1. Native Prairie Plants Found in Lincoln- Way Prairies and Surrounding Areas

2. Big Blue Stem or Turkey Foot Andropogon gerardii Type: grass This grass is also called Turkey feet because the shape of the seed heads look like turkey feet. It is also called beard grass. The name big bluestem grass comes from the fact that this grass can grow to very big, 3 to 10 feet as a matter of fact. It blooms from June through September. Big bluestem is known as a bunch grass because it grows in little hill shapes. This grass forms 3 inch bronze to purple or green seed heads. The tall and slender stems are blue-green in the summer. The hairy blades, which can get to be 12 inches long and 1/2 inch wide, will get a red tinge on the leaves as they get older, and turn bronze in the fall. Big bluestem grass grows in dense stands. This keeps other grasses from getting any sun and growing. As a result there are usually large areas covered only by big bluestem grass. This grass has very deep roots. This kept the wind that constantly blows on the prairie from blowing away the dirt. When settlers plowed the big bluestem grass there was nothing to keep the dirt from blowing away. That is how the dust bowl disaster of the 1930s began.

3. Gray Headed Coneflower Ratibida pinnata Type: Forb Yellow Coneflower is an excellent choice for a wildflower garden because of its long blooming period and attractive yellow flowers. The entire plant is delicately constructed, and has a tendency to sway or flutter with each passing breeze. This species can be distinguished from other yellow coneflowers, such as Rudbeckia hirta, by its drooping ray florets and the complex structure of the basal leave The crushed seed heads have a sharply aromatic scent. Coneflower seeds are eaten by songbirds and its flowers attract butterflies. Many kinds of insects visit the flowers, but especially bees, including Epeoline Cuckoo bees, large Leaf- Cutting bees, Green Metallic bees, and other Halictine bees. Other insect visitors include wasps, flies, small butterflies, and beetles. These insects suck nectar from the flowers, although the bees also collect pollen and some beetles feed on pollen.

4. Prairie Dropseed Sporobolus heterolepis Type: Grass This is one of the true prairie grasses. Because of its dense tufts of sprawling narrow leaves, there is really nothing else that closely resembles it. Dropseed leaves grow densely around a circular base, and vary in color from green to steely blue-gray. It is a beautiful 'clump' grass found in high- quality prairies around the region. It is readily identified by its narrow, long leaves, rarely wider then 1/8 inch, which spring from the soil and fall to the ground like a smooth waterfall.

5. Indian Grass Sorghastrum nutans This tall prairie grass is attractive, particularly while the florets are blooming. It remains erect throughout the summer and even during the winter. Another dominant prairie grass, Andropogon gerardii (Big Bluestem), is more likely to lean in the direction of the prevailing winds, and its culms topple over during the winter to smother surrounding vegetation. Indian Grass is easy to identify because of its height and distinctive golden- colored inflorescence. This native perennial grass is 3-7' tall and unbranched. It typically consists of tight bunches of flowering culms and their leaves. The culms are terete, glabrous, and light green to pale yellow. The blades of the alternate leaves are up to 2' long and ½" across; they are dull green to dark green, flat, and hairless.

6. Sweet Black Eyed Susan Type: The composite flowers appeal to a wide range of insects, particularly bees and flies, as well as some wasps, butterflies, and beetles. The bees collect pollen or suck nectar, and include Little Carpenter bees, Leaf-Cutting bees, Green Metallic and other Halictine bees, Andrenid bees, and others. Some Andrenid bees, such as Andrena rudbeckiae and Heterosarus rudbeckiae, prefer visiting the flowers of Black-Eyed Susan and closely related plants. Among the flies that visit the flowers, Syrphid flies, Bee flies, and Tachinid flies are well represented. The caterpillars of Chlosyne nycteis (Silvery Checkerspot) feed on the leaves. Many mammalian herbivores are not particularly fond of the coarse leaves – they have low food value, and there have been occasional reports of this plant poisoning cattle and pigs. The seeds are eaten occasionally by goldfinches

7. Rattlesnake Master Eryngium yuccifolium This is a very odd member of the Carrot family that resembles a yucca or some other desert plant. At the apex of the central stem, and sometimes from the axils of the upper leaves, occurs a long-stalked inflorescence. This consists of several prickly balls of flowers that are individually about ½–1" across. These whitish green balls contain numerous small white flowers that are individually surrounded by prickly bracts. A flower consists of 5 white petals, a divided white pistil, and several white stamens with light brown anthers. Each ball of flowers is subtended by a star-like rosette of small leaves. These flowers have a sickly honey-like scent in bright sunlight.However, it is a true tallgrass prairie species with a unique appearance. Its closest relative is Eryngium leavenworthii (Leavenworth Eryngo), which is an annual plant with a purplish appearance. This latter species doesn't occur in Illinois, but can be found in dry prairies further west. In the past, the dried seedheads of Rattlesnake Master were used as rattles by Amerindians. Pioneers thought the roots could be used as an effective antidote to rattlesnake bite, hence the common name of this plant. However, this belief was erroneous.

8. Purple Coneflower Echinacea purpurea This is a native perennial plant up to 3½' tall that branches occasionally. This is striking plant when it is in full bloom, as the flowers are large and colorful. The flowers are visited by long-tongued bees, bee flies, Halictine bees, butterflies, and skippers. Among long- tongued bees, are such visitors as honeybees, bumblebees, Miner bees, and large Leaf- Cutting bees. Butterfly visitors include Monarchs, Fritillaries, Painted Ladies, Swallowtails, Sulfurs, and Whites. The caterpillars of the butterfly Chlosyne nycteis (Silvery Checkerspot) feed on the foliage, as well as the the caterpillars of the moths Eynchlora acida (Wavy-Lined Emerald) and Eupithecia miserulata (Common Eupithecia). The Eastern Goldfinch occasionally eats the seeds. Purple Coneflower seems to attract more than its fair share of butterflies, particularly in sunny, sheltered areas. It can be distinguished from Echinacea pallida (Pale Purple Coneflower) by its broader leaves, bushier habit, and later blooming period.

9. Compass Plant Silphium laciniatum Type: forb A mature specimen of this native perennial plant ranges from 6-12' tall. The central stem is thick, light to medium green, and has conspicuous white hairs. The common name derives from the belief by pioneers that the leaves of Compass Plant pointed in a north-south direction. While this is probably true more often than not, it is not always reliable. The resin was used by Indian children as a chewing gum. With its imposing heighth, interesting leaves, and abundant yellow flowers, Compass Plant is an extraordinary plant. No tallgrass prairie is complete without a sizeable population of them. Long-tongued bees are the primary pollinators of the flowers, including bumblebees, Miner bees, large Leaf- Cutting bees, and others.

10. Prairie Dock Silphium terebinthinaceum This plant has a vase-like rosette of large basal leaves that are spade- shaped (cordate). Each leaf has a thick sandpapery texture, particularly on the underside, and is up to 18" long and 12" wide. This is a typical plant of mesic black soil prairies that competes successfully with tall prairie grasses. It has an impressive and unusual appearance, like something out of the Stone Age when Columbian mastodons and other mega-fauna inhabited the prairies of North America. The composite flowers attract long- tongued bees primarily, including honeybees, bumblebees, and Miner bees. Other flower visitors include Halictine bees, bee flies, and the Ruby- Throated Hummingbird.

11. Little Bluestem Schizachyrium scoparium This native perennial grass is 2-3' tall and tufted at the base. The culms are tan or reddish brown, hairless, and terete; the base of each culm is erect, rather than decumbent across the ground. Little Bluestem is an attractive prairie grass, particularly during the fall. While the stems of other grasses become matted during the winter, the stems of Little Bluestem remain conspicuously upright. The caterpillars of several skippers feed on the leaves, including Atrytonopsis hianna (Dusted Skipper), Hesperia leonardus (Leonard's Skipper), Hesperia metea (Cobweb Skipper), Hesperia ottoe (Ottoe Skipper), Hesperia sassacus (Indian Skipper), Nastra lherminier (Swarthy Skipper), and Polites origenes (Crossline Skipper)