Tall grass prairie with forest in background.
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Tall grass prairie with forest in background. |
Plants: Open oak-hickory woodlands similar to those found on the uplands dominate the highest, hence the best drained, areas of the American Bottom. At the valley margin, on the alluvial and colluvial slopes at the bluff's edge, the vegetation is particularly diverse. Here, intermingled with oak and hickory are a combination of woody and herbaceous species more commonly found in both the bottoms and nearby uplands. Woody species found here at the valley's edge include ash, elm, sugar maple, black walnut, pawpaw, persimmon, mulberry, hackberry, and butternut. Common herbaceous plants found here include bloodroot, jack-in-the-pulpit, wild ginger, mayapple, and spring beauty. In other places, lush prairies blanket well-drained alluvial fans. Finally, mature tall-grass prairies similar to those found on the drier uplands are found on well-drained alluvial fans and sand ridges near the bluff base. |