NATIONAL PARK SERVICE An Identification of Prairie in National Park Units in the Great Plains NPS Occasional Paper No. 7

EASTERN PONDEROSA FOREST (Map No. 16)¹

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¹Refers to map accompanying "Potential Natural Vegetation of the Conterminous United States" (Kuchler 1964).

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Pinus

This is a medium dense to open forest of low to medium needleleaf evergreen trees with a fairly open ground cover of grasses. The dominant species is ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa). Other components are western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii), blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), and needleandthread (Stipa comata).

BLACK HILLS PINE FOREST (Map No. 17)

Pinus

This type is characterized by dense to open forests of medium tall to tall needleleaf evergreen trees. On lower elevations the forest is open with much grass and an admixture of broadleaf deciduous trees in the east and shrubs in the western part. The dominant species is ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa). Other components include bearberry (Arctosraphylos uva-ursi), wildryes (Elymus spp.), common juniper (Juniperus communis), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), common chokeberry (Prunus americana), common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus), western snowberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis), western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii), bluebunch wheatgrass (Agropyron spicatum), blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), threadleaf sedge (Carex filifolia), prairie junegrass (Koeleria pyramidata), and needleandthread (Stipa comata).

JUNIPER—PINYON WOODLAND (Map No. 23)

Juniperus—Pinus

This type is characterized by open groves of needleleaf low trees with varying admixtures of shrubs and herbaceous plants. The dominant species are one-seed juniper (Juniperus monosperma), Utah juniper (Juniperus osteosperma), and pinyon pine (Pinus edulis). Other components include western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii), sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), ceanothuses (Ceanothus spp.), mountain mahoganies (Cercocarpus spp.), apache plume (Fallugia paradoxa), western juniper (Juniperus occidentalis), Indian ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides), antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata), oaks (Quercus spp.), and sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus).

SALTBUSH—GREASEWOOD (Map No. 40)

Atriplex—Sarcobatus

The saltbush—greasewood vegetation type has open stands of low shrubs and dwarf shrubs. The dominants are shadscale (Atriplex confertifolia) and greasewood (Sarcobatus vermiculatus). Other components include budsage (Artemisia spinescens), saltbushes (Atriplex spp.), inland saltgrass (Distichlis spicata), winterfat (Ceratoides lanata), spiny hopsage (Grayia spinosa), greenmoly summercypress (Kochia americana), and seepweed (Suaeda torreyana).

GRAMA—GALLETA STEPPE (Map No. 53)

Bouteloua—Hilaria

This type is a low to medium tall grassland with a few woody plants. The dominants are blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) and galleta (Hilaria jamesii). Other components include sand bluestem (Andropogon hallii), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta), green ephedra (Ephedra viridis), whipple cactus (Opuntia whipplei), indian ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides), horsebrushes (Tetradymia spp.), and small soapweed (Yucca glauca).

SAGEBRUSH—STEPPE (Map No. 55)

Artemisia—Agropyron

This type is a dense to open grassland with dense to open shrub synusia. The dominants are bluebunch wheatgrass (Agropyron spicatum), and big sagebush (Artemisia tridentata). Other components include black sagebrush (Artemisia nova), arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata), Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis), gromwells (Lithospermum spp.), lupines (Lupinus spp.), indian ricegrass (Orysopsis hymenoides), phloxes (Phlox spp.), bluegrasses (Poa spp.), antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata), and squirreltails (Sitanion spp.)

FOOTHILLS PRAIRIE (Map No. 63)

Agropyron—Festuca—Stipa

The Foothills Prairie is an open to fairly dense grassland of usually rather short grasses. The dominant plants are bluebunch wheatgrass (Agropyron spicatum), Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis), rough fescue (Festuca scabrella), and needleandthread (Stipa comata). Other components include western yarrow (Achillea millefolium), western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii), fringed sagewort (Artemisia frigida), blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), threadleaf sedge (Carex filifolia), eriogonums (Eriogonum spp.), prairie junegrass (Koeleria pyramidata), penstemons (Penstemon spp.), and sandberg bluegrass (Poa sandbergii).

GRAMA—NEEDLEGRASS—WHEATGRASS (Map No. 64)

Bouteloua—Stipa—Agropyron

This is a rather short, open to fairly dense grassland. The dominants are western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii), blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), and needleandthread (Stipa comata). Other components include bluebunch wheatgrass Agropyron spicatum), fringed sagewort (Artemisia frigida), threadleaf sedge (Carex filifolia), hairy goldaster (Chrysopsis villosa), prairie junegrass (Koeleria pyramidata), dotted gayfeather (Liatris punctata), plains muhly (Muhlenbergia cuspidata), sandberg bluegrass (Poa sandbergii), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus), green needlegrass (Stipa viridula), and broom snakeweed (Xanthocephalum sarothrae).

GRAMA—BUFFALOGRASS (Map No. 65)

Bouteloua—Buchloe

This is a fairly dense grassland of primarily short grasses. The dominants are blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis) and buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides). Other components include western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii), red threeawn (Aristida purpurea), hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta), scarlet gaura (Gaura coccinea), curlycup gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa), ironplant (Haploppus spinulosus), prickly pears (Opuntia spp.), woolly plantain (Plantago patagonica), slimflower scurfpea (Psoralea tenuiflora), upright prairieconeflower (Ratibida columninfera), senecios (Senecio spp.), scarlet globemallow (Sphaeralcea coccinea), sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus), and small soapweed (Yucca glauca).

WHEATGRASS—NEEDLEGRASS (Map No. 66)

Agropyron—Stipa

This is a moderately dense, short or medium tall grassland. The dominants are western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii), blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), needleandthread (Stipa comata), and green needlegrass (Stipa viridula). Other components include slender wheatgrass (Agropyron trachycaulum), pussytoes (Antennaria spp.), fringed sagewort (Artemisia frigida), sedges (Carex spp.), prairie junegrass (Koeleria pyramidata), forget-me-nots (Mertensia spp.), indian ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides), penstemons (Penstemon spp.), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), silky wormwood (Artemisia dracunculus), cudweed sagewort (Artemisia ludoviciana), heath aster (Aster ericoides), black samson (Echinacea angustifolia), dotted gayfeather (Liatris punctata), silverleaf scurfpea (Psoralea argophylla), goldenrods (Solidago spp.), and porcupinegrass (Stipa spartea).

WHEATGRASS—GRAMA—BUFFALO GRASS (Map No. 68)

Agropyron—Bouteloua—Buchloe

This vegetation type is composed of short to medium grasses with occasional needleleaf evergreen shrubs or small trees. The dominants are western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii), blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), and buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides). Other components include fringed sagewort (Artemisia frigida), heath aster (Aster ericoides), sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), sedges (Carex spp.), black samson (Echinacea angustifolia), junipers (Juniperus spp.), dotted gayfeather (Liatris punctata), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), goldenrods (Solidago spp.), and needleandthread (Stipa comata).

BLUESTEM—GRAMA PRAIRIE (Map No. 69)

Andropogon—Bouteloua

The Bluestem—Grama Prairie is a dense, medium tall grassland with many forbs. The dominants are little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), and blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis). Other components include western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii), western ragweed (Ambrosia psilostachya), leadplant (Amorpha canescens), big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides), fremont clematis (Clematis fremontii), slender dalea (Dalea enneandra), black samson (Echinacea angustifolia), western wallflower (Erysimum asperum), rough pennyroyal (Hedeoma hispida), dotted gayfeather (Liatris punctata), evening primrose (Oenothera serrulata), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), james nailwort (Paronychia jamesii), slimflower scurfpea (Psoralea tenuiflora), resinous skullcap (Scutellaria resinosa), indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), tall dropseed (Sporobolus asper), and stenosiphon (Stenosiphon linifolius).

SANDSAGE—BLUESTEM PRAIRIE (Map No. 70)

Artemisia—Andropogon

The Sandsage—Bluestem Prairie is a medium tall, medium dense grassland with a strong element of dwarf shrubs. The dominant plants are little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), sand bluestem (Andropogon hallii), sand sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia), and hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta). Other components include blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides), prairie sandreed (Calamovilfa longifolia), sand lovegrass (Eragrostis trichodes), prairie sunflower (Helianthus petriolaris), foxtail barley (Hordeum jubatum), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), blowoutgrass (Redfieldia flexuosa), sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus), needleandthread (Stipa comata), and small soapweed (Yucca glauca).

SHINNERY (Map No. 71)

Quercus—Andropogon

This is a midgrass prairie with open to dense broadleaf deciduous shrubs and occasional needleleaf low trees or shrubs. The dominant plants are little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and shin oak (Quercus mohriana). Other components include acacias (Acacia spp.), sand bluestem (Andropogon hallii), sand sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia), blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis), hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta), buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides), netleaf hackberry (Celtis reticulata), sandburs (Cenchrus spp.), annual eriogonum (Eriogonum annum), one-seed juniper (Juniperus monosperma), honey mesquite (Prosopis glandulosa), chicksaw plum (Prunus angustifolia), havard oak (Quercus havardii), fragrant sumac (Rhus aromatica), skunkbrush sumac (Rhus trilobata), indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), sand dropseed (Sporobolus cryptandrus), and small soapweed (Yucca glauca).

BLUESTEM PRAIRIE (Map No. 74)

Andropogon—Panicum—Sorghastrum

The Bluestem Prairie is characterized by dense vegetation of tall grasses and many forbs. The dominants include big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), and indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans). Other common components are leadplant (Amorpha canescens), field pussytoes (Antennaria neglecta), heath aster (Aster ericoides), blue aster (Aster laevis), Atlantic wildindigo (Baptisia leucantha), plains indigo (Baptisia leucophaea), sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), daisy fleabane (Erigeron strigosus), small bedstraw (Galium trifidum), sawtooth sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus), prairie junegrass (Koeleria pyramidata), rough gayfeather (Liatris aspera), dotted gayfeather (Liatris punctata), scaly gayfeather (Liatris glabrata), leiberg panicum (Panicum leibergii), prairie phlox (Phlox pilosa), silverleaf scurfpea (Psoralea argophylla), slimflower scurfpea (Psoralea tenuiflora), upright prairieconeflower (Ratibida columnifera), grayhead prairieconeflower (Ratibida pinnata), wild rose (Rosa arkansana), compassplant (Silphium laciniatum), goldenrods (Solidago spp.), prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepsis), and porcupinegrass (Stipa spartea).

CROSS TIMBERS (Map NO. 84)

Quercus—Andropogon

This type is characterized by medium tall grass with broadleaf deciduous trees scattered singly or in extensive groves. The dominants are blackjack oak (Quercus marilandica), post oak (Quercus stellata), and little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium). Other species include big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta), black hickory (Carya texana), hackberries (Celtis spp.), Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis), purple lovegrass (Eragrostis spectabilis), sand lovegrass (Eragrostis trichodes), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum), indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), tall dropseed (Sporobolus asper), and Texas wintergrass (Stipa leucotricha).

JUNIPER—OAK—SAVANNA (Map No. 86)

Juniperus—Quercus—Andropogon

This vegetation type is classified as a savanna with a dense to very open canopy of broadleaf deciduous and evergreen low trees and shrubs and needleleaf evergreen low trees and shrubs. The dominants are little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoaparium), ashe juniper (Juniperus ashei), and live oak (Quercus virginiana). Other components include big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii), reverchon threeawn (Aristida glauca), red threeawn (Aristida purpurea), intermediate threeawn (Aristida intermedia), sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), hairy grama (Bouteloua hirsuta), buffalograss (Buchloe dactyloides), redbud (Cercis canadensis), curly mesquite (Hilaria belangeri), green sprangletop (Leptochloa dubia), vine mesquite (Panicum obtusum), durand oak (Quercus durandii), sumard oak (Quercus shumardii), indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), tall dropseed (Sporobolus asper), and hairy tridens (Tridens pilosus).

NORTHERN FLOODPLAIN FOREST (Map No. 98)

Populus—Salix—Ulmus

This is a low to tall broadleaf deciduous forest, open to dense, often with lianas. The dominants are eastern cottonwood (Populus deltoides), black willow (Salix nigra), and American elm (Ulmus americana). Other components include boxelder (Acer negundo), red maple (Acer rubrum), sugar maple (Acer saccharinum), American bittersweet (Celastrus scandens), hackberry (Celtis occidentalis), white ash (Fraxinus americana), green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), honeylocust (Gleditsia triacanthos), black walnut (Juglans nigra), Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia), American sycamore (Platanus occidentalis), plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides var. occidentialis), poison ivy (Rhus radicans), peachleaf willow (Salix amygdaloides), sandbar willow (Salix interior), bristly greenbriar (Smilax hispida), buckbrush (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus) and red elm (Ulmus rubra).

MAPLE—BASSWOOD FOREST (Map No. 99)

Acer—Tilia

This vegetation type is a medium tall, broadleaf deciduous forest. The dominants are sugar maple (Acer saccharinum) and American basswood (Tilia americana). Other components include boxelder (Acer negundo), bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis), green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica), American hophornbean (Ostrya virginiana), bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa), red oak (Quercus rubra), American elm (Ulmus americana), and red elm (Ulmus rubra).

OAK—HICKORY FOREST (Map No. 100)

Quercus—Carya

This is a medium tall to tall broadleaf deciduous forest. The dominants are bitternut hickory (Carya cordiformis), shagbark hickory (Carya ovata), white oak (Quercus alba), red oak (Quercus rubra), and black oak (Quercus velutina). Other components include pignut hickory (Carya glabra), white ash (Fraxinus americana), black walnut (Juglans nigra), black cherry (Prunus serotina), chinkapin oak (Quercus muhlenbergii), American basswood (Tilia americana), and American elm (Ulmus americana).

NORTHERN HARDWOODS (Map No. 106)

Acer—Betula—Fagus—Tsuga

This is a tall, broadleaf deciduous forest with an admixture of needleleaf evergreen trees. The dominants are sugar maple (Acer saccharinum), yellow birch (Betula alleghaniensis), beech (Fagus grandifolia), and hemlock (Tsuga canadensis). Other components are striped maple (Acer pensylvanicum), red maple (Acer rubrum), mountain maple (Acer spicatum), white ash (Fraxinus americana), mountain laurel (Kalmia latifolia), eastern white pine (Pinus strobus), black cherry (Prunus serotina), American basswood (Tilia americana), and American elm (Ulmus americana).