Here's the link to my Conservation plan: http://prairieecosystems.pbwiki.com/Midewin+Educational+Project

...and my Endangered Species Page: http://prairieecosystems.pbwiki.com/Jim%20Ryan%20-%20Endangered%20Species

... and my Vision for Sustainability http://prairieecosystems.pbwiki.com/Vision%20for%20sustainability

NATURALIST GUIDE

These are pics I took under the 57th street bridge, and in the MSI garden.

Prarie Dropseed, Sporobolus heterolepis, Family Poaceae, Illinois native, short shrub-like grass that grows in thick clumps. MSI, 3:00 pm Apr. 3

Switchgrass, Panicum virgatum, Family Poaceae, Illinois native, tallgrass that has a clump base and long flower. 57th St. Bridge, 3:00 pm Apr. 3

Miscanthus, not sure which kind. I think it is the Asian variety, making it a non-native. M. sinensis. Family Poaceae, tallgrass with asturdy stalk and a flower that is more dense than switchgrass. Same time and place as above

This is from the point, still not sure what it is, same date and time as above.

Prarie Dropseed, Midewin around 1pm

Rattlesnake Master, Eryngium yuccifolium, Family Apiaceae, Illinois native, small bud early, will grow into a bulbous flower. Same time, on the burn strip.

Prickly Pear Cactus, Opuntia, Family Cactaceae, Illinois native, will grow a red-pink flower. From the dolemite prarie around 2ish

More Prarie Dropseed

Teasel, Dipsacus, Family Dipsacaceae, not an Illinois native, ought to grow more flowers with broad leaves. From right near that oak grove, around 2.30

I went on a Road Trip through South Dakota a couple of weeks ago and got these pictures back from various spots along the route including Badlands National Park and Wind Cave National Park

Corn, Zea mays, Family Poaceae, non-native to Illinois, this is a bud growing out of the sidewalk, oddly enough right outside the Corn Palace in Mitchell, SD. ARE YOU REFERING TO THAT BROADLEAF DICOT ABOVE AND CALLING IT THE MONOCOT MAIZE?

Cattail, Typha, probably latifolia but not sure, Family Typhaceae, native to Illinois, has creeping rhizomes and spongy leaves. This picture was taken in a wetland area near a campsite not far from the Badlands.

Pronghorn, Antilocapra americana, Family Antilocapridae, not native to Illinois, more common farther north. This animal is the second fastest land animal in the world, and the fastest in North America. Ita can reach about 61 mph (Wikipedia), and are also the only surviving member of the Family Antilocapridae. Taken in the Badlands.

Prairie Dog, Cynomys, not sure of the species, Family Sciuridae, non-native to Illinois. This is the common prairie rodent that populates much of the prairies west of the Mississippi. Taken in Wind Cave National Park.

Bison, Bison bison, Family Bovidae bovinae (subfamily), non-native to Illinois, this particular bison gets to roam one of the few protected bison prairies in North America, with pretty free range on Wind Cave National Park. GREAT ANIMAL SHOTS!

This is a zoomed out view of the same cattail wetland from above

I'm having a little trouble identifying these, any help?

?? WHAT IS IT?

This is from the visitor center at the Badlands, its a nice cross section of typical praire grasses and soil showing the root system and rhizomes.