peduncle. Species determination requires
minute examination
of pubescence or lack thereof.
Tying the bottomland canopy together is a network of Smilax and
Rattan Vine or
Supple-jack.
