Swamp Milkweed Purple Coneflower. Big Bluestem Black eyed Susan.

Swamp Milkweed

Purple Coneflower

Big Bluestem

Black eyed Susan

Prairie Grass

Pasqueflower

Shooting Stars

Rattlesnake master

Stiff Goldenrod

Prairie Coneflower

Filipendula rubra VenustraQueen of the Prairie

Prairie White-Fringed Orchid

Characteristics of Prairie Plants

• Leaves of prairie plants tend to be long and narrow to prevent overheating

• Many prairie plants are adapted for a dry, windy, hot climate.

• Prairies need fire. Plants also have buds at or below the soil surface and a lot of root mass below ground--an adaptation to the natural fires.

• Without it, invading trees and shrubs gradually turn grasslands into woodlands.

• Prairie soil is rich soil.