Edge of the Prairiethe sand prairies and savannas of the Chicago region

    Sand Country Species
    Master Index Page


Sand country supports an interesting and diverse flora and fauna--Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore is reputed to have the highest number of species per acre of any property in the National Parks System. Hundreds, probably thousands, of species of plants, animals and microbes can be found in the Chicago region, but for now at least, we will introduce you to just a few of the most interesting and beautiful sand country denizens.

Edge of the Prairie has been online since 1996; as of March 2001 we've started a major update and redesign for the entire site. We're starting with this, our species section, please be patient with any confusion caused by the update. As always, write e-mail to marty@bigeastern.com if you have any question, comments, suggestions or corrections.

Vascular Plants

Aletris farinosa - Colic Root

Amelanchier sp. - Serviceberry

Asclepias amplexicaulis - Sand Milkweed

Asclepias tuberosa - Butterfly Milkweed

Baptisia alba - White False-Indigo

Bidens coronata - Marsh Bur Marigold

Botrychium matricariaefolium
     - Daisy-leaf Grape Fern


Carex bicknellii - Prairie sedge

Cornus racemosa - Grey dogwood

Elymus canadensis - Canada wild rye

Eupatorium fistulosum
     - Hollow-stem Joe-Pye Weed


Helianthus giganteus - Tall sunflower

Helianthus mollis - Hairy Sunflower

Iris virginica shrevei - Northern Blue Flag

Krigia virginica - Dwarf dandelion

Lespedeza hirta - Hairy Bush Clover

Lespedeza virginica - Slender Bush Clover

Liatris aspera - Rough Blazingstar

Linaria canadensis - Blue Toadflax

Lithospermum croceum - Hairy Puccoon

Lupinus perennis occidentalis - Blue Lupine

Lycopodium digitatum - Fan clubmoss

Monotropa uniflora - Indian Pipe

Opuntia humifosa - Prickly pear cactus

Osmunda cinnamomea - Cinnamon Fern

Phlox pilosa - Prairie phlox

Polygala polygama obtusata - Purple Milkwort

Pyrus melanocarpa - Black Chokeberry

Rhexia virginica - Meadow Beauty

Saxifraga pensylvanica - Swamp Saxifrage

Senecio plattensis - Prairie Ragwort

Solidago rigida - Stiff Goldenrod

Tradescantia ohiensis - Ohio spiderwort

Viola pedata - Birdfoot Violet

Viola pensylvanica - Yellow Violet

Viola sagittata - Arrow leaf violet

Vascular Plants

Arachnids

Argiopinae sp.
Orb Spider


Insects

Hymenoptera

Bombus sp.
Bumblebee


Lepidoptera

Basilarchia archippus
Viceroy


Everes comynta comynta
Eastern Tailed Blue Butterfly


Hyles lineata
Sphinx moth


Megistro cymela cymela
Little Wood Satyr Butterfly


Pterous glaucus glaucus
Tiger Swallowtail Butterfly


Pterous troilus troilus
Spicebush Swallowtail Butterfly


Speyeria aphrodite
Aphrodite Butterfly


Vanessa atalanta rubria
Red Admiral Butterfly


Vanessa cardui
American Painted Lady Butterfly


Juvenile form of moths, butterflies and skippers

Odonata

Unidentified
Green Darner


Libellula sp.
Pond Skimmer Dragonfly


Unidentified dragonfly

    About Edge of the Prairie


Edge of the Prairie is an independent production of Becknell and Lucas Media, Ltd., P.O. Box 16, North Judson, Indiana 46366. It is published as a public service to help aid in the appreciation and enjoyment of nature in general and the unique qualities of sand prairies and oak savannas in particular. If you have questions, comments, suggestions or corrections please address them to the site editor, Marty Lucas at marty@bigeastern.com.

Obviously we're only showing a tiny percentage of the myriads of invertebrate animals living in this complex ecosytem, but we hope you find this inspires you to go out and make your own observations and discoveries. One thing we'd like you to notice: all of these creatures were photographed without killing or even capturing them. We may have annoyed them somewhat.

All photographs posted on this web site are by Marty Lucas, are protected by copyright and all rights are expressly reserved. Students may use any photograph for a school report, class report, non-profit scholarly study provided there is no publication. Otherwise, please request permission to use photographs by writing e-mail.

Edge of the Prairie was a pavillion in the 1996 Internet World's Exposition. An enhanced version of the original site is available on the CD-ROM companion to Carl Malamud's book about the fair: "A World's Fair for the Global Village" on MIT Press.

 

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