Illinois Prairie Characteristics Flower Parts & Species
Simple Flower = ex.common Lilly = one single flower from a receptacle one set of anthers and one stigma
Composite or Disc Flower many little flowers from one or many receptacles many stigma and anthers (Draw one disc and one disc floret) seed
Angiosperm- The flowering plants (angiosperms) are the most diverse group of land plants, with 416 families, approximately 13,164 known genera and a total of 295,383 known species. Angiosperm -a plant that flowers & produces seeds, in other words, a fruiting plant. The term "angiosperm" comes from the Greek composite word (angeion, "case" or "casing", and sperma, "seed") meaning "enclosed seeds", after the enclosed condition of the seeds. The ancestors of flowering plants diverged from gymnosperms in the Triassic Period, during the range 245 to 202 million years ago (mya).
SEEDS from cone Angiosperm Life Cycle
http://www.life.illinois.edu/help/digitalflowers /Asteraceae/5.htm Asteraceae (or Compositae). There are two basic kinds of flowers in the Asteraceae disk flowers (=disk florets) are actinomorphic while ray flowers (=ray florets) are zygomorphic. The calyx is represented by pappus. The stamens are epipetalous, but the filaments are free above the corolla tube while the anthers are connate into a tube,
Midewin National Tall Grass Prairie Ecosystem nature preserve in Joliet Midewin Visitor Welcome Center http://www.fs.fed.us/mntp/ Midewin Grand Medicine society of the Indians of the Great Lakes Region the process of healing
Midewin National Tall Grass Prairie Less than 1 % of prairie remains in illinois The only prairie Nationally Protected and maintained by the federal gov. U.S. Forest Service Restoration of Military Armory back to native Illinois prairie habitat 8/25/2011 pictures at Dusk in medium quality prairie restoration area during Plant Identification class United States National Arboretum http://www.usna.usda.gov/gardens/glossary.html vplants http://www.vplants.org/plants/glossary/ Eric F. Ulaszek, Horticultural Specialist USDA Forest Service Midewin National Tallgrass Prairie http://exhibits.museum.state.il.us/exhibits/midewin/meaning.html
Illinois Prairie Ecosystems Abiotic factors * fire and drought 4 seasons, Hot, cold, wet, and dry Carbon and Nutrient Fertile soils from growth, death, and re-growth of perennial plants Sequesters CO 2 from air & puts into soil
Prairie Deep rooted Plants mostly grasses, flowers,and small shrubs; very few trees High species diversity of plants, animals, fungi, bacteria
Prairie plant adaptations adapted over thousands of years to 4 seasons, droughts, fire, and grazing animals (mainly bison). There are three main types of pollination and seed dispersal mechanisms (1) Hitchhiking on animals (symbiotic relationships), (2) Drifting in ocean or fresh water, and (3) Floating in the wind.
What is a Weed? A prairie is often confused as bunch of weeds A weed is an opinion any plant you don t want a field or side of road may contain native species These prairies (not weeds) contain the food and Biodiversity that cleans water, air, and restores soil Which are the prairies and which is a weed patch?
How we can help! Remove and Prevent non natives or invasive species -usually brought over by human activity Protect or plant native species that are part of the ancient history of Illinois Prairie ecosystem a key to understanding our past. Ex. back yard habitat
What native prairie plants provide habitat, food, protection for countless species of bugs and other animals which feed the larger consumers all the way up the food chain. photosynthesizes sequesters carbondioxide out of the atmosphere into the soil Filters water & provides soil nutrients that feeds clothes and shelters our entire species and native ecosystems. Costs less to maintain requires less water and less replanting
Learn or connect with these species and you wont see a weed patch as a bunch of overgrown plants but as a group of interconnected populations, each with a name, a story connecting to our evolutionary history, and individual niches working together for our future survival! Embrace Biodiversity
Deadheading Removing the old wilted flowerheads containing developing seeds For seed collecting Promotes new flower growth Seeds are baby plants or embryos Observe the different dead heads - Sketch label and note any identifiable characteristics of stalk/stem, leaves, seed pods and individual seeds
Know: All common names and only two scientific names
Asteracaea (Aster) Family Aster Purple coneflower Echinacea purpurea Composite Flowers (disk flowers) multiple little flowers in one
Yellow Coneflower Ratibida pinnata Aster family (Asteraceae)
Aster family (Asteraceae)
Prairie Sunflower Helianthus pauciflorus Aster family (Asteraceae)
Golden Rod Oligoneuron rigidum Aster family (Asteraceae)
Compass Plant Silphium laciniatum Aster family (Asteraceae)
Prairie Dock Silphium terebinthinaceum Aster family (Asteraceae)
American Aromatic Aster Symphyotrichum oblongifolium Aster family (Asteraceae)
Smooth Blue Aster Symphyotrichum laeve Aster family (Asteraceae)
New England Aster Symphyotrichum novae-angliae
Prairie Blazing Star Liatris pycnostachya Aster family (Asteraceae)
Rough Blazing Star: Liatris aspera Aster family (Asteraceae)
Mint family (Lamiaceae)
Wild Bergamot or bee balm (Monarda fistulosa) Mint family (Lamiaceae)
Mint family (Lamiaceae)
Family Amaryllidaceae
Common Milkweed Asclepias syriacus Milkweed family (Asclepiadaceae) Predated by aphids, monarch caterpillars etc Insects that are often orange because of chemicals in plant milk/sap Strong Pollinators by beetles, sphinx months, some bees, but not honey bees Native to Illinois threatened and important for keeping endangered monarch populations alive
Common Milkweed Asclepias syriacus Milkweed family (Asclepiadaceae)
Swamp Milk Weed Asclepias incarnata Milkweed family (Asclepiadaceae)
Asclepias sullivanti Milkweed family (Asclepiadaceae) Can see flowers comes out from sides not tip called axial in most plants some are terminal
Butterfly Weed or Butterfly Milkweed Asclepias tuberosa Milkweed family (Asclepiadaceae)