Naturalist Guide

 

 

Switchgrass

Panicum virgatum

Poaceae

Native

This perennial is among the most common prairie grasses, and, with a C4 Metabolism it has little trouble dealing with the dry seasons.

 

 

Marram Grass

Ammophila breviliqulata

Poaceae

Native

Marram grass is a xerophyte that does well in locations like beaches, hence its simpler name, "beach grass." The Marram pictured was the most common plant present at the Indian Sand Dunes, where its role as a primary succession plant was clear.

 

 

Little Bluestem

Schizachyrium scoparium

Poaceae

Native

Your generic C4 Metabolic prairie grass...

 

 

Sandcherry

Prunus Pumila L

Roseaceae

Native

Perennial plant on the threatened species list. Indiana Dunes.

 

 

Hoary Puccoon

Lithospermum canescens

Boraginaceae

Native

Semi-Recalcitrant wildflower.

 

 

 

Wild Grapes

Vitis ???

Vitaceae

Non-native

Not much to say. Perennial.

 

 

 

 

Pitcher's Thistle

Cirsium pitcheri

Asteraceae

Native

The Pitcher's Thistle is native particularly to the Indiana sand dunes and is a threatened species.

 

 

 

 

???something in the Ranunculaceae family, judging by the seed pod..

 

 

 

?? It's Arabidopsis lyrata (rockcress)

 

 

Black Oak

Quercus velutina

Fagaceae

Native

The oaks are one of the few tree species seen throughout much of the prairies.

 

 

Poison Ivy

Toxicodendron radicans

Anacardiaceae

Non-Native

Pretty straight-forward.

 

 

 

arctic plant..

 

 

spruce moose

 

 

 

 

???

 

 

Milkweed

Asclepias syriaca

Apocynaceae

Native

Avoided by herbivores but not insects such as bees. This primary succession species grows in the middle of the path at the Dunes.

 

 

Cottonwood

Populus deltoides

Salicaceae

Native

The Cottonwood pictured grows feet away from the beach of Lake Michigan. The fact that the Cottonwood is often seen in riparian zones makes this more plausible.

 

 

Manzanita Blossoms

Arctostphylos patula

Ericaceae

Non-native

 

 

 

Jack Pine

Pinus banksiana

Pinaceae

Native

A relatively small extremely common (mainly in Canada) pine whose success strives on the fact it is a pioneer species, especially in burned areas.

 

 

 

 

False Solomon's Seal

Smilacina racemosa

Liliaceae

Native

Formerly known as Solomon's Plume, this perennial likes to hang out mainly in woodland areas.