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subdominant component. On the drier end of the gradient, little bluestem (Schizachyrium <br />scoparium), porcupine grass (Stipa spartea), and side -oats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula) <br />are important. On moister sites, switchgrass (Panicum virgatum) may be common, and <br />prairie cordgrass (Spartina pectinata) is usually present. Leiberg's panic grass (Panicum <br />leibergii) is distinctive, although usually minor in terms of cover. <br />Forb cover is sparse to patchy (5-50%). Forb species composition also responds to <br />moisture. A number of species are common across the moisture gradient, including heart - <br />leaved alexanders (Zizia aptera), heath aster (Aster ericoides), stiff and Canada goldenrods <br />(Solidago rigida and S. canadensis), purple and white prairie clovers ( 4purpurea and <br />D. candida), silverleaf scurfpea (Pediomelum argophyllum), stiff su wer Helianthus <br />pauciflorus), white sage (Artemisia ludoviciana), northern beds tr lium boreale), and <br />smooth blue aster (Aster laevis). Maximilian's sunflower (Heli us iliani), tall <br />meadow -rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum), prairie phlox (Phl i ), an -headed <br />coneflower (Ratibida pinnata) are most common on the t r end of the . Rough <br />blazing star (Liatris aspera), Missouri and gray goldei s (Solidago missour is and S. <br />nemoralis), and bird's foot coreopsis (Coreopsis pa 'a) are mmon in the rier end. <br />Rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium) and c in 1 t (Silphium laciniatum) are <br />typical species in southeastern Minnesota but rare to a in the community elsewhere. <br />Narrow -leaved purple coneflower (Echina ea pallida) is c n in the drier end of the <br />gradient in the CGP but absent from the BIJIlg6kroadleaf Fo '.-Province. <br />Shrub layer is sparse (5-25% cover). The 1 <br />and prairie rose (Rosa arkansana) are gener <br />(Symphoricarpos occidentals ccasiona <br />hazelnut (Corylus america , a old plum <br />Trees are absent <br />Kentucky bluegrass (Poa p <br />increases in the prolon ed ab <br />pressure. Snoath hr Brom <br />species favored by dist ce, <br />Friends of the Mississippi <br />nAdplant (Amorpha canescens) <br />mmo parse patches of wolfberry <br />ay do ood (Cornus racemosa), American <br />nes americana) are rare. <br />Was allowed invasion by woody species. <br />, anWtud species, is invariably present; it <br />of fire but becomes dominant only with heavy grazing <br />rmis), another exotic, is a very troublesome invasive <br />ding natural disturbance by pocket gophers." <br />59 <br />W. H. Houlton Conservation Area NRMP <br />