For the Love of Grass III
Larry Holzworth, Wendall Oaks, Bob MacLauchlan, Fred Gaffney and Curtis Sharp
May, 2010
Our third, “For the Love of Grass‟ trek in May 2010 saw some slight change in personal. Pressing, last minute business forced our organizing power botanist, Jack Carlson, to bail out. While his absence was certainly missed, equally powerful Larry Holzworth stepped into the leadership, even though he was ‘out of his botanical element’. He was ably assisted by a returnee from Trek I, Wendall Oaks, whose Southwest exposure paid big dividends, and newcomer Fred Gaffney. Fred’s lack of instant identification ability was replaced by is patience to tediously sort through the plant parts and arrive at the correct answer. Bob, with a pair of new knees, and Curtis with his note pad rounded out the membership.
Our rendezvous in Wichita, KS on May 9 went flawlessly. We reviewed our agenda, prepared by Carlson. It included about a dozen identified grasslands, the farm of a retired NRCS employee, and a Plant Materials Center. Collectively, 16 sites were inventoried. Four were en-route from one grassland to another, at varying speeds of 1 to 50 miles per hour. We traveled a total of 1,500 miles in seven days, correctly or incorrectly identified 575 plants, saw several sunsets, and thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
Power Botanizing, using the Carlson/Holzworth convention of 2009, means identifying all plant species found by group members at the stop, and the group cannot leave until it believes the inventory is complete. Unfortunately, this was rarely possible; rain, miles to travel before we sleep and darkness being our primary enemies.
We were delighted Fred Gaffney joined us. Not only was his botanizing excellent, he introduced us to a more proper attire for field work – really high top boots, shown to the left. He assured us that they would protect him from chiggers, snakes and all manner of other grass dwelling critters. He was correct, not a bite. Unfortunately, no statistical analysis is possible since no other trek member was bitten.
Although these treks got started “For the Love of Grass”, this one was dominated by the number of forbs and grass-like species. While the team was mesmerized by the beauty of the wildflowers, absence of the number of grass species could be due to previous land management practices, recent weather patterns making the warm season grasses less apparent, such as ample spring rainfall favoring the annuals, or other reasons.
Our route is shown on page 3. We went generally south from Wichita on the eastern leg, returning north on the western leg.
2010 Trek Route
Inventory 1 – El Dorado State Park, El Dorado, KS (May 10)
El Dorado Reservoir is located at the southern edge of the scenic Flint Hills in Butler County, straddling MLRAs Central Loess Plains, and Bluestem Hills which supports mid and tall grass plant communities. Current vegetative cover consisted of mixed trees, grasses and forbs, with areas of open savanna type vegetation. The park consists of nearly 1,100 campsites that range from primitive to full utility hookups, group picnic shelters, as well as a trail system consisting of hiking, biking and equestrian trails.
Although rain welcomed us to El Dorado, we identified 50 plants:
Grasses
| Andropogon gerardii Vitman | big bluestem | |
| Bouteloua dactyloides (Nutt.) J.T. Columbus | buffalograss | |
| Bromus inermis Leyss. | smooth brome | |
| Bromus tectorum L. | cheatgrass | |
| Dichanthelium oligosanthes (Schult.) Gould var. scribnerianum (Nash) Gould | Scribner’s rosette grass | |
| Hordeum pusillum Nutt. | little barley | |
| Panicum virgatum L. | switchgrass | |
| Plantago virginica L. | red seed plantain | |
| Poa pratensis L. | Kentucky bluegrass | |
| Schedonorus phoenix (Scop.) Holub | tall fescue | |
| Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash | little bluestem | |
| Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash | Indiangrass |
Forbs
| Achillea millefolium L. var. occidentalis DC. | western yarrow | |
| Ambrosia trifida L. | great ragweed | |
| Antennaria parlinii Fernald | Parlin’s pussytoes | |
| Asclepias speciosa Torr. | showy milkweed | |
| Asclepias spp. L. | milkweed | |
| Baptisia australis (L.) R. Br. | blue wild indigo | |
| Baptisia bracteata Muhl. ex Elliot v. leucophaea (Nutt.) Kart. & Gang. | longbract wild indigo | |
| Carex spp. L. | sedge | |
| Cirsium texanum Buckley | Texas thistle | |
| Dalea purpurea Vent. | purple prairie clover | |
| Echinacea spp. Moench | purple coneflower | |
| Erigeron bellidiastrum Nutt. | western daisy fleabane | |
| Erodium texanum A. Gray | Texas stork’s bill | |
| Galium aparine L. | stickywilly | |
| Gleditsia triacanthos L. | honeylocust | |
| Helianthus L. | sunflower | |
| Lupinus argenteus Pursh | silvery lupine | |
| Medicago lupulina L. | black medic | |
| Medicago sativa L. | alfalfa | |
| Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam. | yellow sweetclover | |
| Oxalis stricta L. | common yellow woodsorrel | |
| Pediomelum cuspidatum (Pursh) Rydb. | largebract Indian breadroot | |
| Rumex L. | dock | |
| Tradescantia occidentalis (Britton) Smyth | prairie spiderwort | |
| Tradescantia ohiensis Raf. | common spiderwart | |
| Trifolium repens L. | white clover | |
| Zigadenus nuttallii (A. Gray) S. Watson | Nuttall’s deathcamas |
Woody Plants
| Celastrus scandens L. | American bittersweet | |
| Cercis canadensis L. | redbud | |
| Cornus drummondii C.A. Mey. | roughleaf dogwood | |
| Pinus echinata Mill. | shortleaf pine | |
| Quercus macrocarpa Michx. | bur oak | |
| Quercus muehlenbergii Engelm. | chinkapin oak | |
| Rhus glabra L. | smooth sumac | |
| Robinia pseudoacacia L. | black locust | |
| Symphoricarpos orbiculatus Moench | coralberry | |
| Toxicodendron radicans (L.) Kuntze | eastern poison ivy | |
| Ulmus sp. L. | elm |
Inventory 2 – En Route between stop 1 and 3 (May 10)
As we turned south the weather improved and the potential for picture taking overwhelmed driver Wendall, which also served as a quick inventory stop by PB’s Holzworth and Gaffney. The scribe was instructed to start writing.
Forbs
| Allium canadense L. | meadow garlic | |||
| Commelina dianthifolia Delile | birdbill dayflower | |||
| Coreopsis grandiflora Hogg ex Sweet | large flower tickseed | |||
| Dichanthelium oligosanthes (Schult.) Gould var. scribnerianum (Nash) Gould | Scribner’s rosette grass | |||
| Glandularia canadensis (L.) Nutt. | rose mock vervain | |||
| Oenothera pallida Lindl. ssp. runcinata (Engelm.) Munz & W. Klein | pale evening primrose | |||
| Penstemon cobaea Nutt. | cobaea beardtongue | |||
| Rubus allegheniensis Porter | Allegheny blackberry | |||
| Sisyrinchium campestre E.P. Bicknell | prairie blue-eyed grass | |||
| Verbascum thapsus L. | common mullein | |||
Inventory 3 – The Nature Conservancy’s Tallgrass Prairie Preserve, Osage County (May 10)
This tall grass prairie is split into MLRAs; Bluestem Hills and Cross Timbers. The potential native vegetation is tall grass prairie and open stand of trees with an understory of mid and tall grasses, forbs, and low woody plants. According to the Nature Conservancy literature it is the largest protected remnant of tallgrass prairie left on earth. Biodiversity threats include habitat fragmentation and loss, current grazing and fire practices, invasive plant species such as sericea lespedeza and eastern red cedar, and stream degradation due to land management practices and soil erosion. The Trek Team was somewhat disappointed in the contamination of what might have been at one time tall grass prairie.
Grasses
| Dichanthelium oligosanthes (Schult.) Gould var. scribnerianum (Nash) Gould | Scribner’s rosette grass | |||||||
| Hordeum pusillum Nutt. | little barley | |||||||
| Koeleria macrantha (Ledeb.) Schult. | prairie Junegrass | |||||||
| Panicum virgatum L. | switchgrass | |||||||
| Phalaris caroliniana Walter | Carolina canarygrass | |||||||
| Poa pratensis L. | Kentucky bluegrass | |||||||
| Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash | little bluestem | |||||||
 |  | |||||||
Forbs
| Achillea millefolium L. | common yarrow | |
| Ambrosia psilostachya DC. | Cuman ragweed | |
| Arnoglossum plantagineum Raf. | groovestem Indian plantain | |
| Carex spp. L. | sedge | |
| Coreopsis grandiflora Hogg ex Sweet | largeflower tickseed | |
| Desmodium grahamii A. Gray | Graham’s ticktrefoil | |
| Erigeron philadelphicus L. | Philadelphia fleabane | |
| Lespedeza capitata Michx. | roundhead lespedeza | |
| Lupinus L. | lupine | |
| Medicago sativa L. | alfalfa | |
| Nothocalais cuspidata (Pursh) Greene | prairie false dandelion | |
| Oxalis stricta L. | common yellow woodsorrel | |
| Oxalis violacea L. | violet woodsorrel | |
| Pediomelum cuspidatum (Pursh) Rydb. | largebract Indian breadroot | |
| Physalis longifolia Nutt. | longleaf groundcherry | |
| Sonchus oleraceus L. | common sowthistle | |
| Tradescantia ohiensis Raf. | bluejacket | |
| Xyris caroliniana Walter | Carolina yellow eyed grass | |
| Zigadenus nuttallii (A. Gray) S. Watson | Nuttall’s deathcamas |
Woody Plants
| Amorpha canescens Pursh | leadplant | |
| Cornus drummondii C.A. Mey. | roughleaf dogwood | |
| Mimosa nuttallii (DC. ex Britton & Rose) B.L. Turner | Nuttall’s sensitive-briar | |
| Quercus macrocarpa Michx. | bur oak | |
| Symphoricarpos orbiculatus Moench | coralberry |
Inventory 4 – The Anderson Ranch, Rogers County, OK (May 10 and May 11)
Any disappointment experienced at the Nature Conservancy’s Tallgrass Prairie Preserve was erased immediately upon arrival at the home of Dave and Patsy Anderson, in Rogers County. We were all welcomed into their lovely home at the peak of a tornado watch. Fortunately the tornados missed us and we enjoyed a wonderful evening in anticipation of a major trek over the Anderson estate the next morning.
The Andersons are located in MLRA Cherokee Prairies. The western part of this area supports tall grass prairie vegetation. Big bluestem, little bluestem, indiangrass, and switchgrass are the dominant species. The eastern part and the valleys in the western part support natural vegetation characterized by trees. Red oak, white oak, and shagbark hickory are major species. Islands of tall grass prairie vegetation are common. Farming has replaced the native grasses but the trees are still around.
Grasses
| Aristida oligantha Michx. | prairie threeawn | |
| Bromus catharticus Vahl | rescuegrass | |
| Bromus tectorum L. | cheatgrass | |
| Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. | Bermudagrass | |
| Dichanthelium sp. (Hitchc. & Chase) Gould | rosette grass | |
| Hordeum pusillum Nutt. | little barley | |
| Poa pratensis L. | Kentucky bluegrass | |
| Schedonorus pratensis (Huds.) P. Beauv. | meadow fescue | |
| Tridens flavus (L.) Hitchc. | purpletop tridens | |
| Vulpia octoflora (Walter) Rydb. var. octoflora | sixweeks fescue |
Rogers county, named for Will, is also famous for another item, the worlds largest totem pole, of which Dave is current overseer. It’s one item that will help when you “Get your kicks on route sixty-six”.
Our inventory was followed by the most sumptuous breakfast, and we departed late morning hoping Jack had arranged similar stops. But before departing, one team member ask Dave if he could measure and cut him a board on which to set in the vehicle. This historic moment was recorded by our ace photographer.
Forbs
| Achillea millefolium L. | common yarrow | |
| Asclepias viridis Walter | green antelopehorn | |
| Calylophus serrulatus (Nutt.) P.H. Raven | yellow sundrops | |
| Cerastium fontanum Baumg | mouse-ear chickweed | |
| Comandra umbellata (L.) Nutt. | bastard toadflax | |
| Commelina dianthifolia Delile | birdbill dayflower | |
| Dalea purpurea Vent. | purple prairie clover | |
| Daucus carota L. | Queen Anne’s lace | |
| Lepidium virginicum L. | Virginia pepperweed | |
| Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don | sericea lespedeza | |
| Leucanthemum vulgare Lam. | oxeye daisy | |
| Oxalis corniculata L. | creeping woodsorrel | |
| Penstemon sp. Schmidel | Penstemon | |
| Polygonum sp. L | knotweed | |
| Potentilla gracilis Douglas ex Hook. | slender cinquefoil | |
| Rubus riograndis L.H. Bailey | Rio Grande dewberry | |
| Rumex crispus L. | curly dock | |
| Trifolium grandiflorum Schreb. | large-flower hop clover | |
| Trifolium vesiculosum Savi | arrowleaf clover | |
| Vernonia arkansana DC. | Arkansas ironweed | |
| Vicia sativa L. | garden vetch |
Woody Plants
| Catalpa bignonioides Walter | southern catalpa | |
| Celtis laevigata Willd. | sugarberry | |
| Lonicera japonica Thunb. | Japanese honeysuckle | |
| Quercus rubra L. | northern red oak | |
| Quercus stellata Wangenh. | post oak | |
| Rosa multiflora Thunb. | multiflora rose | |
| Smilax rotundifolia L. | roundleaf greenbriar | |
| Symphoricarpos orbiculatus Moench | coralberry | |
| Vitis sp. L. | grape |
Inventory 5 – En Route between stop 4 and 6. (May 11)
A late start and many miles required skipping the scheduled Pontotoc Ridge Preserve, Johnston County, OK. However, the weather was great and the potential for picture taking overwhelmed Wendall, and a quick inventory stop by PB’s Holzworth and Gaffney followed. The scribe was instructed to start writing. This en route inventory was a substitute for the Pontotoc Ridge Preserve.
Grasses
| Lolium perenne L. | perennial ryegrass | |
| Lolium perenne L. ssp. multiflorum (Lam.) Husnot | Italian ryegrass |
Forbs
| Castilleja spp. Mutis ex L. f. | Indian paintbrush | |
| Lathyrus latifolius L. | perennial pea | |
| Polytaenia nuttallii DC. | Nuttall’s prairie parsley | |
| Tradescantia occidentalis (Britton) Smyth | prairie spiderwort | |
| Triodanis leptocarpa (Nutt.) Nieuwl. | slimpod Venus’ looking-glass |
Inventory 6 – Caddo National Grasslands, Fannin County, TX (May 11)
Caddo National Grassland consists of two separate sections located in northeastern and southeastern Fannin County, Texas. It is a 17,873-acre park that was purchased in the 1930s. The goal of the park when purchased was to restore the eroded soil. The grassland is administered together with all four U. S. National Forests and two National Grasslands located entirely in Texas. Arriving at the Grassland about an hour before dark allowed us a slow trot inventory of less than an acre. Vegetation was dense, including an expanding tree population, as shown below left.
The Caddo Grasslands is located in MLRA East Cross Fingers, supporting oak savanna vegetation with a tall grass under story. Our selected inventory site was somewhat representative of this, but infested with many exotics.
After a late supper and a later leveraging of one motel price against another, our lodging designee Wendall located the least expensive one and we retired in Decatur, TX from a long but productive day.
Grasses
| Agrostis hyemalis (Walter) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb. | winter bentgrass | |
| Andropogon spp. L. | bluestem | |
| Andropogon virginicus L. | broomsedge bluestem | |
| Briza minor L. | little quakinggrass | |
| Bromus catharticus Vahl | rescuegrass | |
| Dichanthelium spp.(Hitchc. & Chase) Gould | rosette grass | |
| Lolium perenne L. | perennial ryegrass | |
| Lolium perenne L. ssp. multiflorum (Lam.) Husnot | Italian ryegrass | |
| Phalaris caroliniana Walter | Carolina canarygrass | |
| Setaria spp. P. Beauv. | bristlegrass |
Forbs
| Bulbostylis capillaris (L.) Kunth ex C.B. Clarke | densetuft hairsedge | |
| Carex spp. L. | sedge | |
| Castilleja foliolosa Hook. & Arn. | Texas Indian paintbrush | |
| Cerastium fontanum Baumg. | mouse-ear chickweed | |
| Echinacea spp. Moench | purple coneflower | |
| Eleocharis spp. R. Br. | spikerush | |
| Equisetum spp. L. | horsetail | |
| Erigeron bellidiastrum Nutt. | western daisy fleabane | |
| Erodium cicutarium (L.) L’Hér. ex Aiton | redstem stork’s bill | |
| Galium circaezans Michx. | licorice bedstraw | |
| Helianthus hirsutus Raf | hairy sunflower | |
| Juncus sp. L. | Rush | |
| Kummerowia stipulacea (Maxim.) Makino | Korean clover | |
| Oxalis corniculata L. | creeping woodsorrel | |
| Oxalis stricta L. | common yellow woodsorrel | |
| Plantago spp. L. | plantain | |
| Prunella vulgaris L. | common selfheal | |
| Rudbeckia hirta L. | blackeyed Susan | |
| Rumex spp. L. | dock | |
| Sisyrinchium campestre E.P. Bicknell | prairie blue-eyed grass | |
| Trifolium grandiflorum Schreb. | large-flower hop clover | |
| Triodanis perfoliata (L.) Nieuwl. | clasping Venus’ looking-glass | |
| Vicia sativa L. | garden vetch |
Woody Plants
| Lonicera japonica Thunb. | Japanese honeysuckle | |
| Prunus angustifolia Marsh. | Chickasaw plum | |
| Rhus copallinum L. | winged sumac | |
| Rubus aboriginum Rydb. | garden dewberry | |
| Rubus allegheniensis Porter | Allegheny blackberry | |
| Lonicera japonica Thunb. | Japanese honeysuckle | |
| Prunus angustifolia Marsh. | Chickasaw plum | |
| Rhus copallinum L. | winged sumac | |
| Rubus aboriginum Rydb. | garden dewberry | |
| Rubus allegheniensis Porter | Allegheny blackberry |
Inventory 7 – U.S. Forest Service LBJ National Grasslands, Wise County, TX (May 12)
The LBJ National Grasslands are the only urban national grasslands and extends over 20,000+ acres in Wise County, just north of the city of Decatur. From the standpoint of vegetation this was a beautiful site. Besides, the site was close to our nights lodging, the sun was shining, and the wildflowers were in volumes, and overwhelming.
This site is in the north end of MLRA Grand Prairie. The PNV is prairie vegetation with widely scattered live oak and other trees. Little bluestem, sideoats grama, tall grama, and scattered shrub live oak and juniper trees characterize the natural vegetation on the very shallow soils and along escarpments.
Grasses
| Aegilops cylindrica Host | jointed goatgrass | |
| Avena fatura L. | wild oat | |
| Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.) Torr. | sideoats grama | |
| Bouteloua gracilis (Willd. ex Kunth) Lag. ex Griffiths | blue grama | |
| Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. | Bermudagrass | |
| Lolium perenne L. | perennial ryegrass | |
| Nasella leucotricha (Trin. & Rupr.) Pohl | Texas wintergrass | |
| Panicum spp. L. | panicgrass | |
| Poa annua L. | annual bluegrass | |
| Sporobolus sp. R. Br. | dropseed |
Forbs
| Allium spp. L. | onion | |
| Astragalus crassicarpus Nutt. | groundplum milkvetch | |
| Bidens cernua L. | nodding beggartick | |
| Callirhoe involucrata (Torr. & A. Gray) A. Gray | purple poppymallow | |
| Calylophus berlandieri Spach | Berlandier’s sundrops | |
| Carex sp. L. | sedge | |
| Castilleja indivisa Engelm. | entireleaf Indian paintbrush | |
| Cirsium undulatum (Nutt.) Spreng. | wavyleaf thistle | |
| Cnidoscolus texanus (Müll. Arg.) Small | Texas bullnettle | |
| Dalea purpurea Vent. | purple prairie clover | |
| Echinacea angustifolia DC. | blacksamson echinacea | |
| Echinacea pallida (Nutt.) Nutt. | pale purple coneflower | |
| Erigeron philadelphicus L. | Philadelphia fleabane | |
| Gaillardia pulchella Fouq. | blanketflower | |
| Gaura coccinea Nutt. ex Pursh | scarlet beeblossom | |
| Hymenopappus artemisiifolius DC. | oldplainsman | |
| Liatris sp. Gaertn. ex Schreb. | blazing star | |
| Linum berlandieri Hook. var. berlandieri | Berlandier’s yellow flax | |
| Linum rigidum Pursh | stiffstem flax | |
| Marshallia caespitosa Nutt. ex DC. | puffballs | |
| Oenothera macrocarpa Nutt. ssp. macrocarpa | bigfruit evening primrose | |
| Oenothera speciosa Nutt. | pinkladies | |
| Oenothera spp. L. | primrose | |
| Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelm. | cactus apple | |
| Pediomelum cuspidatum (Pursh) Rydb. | largebract Indian breadroot | |
| Penstemon cobaea Nutt. | cobaea beardtongue | |
| Plantago ovata Forssk. | desert Indianwheat | |
| Plantago virginica L. | Virginia plantain | |
| Polygala alba Nutt. | Nuttall’s prairie parsley | |
| Pyrrhopappus pauciflorus (D. Don) DC. | smallflower desert-chicory | |
| Scutellaria resinosa Torr. | sticky skullcap | |
| Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav. | silverleaf nightshade | |
| Tridens albescens (Vasey) Woot. & Standl. | white tridens | |
| Verbena hastata L. | herb of the cross | |
| Yucca glauca Nutt. | soapweed yucca | |
| Yucca recurvifolia Salisb. | curved-leaf yucca |
Woody Plants
| Celtis laevigata Willd. | sugarberry | |
| Cornus drummondii C.A. Mey. | roughleaf dogwood | |
| Juniperus ashei J. Buchholz | Ashe’s juniper | |
| Mimosa microphylla Dryand. | littleleaf sensitive-briar | |
| Prunus angustifolia Marsh. | Chickasaw plum | |
| Quercus rubra L. | red oak | |
| Quercus stellata Wangenh. | post oak | |
| Symphoricarpos orbiculatus Moench | coralberry |
Inventory 8 – Simpson Prairie, Native Prairies Association of Texas (May 12)
The Native Prairies Association of Texas (NPAT) is a non-profit membership organization and land trust dedicated to the conservation, restoration, and appreciation of native prairies, savannas, and other grasslands in Texas and throughout the United States. NPAT protects over 1200 acres of native Texas prairie, including over 100 acres of endangered/threatened tallgrass prairie. Another former NRCS plant materials person, Arnold Davis, was instrumental in establishing the Association following his retirement.
Simpson Prairie is located in McLennan County a prairie remnant of the Grand Prairie on a gently sloping hillside. Little bluestem, indiangrass, and big bluestem are the dominant grasses. It is owned by Mike and Marliss Williams with a conservation easement held by NPAT. After growing up in the area and learning about prairies, Mike remembered seeing prairie before the area of Simpson Prairie became overgrazed. He then searched for and found part of the overgrazed prairie, purchased it, and restored Simpson Prairie. Mike has used seed hay from Simpson Prairie in area prairie restoration and plantings.
Grasses
| Aegilops cylindrica Host | jointed goatgrass | |
| Andropogon gerardii Vitman | big bluestem | |
| Bouteloua hirsuta Lag. | hairy grama | |
| Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash | little bluestem |
Forbs
| Argemone albiflora Hornem. | bluestem pricklypoppy | |
| Asclepias asperula (Decne.) Woodson | spider milkweed | |
| Asclepias spp. L. | milkweed | |
| Asclepias viridis Walter | green antelopehorn | |
| Bidens cernua L. | nodding beggartick | |
| Callirhoe involucrata (Torr. & A. Gray) A. Gray | purple poppymallow | |
| Carex spp. L. | carex | |
| Cirsium undulatum (Nutt.) Spreng. | wavyleaf thistle | |
| Galium spp. L. | bedstraw | |
| Gaura coccinea Nutt. ex Pursh | scarlet beeblossom | |
| Hymenopappus artemisiifolius DC. | oldplainsman | |
| Linum rigidum Pursh | stiffstem flax | |
| Marshallia caespitosa Nutt. ex DC. | puffballs | |
| Oenothera macrocarpa Nutt. ssp. macrocarpa | bigfruit evening primrose | |
| Plantago ovata Forssk. | desert Indianwheat | |
| Scutellaria resinosa Torr. | sticky skullcap | |
| Vicia sativa L. | garden vetch |
Woody Plants
| Prunus angustifolia Marsh. | Chickasaw plum |
Postscript to Inventory 8. After leaving the site we headed for Waco for lodging. On the way to town Larry suggested we find some barbeque for dinner. Great idea. So Wendall consulted his iPad and found several in Waco. With GPS in hand we toured the city to no avail, finely settling for an excellent dining establishment, but no BBQ. To be continued.
Inventory 9 – Lehmann Prairie, Native Prairies Association of Texas. (May 13)
Prior to our arrival in Texas organizer Carlson had identified this site and that a former NRCS plant materials person James Alderson was heading up the Native Prairies Association of Texas. He joined us at the Lehmann site. James is a man in his element. He knew every plant, a history about most and was the picture of a person in the right job. It was great seeing him, and he seemed to enjoy his former colleagues, staying with us until we departed the Granger site.
Lehmann Prairie is a tallgrass prairie remnant of the Blackland Prairie. The Texas Blackland Prairie is part of the endangered tallgrass prairies of North America, of which less than 1% remains due to conversion to agriculture and development. Little bluestem and indiangrass are dominant grasses. Gilgai, natural depressions in the prairie, harbor different native plant species and increase biodiversity.
It is owned by Corrine (Lehmann) Dragoo with a conservation easement held by NPAT. Corrine’s family protected the area for several generations by using it only for hay. Then Corrine established the permanent protection for future generation via the conservation easement with NPAT. From the point of view of being on a native prairie, this came the closest of any site on the entire trek.
Grasses
| Aegilops cylindrica Host | jointed goatgrass | |
| Avena fatua L. | wild oat | |
| Bromus arvensis L. | field brome | |
| Bromus catharticus Vahl | rescuegrass | |
| Elymus canadensis L. | Canada wildrye | |
| Hordeum pusillum Nutt. | little barley | |
| Lolium perenne L. ssp. multiflorum (Lam.) Husnot | Italian ryegrass | |
| Nasella Leucotricha (Trin. & Rupr.) Pohl | Texas wintergrass | |
| Panicum spp. L. | panicum sp. | |
| Paspalum dilatatum Poir. | dallisgrass | |
| Paspalum notatum Flueggé | bahiagrass | |
| Phalaris caroliniana Walter | Carolina canarygrass | |
| Schedonnardus paniculatus (Nutt.) Trel. | tumblegrass | |
| Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash | little bluestem | |
| Setaria spp. P. Beauv | bristlegrass | |
| Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash | Indiangrass | |
| Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. | johnsongrass | |
| Sporobolus sp. R. Br. | dropseed |
Forbs
| Asclepias asperula (Decne.) Woodson ssp. capricornu (Woodson) Woodson | antelopehorns | |
| Asclepias speciosa Torr. | showy milkweed | |
| Callirhoe digitata Nutt. | winecup | |
| Carex spp. L. | sedge | |
| Castilleja foliolosa Hook. & Arn. | Texas Indian paintbrush | |
| Centaurea americana Nutt. | American star-thistle | |
| Cirsium texanum Buckley | Texas thistle | |
| Delphinium virescens Nett. | plains larkspur | |
| Eleocharis spp. R. Br. | spikerush | |
| Engelmannia peristenia (Raf.) Goodman & C.A. Lawson | Engelmann’s daisy | |
| Erigeron bellidiastrum Nutt. | western daisy fleabane | |
| Gaillardia pulchella Foug. | firewheel | |
| Hymenopappus artemisiifolius DC. | oldplainsman | |
| Juncus spp. L. | rush | |
| Krameria lanceolata Torr. | trailing krameria | |
| Liatris spp. Gaertn. ex Schreb. | blazing star | |
| Lindheimera texana A. Gray & Engelm. | Texas yellowstar | |
| Linum rigidum Pursh | stiffstem flax | |
| Lupinus texensis Hook. | Texas lupine | |
| Monarda punctata L. | spotted beebalm | |
| Neptunia lutea (Leavenworth) Benth. | yellow puff | |
| Oenothera speciosa Nutt. | showy evenng primrose | |
| Plantago ovata Forssk. | desert Indianwheat | |
| Plantago spp. L. | plantain | |
| Pyrrhopappus pauciflorus (D. Don) DC. | smallflower desert-chicory | |
| Ratibida pinnata (Vent.) Barnhart | pinnate prairie coneflower | |
| Rhexia sp. L. | meadowbeauty | |
| Ruellia nudiflora (Engelm. & A. Gray) Urb. | violet wild petunia | |
| Rumex crispus L. | curly dock | |
| Sabatia campestris Nutt. | Texas star | |
| Sideroxylon lanuginosum Michx. | gum bully | |
| Stenaria nigricans (Lam.) Terrell var. nigricans | diamondflowers | |
| Symphyotrichum sp. L. | heath aster | |
| Teucrium sp. L. | germander | |
| Tradescantia occidentalis (Britton) Smyth | prairie spiderwort | |
| Valerianella sp. Mill. | cornsalad | |
| Verbena halei Small | Texas vervain | |
| Verbena officinalis L. | herb of the cross | |
| Vicia sativa L. | garden vetch |
Woody Plants
| Acacia spp. Mill. | acacia | |
| Celtis laevigata Willd. | sugarberry | |
| Mimosa microphylla Dryand. | littleleaf sensitive-briar | |
| Prosopis spp. L. | mesquite |
Inventory 10 – Granger Wildlife Management Area, managed by US Army Corps of Engineers. (May 13)
The Granger WMA has 10,888 acres located in Williamson County about 50 miles north of Austin. This area in east central Texas is part of the Blackland Prairies Ecological Region. The area we inventoried was immediately below the dam of the Granger Lake, and contains, along with many volunteers, repository plantings of several native grasses and forbs.
Grasses
| Bothriochloa ischaemum (L.) Keng var. songarica (Rupr. ex Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) Celarier & Harlan | yellow bluestem | |
| Panicum antidotale Retz. | blue panicum | |
| Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. | johnsongrass | |
| Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L. | eastern gamagrass | |
| Vulpia octoflora (Walter) Rydb. var. octoflora | sixweeks fescue |
Forbs
| Ambrosia trifida L. | great ragweed | |
| Amphiachyris dracunculoides (DC.) Nutt. | prairie broomweed | |
| Anemone berlandieri Pritz. | tenpetal thimbleweed | |
| Desmanthus sp. Willd. | bundleflower | |
| Gaillardia pulchella Foug. | firewheel | |
| Gaura coccinea Nutt. ex Pursh | scarlet beeblossom | |
| Helianthus maximiliani Schrad. | Maximilian sunflower | |
| Lathyrus latifolius L | perennial pea | |
| Medicago polymorpha L. | burclover | |
| Opuntia phaeacantha Engelm. | tulip pricklypear | |
| Polytaenia nuttallii DC. | Nuttall’s prairie parsley | |
| Ratibida columnifera (Nutt.) Woot. & Standl. | upright prairie coneflower | |
| Rubus aboriginum Rydb. | garden dewberry | |
| Solidago spp. L | goldenrod |
Inventory 11 – En Route between stop 10 and 12. (May 13 and 14)
After leaving the Granger site we drove through seas of Texas wildflowers to the beautiful town of Fredericksburg, TX. This inventory took place en route from site 10 toward the Hill Country to State Natural Area, Bandera TX (Site 11). Part of the inventory came from the afternoon drive on May 13 and the drive from Fredericksburg to the Natural Area and back to the town of Bandera on the morning of May 14. The route to Fredericksburg was the most beautiful of the Trek.
Upon arriving in Fredericksburg, Wendall did his magic again and we settled in to a more than adequate lodging at a reasonable price. The search for BBQ was fruitless and we closed another local eatery.
On May 14 we headed to the Hill Country State Natural Area, which is a scenic mosaic of rocky hills, flowing springs, oak groves, grasslands, and canyons. The terrain ranges from flat, broad creek bottoms to steep, rocky canyons up to 2000 feet in elevation. The Nature Area was intended to be an inventory site but due to heavy rains it was closed. Part of this inventory came from intermittent stops along the road for a brief inventory
Grasses
| Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. | Bermudagrass | |
| Elymus virginicus L. | Virginia wildrye | |
| Lolium perenne L. ssp. multiflorum (Lam.) Husnot | Italian ryegrass | |
| Nassella leucotricha (Trin. & Rupr.) Pohl | Texas wintergrass | |
| Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash | little bluestem | |
| Solanum elaeagnifolium Cav. | silverleaf nightshade | |
| Sorghum halepense (L.) Pers. | johnsongrass | |
| Vulpia octoflora (Walter) Rydb. var. octoflora | sixweeks fescue |
Forbs
| Allium drummondii Regel | Drummond’s onion | |
| Callirhoe digitata Nutt. | winecup | |
| Cirsium undulatum (Nutt.) Spreng. | wavyleaf thistle | |
| Engelmannia peristenia (Raf.) Goodman & C.A. Lawson | Engelmann’s daisy | |
| Erodium texanum A. Gray | Texas stork’s bill | |
| Gaillardia amblyodon J. Gay | maroon blanketflower | |
| Gaura coccinea Nutt. ex Pursh | scarlet beeblossom | |
| Ipomopsis aggregata (Pursh) V.E. Grant | scarlet gilia | |
| Lepidium virginicum L.. | Virginia pepperweed | |
| Lygodesmia texana (Torr. & A. Gray) Greene | Texas skeletonplant | |
| Mahonia trifoliolata (Moric.) Fedde | algerita | |
| Melampodium leucanthum Torr. & A. Gray | plains blackfoot | |
| Monarda punctata L. | spotted beebalm | |
| Plantago ovata Forssk. | desert Indianwheat | |
| Polygala alba Nutt. | Nuttall’s prairie parsley | |
| Ratibida columnifera (Nutt.) Woot. & Standl. | upright prairie coneflower | |
| Ratibida sp. Raf. | coneflower | |
| Rudbeckia hirta L. | blackeyed Susan | |
| Salvia azurea Michx. ex Lam. | azure blue sage |
Woody Plants
| Juniperus ashei J. Buchholz | Ashe’s juniper | |
| Tillandsia recurvata (L.) L. | small ballmoss | |
| Vitis sp. L. | grape |
Postscript to the inventory from the Granger site to Bandera, TX. Heavy rain welcomed us as we went through Bandera at about 8:30AM, but we saw a sign that warmed the gastric juices in Larry’s tummy; ‘Barbeque’. We drove to the Natural Area and found it closed. Our roadside inventory took awhile, but by 10:30 we were back in Bandera. As R.E. Lee said at Gettysburg, against the advice of his generals, “They are here and we are here, so we will fight”. The Barbeque is here and so are we. Lee made a mistake but we didn’t.
As we enjoyed our brunch our discussion of wildflowers included the lady who served us. Crested Butte, CO was mentioned, which she had visited. “They got variety but we got volume” was her comparison of Bandera and Crested Butte. We could all certainly agree; Texas has wildflower volume.
Inventory 12 – Kerr Wildlife Management Area Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (May 14)
Having finished lunch we then headed to the Kerr Wildlife Management Area, located at the headwaters of the North Fork of the Guadalupe River. The Area contains 6,493 acres, representative of the Edwards Plateau habitat type of Texas. The Area was purchased in fee title by the State of Texas (Game, Fish and Oyster Commission) in 1950 from the Presbyterian MO Ranch Assembly under the Pittman-Robertson Act using Federal Aid in Wildlife Restoration.
The Management Area is also in the Texas Hill Country. It is maintained as a grassland savannah largely by grazing habits of bison and antelope as well as by frequent natural and man-made fires. The land now supports a rich diversity of forbs and grasses. Its history, however, is all too typical.
By 1900, continuous overgrazing and control of fire had taken its toll. The land began to change from grassland to a brushland. Many of the woody brush species were readily grazed by sheep, goats, cattle, and an increasing deer herd. These animals have selective eating habits and eat the more desirable plants first and leave the less desirable plants for last. By the1940’s, many of the good quality plant species were highly depleted and not readily found on most ranges. The Hill Country is now dominated by poor quality browse, forb, and grass plants. The juniper (commonly called cedar) is a highly undesirable forage plant avoided by both domestic livestock and deer. In much of the Hill Country, cedar became the dominate plant species causing a once diverse and healthy landscape to become a “cedar brake” with very little plant diversity or vigor. Its recovery since 1950 is encouraging.
Grasses
| Andropogon virginicus L. | broomsedge bluestem | |
| Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.) Torr. | sideoats grama | |
| Bouteloua dactyloides (Nutt.) J.T. Columbus | buffalograss | |
| Bouteloua hirsuta Lag. var. pectinata (Featherly) Cory | tall grama | |
| Nassella leucotricha (Trin. & Rupr.) Pohl | Texas wintergrass | |
| Lolium perenne L. ssp. multiflorum (Lam.) Husnot | Italian ryegrass | |
| Tripsacum dactyloides (L.) L. | eastern gamagrass |
Forbs
| Asclepias asperula (Decne.) Woodson | spider milkweed | |
| Centaurea solstitialis L. | yellow star thistle | |
| Centaurium beyrichii (Torr. & A. Gray ex Torr.) B.L. Rob. | quinineweed | |
| Cirsium undulatum (Nutt.) Spreng. | wavyleaf thistle | |
| Convolvulus arvensis L. | field bindweed | |
| Coreopsis douglasii (DC.) H.M. Hall | Douglas’ tickseed | |
| Coreopsis tinctoria Nutt. | golden tickseed | |
| Cucurbita pepo L. var. texana (Scheele) D. Decker | Texas gourd | |
| Cuscuta sp. L. | Dodder | |
| Cylindropuntia leptocaulis (DC.) F.M. Knuth | Christmas cactus | |
| Daucus carota L. | Queen Anne’s lace | |
| Erigeron bellidiastrum Nutt. | western daisy fleabane | |
| Gaura coccinea Nutt. ex Pursh | scarlet beeblossom | |
| Glandularia canadensis (L.) Nutt. | rose mock vervain | |
| Lespedeza sp. Michx. | Lespedeza | |
| Linum sulcatum Riddell | grooved flax | |
| Lupinus subcarnosus Hook. | Texas bluebonnet | |
| Medicago polymorpha L. | Burclover | |
| Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelm. | cactus apple | |
| Plantago ovata Forssk. | desert Indianwheat | |
| Plantago virginica L. | Virginia plantain | |
| Salvia azurea Michx. ex Lam. | azure blue sage | |
| Sedum nuttallianum Raf. | yellow stonecrop | |
| Senna roemeriana (Scheele) Irwin & Barneby | twoleaf senna | |
| Solanum xanti A. Gray | chaparral nightshade | |
| Tetragonotheca texana Engelm. & A. Gray ex A. Gray | squarebud daisy | |
| Tetraneuris scaposa (DC.) Greene | stemmy four-nerve daisy | |
| Tragopogon dubius Scop. | yellow salsify | |
| Tridens flavus (L.) Hitchc. | purpletop tridens | |
| Verbascum thapsus L. | common mullein |
Woody Plants
| Juniperus ashei J. Buchholz | Ashe’s juniper | |
| Prosopis sp. L. | Mesquite |
Inventory 13 – En Route between Kerr WMA to the James B. (Bud) Smith PMC (May 15)
This en route inventory include the evening of May 14 on our way to Abiline, TX, and from there to the Knox City PMC the next morning. Heavy rains had fallen overnight, which was not a good omen for a tour of the PMC
Grasses
| Avena fatua L. | wild oat | |
| Bothriochloa ischaemum (L.) Keng var. songarica (Rupr. ex Fisch. & C.A. Mey.) Celarier & Harlan | yellow bluestem | |
| Bothriochloa sp. Kuntze | Beardgrass | |
| Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.) Torr. | sideoats grama | |
| Bromus arvensis L. | field brome | |
| Dimorphocarpa wislizeni (Engelm.) Rollins | Touristplant | |
| Hordeum pusillum Nutt. | little barley |
Forbs
| Argemone albiflora Hornem. | Argemone albiflora Hornem. | |
| Callirhoe digitata Nutt. | Winecup | |
| Erigeron bellidiastrum Nutt. | western daisy fleabane | |
| Erodium texanum A. Gray | Texas stork’s bill | |
| Gaura coccinea Nutt. ex Pursh | scarlet beeblossom | |
| Lepidium densiflora Schrad. | common pepperwort | |
| Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam. | yellow sweetclover | |
| Oenothera triloba Nutt. | stemless evening primrose | |
| Opuntia engelmannii Salm-Dyck ex Engelm. | cactus apple | |
| Plantago helleri Small | Heller’s plantain | |
| Tillandsia recurvata (L.) L. | small ballmoss | |
| Tragopogon dubius Scop. | yellow salsify | |
| Verbena halei Small | Texas vervain | |
| Yucca constricta Buckley | Buckley’s yucca |
James B. (Bud) Smith PMC (May 15)
We arrived at the PMC Saturday morning about 9:30AM. Manager Gary Rea was contributing his Saturday morning to show us around. Unfortunately, the rain confined our tour to the office, greenhouse and buildings. After a couple hours visit we departed for Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge. We did indeed enjoy our brief stay and really appreciate Gary sacrificing his Saturday to be with us.
Inventory 14 – Wichita Mountains Wildlife Refuge, US Fish and Wildlife Service, USDI (May 15)
The refuge lies at the vegetational crossroads of the plains country. Here are found excellent examples of the mixed prairie grasslands — buffalo and grama grasses typical of the western short-grass prairies as well as the bluestems, Indian grass, and switch grass more typical of the eastern tall-grass areas. The oak timberlands are typical of the “cross timbers” — fingers of black jack and post oaks which penetrate the Oklahoma grasslands from the east. Along streams are found other woody species typical of this portion of Oklahoma, such as walnut, pecan, ash, elm, hackberry and cottonwood. Species more typical of other climates are also found. Maples are present and are related either to the Eastern sugar maple or the Big-toothed maple of the Rockies. A small grove of live oak, typical of more southern sections of the country represents the most northern extension of this species in the plains country.
Could have been taken 1857 by John C. Fremont, the Pathfinder.
Grasses
| Aristida oligantha Michx. | prairie threeawn | |
| Bouteloua dactyloides (Nutt.) J.T. Columbus | buffalograss | |
| Bromus tectorum L. | cheatgrass | |
| Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. | Bermudagrass | |
| Dichanthelium sp. (Hitchc. & Chase) Gould | rosette grass | |
| Elymus canadensis L. | Canada wildrye | |
| Hordeum pusillum Nutt. | little barley | |
| Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash | Indiangrass | |
| Sporobolus sp. R. Br. | dropseed |
Forbs
| Achillea millefolium L. var. occidentalis DC. | western yarrow | |
| Allium drummondii Regel | Drummond’s onion | |
| Ambrosia psilostachya DC. | Cuman ragweed | |
| Apocynum androsaemifolium L. | spreading dogbane | |
| Asclepias asperula (Decne.) Woodson ssp. capricornu (Woodson) Woodson | antelopehorns | |
| Astragalus sp. L. | milkvetch | |
| Baptisia australis (L.) R. Br. var. minor (Lehm.) Fernald | blue wild indigo | |
| Carex spp. L. | carex | |
| Castilleja sp. Mutis ex L. f. | Indian paintbrush | |
| Cirsium undulatum (Nutt.) Spreng. | wavyleaf thistle | |
| Coreopsis sp. L. | tickseed | |
| Cuscuta sp. L. | dodder | |
| Echinacea spp. Moench | purple coneflower | |
| Erigeron bellidiastrum Nutt. | western daisy fleabane | |
| Euphorbia cor.ollata L. | flowering spurge | |
| Gaillardia sp. Foug. | blanketflower | |
| Grindelia squarrosa (Pursh) Dunal | curlycup gumweed | |
| Helianthus maximiliani Schrad. | Maximilian sunflower | |
| Lepidium virginicum L. | Virginia pepperweed | |
| Lespedeza cuneata (Dum. Cours.) G. Don | sericea lespedeza | |
| Lesquerella sp. S. Watson | bladderpod | |
| Liatris aspera Michx. | tall blazing star | |
| Linum rigidum Pursh | stiffstem flax | |
| Medicago polymorpha L. | burclover | |
| Mimosa microphylla Dryand. | littleleaf sensitive-briar | |
| Oenothera macrocarpa Nutt. ssp. macrocarpa | bigfruit evening primrose | |
| Opuntia sp. Mill. | pricklypear | |
| Pediomelum spp. Rydb. | scrufpea or breadroot | |
| Penstemon albidus Nutt. | white penstemon | |
| Polygonum sp. L. | knotweed | |
| Rudbeckia hirta L. | blackeyed Susan | |
| Rumex sp. L. | dock | |
| Salvia azurea Michx ex Lam. | azure blue sage | |
| Scutellaria resinosa Torr. | sticky skullcap | |
| Sisyrinchium campestre E.P. Bicknell | prairie blue-eyed grass | |
| Typha sp. L. | cattail |
Woody Plants
| Amorpha canescens Pursh | leadplant |
| Celtis laevigata Willd. | sugarberry |
| Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch. | Virginia creeper |
| Quercus stellata Wangenh. | post oak |
| Rhus trilobata Nutt. | skunkbush sumac |
| Rosa sp. L. | rose |
| Smilax rotundifolia L. | roundleaf greenbrier |
| Symphoricarpos orbiculatus Moench | coralberry |
| Toxicodendron radicans (L.) Kuntze | eastern poison ivy |
As usual, the evening was late when we retired in Lawson, OK, for our second Mexican dinner.
Inventory 15 – Black Kettle National Grasslands, US Forest Service, USDA (May 16)
Spanning 31,300 total acres in Oklahoma and Texas, the Black Kettle National Grassland is a haven for hunting, fishing, horseback riding, hiking, and observing nature. Of the total of 31,300 acres, 30,726 are located in Roger Mills County, near Cheyenne, OK. The grassland is located in a region of rolling sand hills, red shale hills, mixed-grass prairie, and wooded bottoms.
Once home to the nomadic Plains Indians, specifically the Cheyenne and Arapaho, the area is named for Cheyenne Chief Black Kettle. In 1868 Lt. Col. George Custer led an attack on Black Kettle’s village, slaughtering the respected Cheyenne leader. The land then became part of the Cheyenne-Arapaho Reservation before it was opened for white settlement in 1892. Farmers successfully cultivated these lands until the 1930s, when poor soil conservation and agricultural practices, combined with periods of wind, drought, and rain stripped the area of its topsoil. The region was one of the hardest hit by the Dust Bowl. After that, farmers abandoned the area. Beginning in 1937 through 1942, with Congressional approval, the federal government purchased tracts comprising the present grassland.
Grasses
| Andropogon gerardii Vitman | big bluestem | |
| Andropogon virginicus L. | broomsedge bluestem | |
| Aristida oligantha Michx. | prairie threeawn | |
| Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.) Torr. | sideoats grama | |
| Bouteloua dactyloides (Nutt.) J.T. Columbus | buffalograss | |
| Bouteloua gracilis (Willd. ex Kunth) Lag. ex Griffiths | blue grama | |
| Bromus catharticus Vahl | rescuegrass | |
| Bromus tectorum L. | cheatgrass | |
| Hordeum pusillum Nutt. | little barley | |
| Sporobolus sp. R. Br. | dropseed |
Forbs
| Allium perdulce S.V. Fraser | plains onion | |
| Ambrosia trifida L. | great ragweed | |
| Asclepias asperula (Decne.) Woodson ssp. capricornu (Woodson) Woodson | antelopehorns | |
| Astragalus L. | milkvetch | |
| Castilleja purpurea (Nutt.) G. Don var. citrina (Pennell) Shinners | prairie Indian paintbrush | |
| Cirsium undulatum (Nutt.) Spreng. | wavyleaf thistle | |
| Comandra umbellata (L.) Nutt. | bastard toadflax | |
| Coreopsis grandiflora Hogg ex Sweet | largeflower tickseed | |
| Dalea purpurea Vent. | purple prairie clover | |
| Echinacea sanguinea Nutt. | sanguin purple coneflower | |
| Engelmannia peristenia (Raf.) Goodman & C.A. Lawson | Engelmann’s daisy | |
| Eriogonum Michx. | buckwheat | |
| Gaura coccinea Nutt. ex Pursh | scarlet beeblossom | |
| Gaura longiflora Spach | longflower beeblossom | |
| Grindelia sp. Willd. | gumweed | |
| Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh) Britton & Rusby | broom snakeweed | |
| Heterotheca villosa (Pursh) Shinners | hairy false goldenaster | |
| Hymenopappus artemisiifolius DC. | oldplainsman | |
| Lepidium virginicum L.. | Virginia pepperweed | |
| Liatris elegans (Walter) Michx. | pinkscale blazing star | |
| Linum lewisii Pursh | Lewis flax | |
| Linum rigidum Pursh | stiffstem flax | |
| Lomatium farinosum (Hook.) J.M. Coult. & Rose | northern biscuitroot | |
| Lupinus subcarnosus Hook. | Texas bluebonnet | |
| Matricaria discoidea DC. | disc mayweed | |
| Melampodium leucanthum Torr. & A. Gray | plains blackfoot | |
| Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam. | yellow sweetclover | |
| Mimosa asperata L. | Puerto Rico sensitive-briar | |
| Oenothera macrocarpa Nutt. ssp. macrocarpa | bigfruit evening primrose | |
| Oenothera sp. L. | evening primrose | |
| Opuntia sp. Mill. | pricklypear | |
| Pediomelum sp. Rydb. | scrufpea or breadroot | |
| Penstemon cobaea Nutt. | cobaea beardtongue | |
| Plantago ovata Forssk. | desert Indianwheat | |
| Polygala alba Nutt. | Nuttall’s prairie parsley | |
| Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash | little bluestem | |
| Scutellaria resinosa Torr. | sticky skullcap | |
| Sisyrinchium campestre E.P. Bicknell | prairie blue-eyed grass | |
| Sphaeralcea coccinea (Nutt.) Rydb. | scarlet globemallow | |
| Symphyotrichum ericoides (L.) G.L. Nesom | white heath aster | |
| Tragopogon dubius Scop. | yellow salsify | |
| Zinnia grandiflora Nutt. | Rocky Mountain zinnia |
Woody Plants
| Rhus trilobata Nutt. | skunkbush sumac | |
| Rhus typhina L. | staghorn sumac | |
| Salix interior Rowlee | sandbar willow |
After leaving Black Kettle we headed for the Oklahoma City airport to drop of Wendall who needed to hurry home. Then we proceeded to our final inventory.
Inventory 16 – Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge, US Fish and Wildlife Service, USDI. (May 16)
Established on March 26, 1930, Salt Plains National Wildlife Refuge is to provide quality habitat for migratory waterfowl. The refuge’s namesake is designated as the “largest such saline flat in the central lowlands of North America”. The 10,000 acre salt flat is only a third of the refuge land; The 32,000 acre refuge is complete with open water, wetlands, prairies, woodlands and farm fields.
In 1811, Sans Orielle, an Osage Indian, with others of his tribe guided Major George C. Sibley, Indian Agent from Fort Osage, Missouri, and his party to Salt Plains. They are thought to have been the first American white men to see the plains. Major Sibley called the area the Grand Saline and described it as “glistening like a brilliant field of snow in the summer sun” and estimated 600-800 buffalo were wandering about the salt flats. He also noted that “it has the effect of looming as the sailors called it, producing, to the unpracticed eye much delusion” (objects look closer than they are).The Salt Fork of the Arkansas River, flowing around the plain, was known to the Osages as Nescatunga (big salt water).
Grasses
| Andropogon hallii Hack. | sand bluestem | |
| Andropogon virginicus L. | broomsedge | |
| Bouteloua dactyloides (Nutt.) J.T. Columbus | buffalograss | |
| Bromus L. | brome | |
| Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers. | Bermudagrass | |
| Dichanthelium sphaerocarpon (Elliot) Gould var. sphaerocarpon | roundseed panicgrass | |
| Elymus canadensis L. | Canada wildrye | |
| Hordeum pusillum Nutt. | little barley | |
| Juniperus virginiana L. | eastern redcedar | |
| Panicum virgatum L. | switchgrass | |
| Poa annua L. | annual bluegrass | |
| Rhus glabra L. | smooth sumac | |
| Schedonorus pratensis (Huds.) P. Beauv. | meadow fescue | |
| Setaria P. Beauv. | bristlegrass | |
| Sorghastrum nutans (L.) Nash | Indiangrass | |
| Spartina pectinata Bosc ex Link | prairie cordgrass | |
| Sporobolus sp. R. Br. | dropseed | |
| Tridens flavus (L.) Hitchc. | purpletop tridens | |
| Vulpia octoflora (Walter) Rydb. var. octoflora | sixweeks fescue |
Forbs
| Achillea millefolium L. var. occidentalis DC. | yarrow | |
| Ambrosia trifida L. | great ragweed | |
| Carex spp. L. | carex | |
| Galium aparine L. | stickywilly | |
| Medicago polymorpha L. | burclover | |
| Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam. | yellow sweetclover | |
| Neptunia lutea (Leavenworth) Benth. | yellow puff | |
| Plantago patagonica Jacq. | woolly plantain | |
| Rumex spp. L. | dock | |
| Smilax tamnoides L. | bristly greenbrier | |
| Taraxacum F.H. Wigg. | dandelion | |
| Tragopogon dubius Scop. | yellow salsify | |
| Typha L. | cattail |
Woody Plants
| Amorpha canescens Pursh | leadplant |
| Catalpa bignonioides Walter | southern catalpa |
| Cephalanthus occidentalis L. | common buttonbush |
| Cercis canadensis L. | redbud |
| Cornus drummondii C.A. Mey. | roughleaf dogwood |
| Cornus florida L. | flowering dogwood |
| Morus alba L. | white mulberry |
| Parthenocissus quinquefolia (L.) Planch. | Virginia creeper |
| Populus deltoides Bartram ex Marsh. ssp. monilifera (Aiton) Ecken. | plains cottonwood |
| Salix spp. L. | willow |
| Symphoricarpos orbiculatus Moench | coralberry |
| Toxicodendron radicans (L.) Kuntze | eastern poison ivy |
| Ulmus L. | elm |
| Vitis sp. L. | grape |
The end of another pleasant journey
From Salt Plains we return to our beginning, Wichita, and closed the book on another wonderful Trek.
We discussed at length our next trek. Stay tuned; 2011 isn’t that far away. Could be we head into Holzworth country with a visit to the ever productive Bridger PMC. Just imagine the native grasses and wildflowers along the “Going to the Sun” highway over Glacier.
Special note on plant validation
All plant names are listed as in the PLANTS database. County maps were consulted in an effort to verify the presence of a species in the county. All Trek members consulted numerous references on site to verify our identification. Gaffney collected numerous samples which he and Carlson later resolved the correct identification
The End
Conservation Plants 
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