My presentation for the Natural Communities of Southern Illinois session for the Southern Illinois Master Naturalist program on April 17, 2014.

1. Illinois Master Naturalist
April 17, 2014
Instructor: Christopher David Benda
Burden Falls Wilderness

2. Chigger Poem
Oh why oh why do there have to be chiggers
for a reaction in me they sure do trigger
The many little red bites feel like Braille
And when they itch they make me want to wail!
If you like evolution, then you must love the chigger
For they would not be as bad if they happened to be bigger
But an invisible invertebrate has all the advantage
And leaves me with little else than to put on a bandage.
I guess I could prevent them by staying on the trail
Or if I took more time to scratch them with my nail
I could spray myself with nasty chemicals and deet
Or stay inside all together and beat the summer heat!
But that is not my style, I was born to explore
To see the nature and learn from it more
Plus if there were less chiggers there’d be more tourists
And it would be impossible to be a nature purist.

5. Plant Resources

6. Erigenia link
http://www.ill-inps.org/Erigenia
T & E Species Link
http://www.dnr.illinois.gov/ESPB/Documents/ETChecklist2011.pdf

7. Master Naturalist
Illinois Natural Areas Inventory
Natural Areas vs. Nature Preserves
Rare Plants and Unique Communities
Threatened and Endangered Species Program

8. Illinois Natural Areas Inventory
(INAI)
Category I – High Quality Natural Communities
Category II – Threatened and Endangered Species
Category III – Natural Preserve
Category IV – Geologic Features
Category VI – Unusual Concentration of Flora or Fauna
(High Quality Streams)

9. Illinois Natural Areas Inventory
Category I – High Quality Natural Communities

10. Illinois Natural Areas Inventory
Category II - Threatened and Endangered Species

11. Illinois Natural Areas Inventory
Category III – Nature Preserves

12. Illinois Natural Areas Inventory
Category IV – Outstanding Geological Features

13. Illinois Natural Areas Inventory
Category VI – Unusual Concentration of
Flora or Fauna and High Quality Streams
Unique Ecological Features
Unique Floral Assemblages
Outstanding Invertebrate Cave Faunas
Large Bat Hibernacula
Other Unique Faunal Assemblages
High Quality Streams (mussels)

14. Timber Rattlesnakes – rookery (vs. den)

15. Timber Rattlesnakes
number seen: 8

16. Timber Rattlesnake – Crotalus horridus

17. Illinois Natural Areas Inventory
Natural Area = meaningless to landowner
Nature Preserve = highest protection by law
landowner gives up a majority of their rights and
land is protected in perpetuity
Natural Areas vs. Nature Preserves
1st Illinois Nature Preserve
Illinois Beach State Park
Tell story of Bohm Woods site

18. Original Inventory
Photo credit – Randy Nyboer

19. Why Update?
•New science regarding natural community classification
•Better remote sensing capabilities and GIS data
•Focus on small and rare communities
•Restoration, management, and recovery
•Train a team of Natural Area Specialists for the state

20. Site Selection - INAI
•Historical and Current Aerial Photos
•Soil and Topographic Maps
•Literature Search
•Database/File Sources
•Interviews with knowledgeable professionals

21. Digitize Boundaries

22. Nomination Packets

23. Illinois Natural Areas Inventory
the numbers:
19 counties
687 total sites
305 IGS sites
204 visited
50 new sites nominated

24. 305

25. Illinois Natural Areas Inventory
the numbers:
33,727 photos taken
56,828 miles driven
632/984 days in the field

26. The Natural Communities of
Southern Illinois
April 17th, 2014
all photos & maps by presenter
except where noted
Camel Rock at Garden of the Gods Wilderness

27. Garden of the Gods – H Rock

30. Natural Areas in Southern Illinois
110 sites

31. Shawnee Hills & Shawnee Nat’l Forest

32. 0.07% in a natural condition

33. Southern Illinois Natural Communities
FOREST
Upland Forest
• Xeric
• Dry
• Dry-mesic
• Mesic
Floodplain Forest
• Mesic
• Wet-mesic
• Wet
Flatwoods
• Southern Flatwoods
SAVANNA
Barren
• Dry Barren
• Dry-mesic Barren
• Mesic Barren
PRAIRIE
• Loess Hill Prairie
• Glacial Drift Hill Prairie
WETLAND
Swamp
• Swamp
• Shrub Swamp
Seeps and Springs
• Seep
• Acid Gravel Seep
OPEN WATER
• Pond
STREAM
• Small, Medium, Large
• High, Medium, Low Gradient
BEDROCK
Glades
• Sandstone Glade
• Limestone Glade
• Shale Glade
Cliff
• Dry Sandstone Cliff
• Mesic Sandstone Cliff
• Dry Limestone Cliff
• Mesic Limestone Cliff
• Sandstone Overhang
CULTURAL

34. Camp Ondessonk – Pakentuck

35. Camp Ondessonk – Pakentuck

36. Camp Ondessonk – Pakentuck

37. Japanese Stiltgrass – Microstegium vimineum

38. Obligate
Vs.
Facultative

39. Symbiosis Can Be One Of Two
Conditions:
• 1. Obligatory: one organism cannot live
without the other.
• 2. Facultative: can live symbiotically but
can survive without one another.

40. Upland Forest/Woodland
•Xeric
•Dry
•Dry-mesic
•Mesic
•Wet-mesic or Wet?

41. Xeric/Dry Upland Forest/Woodland

42. Blackjack Oak - Quercus marilandica (6)

43. Post Oak - Quercus stellata (5)

44. Farkleberry – Vaccinium arboreum (6)

45. Lowbush Blueberry - Vaccinium pallidum (7)

46. Red Cedar - Juniperus virginiana (1)

47. Winged Elm - Ulmus alata (5)

48. Serviceberry - Amelanchier arborea (7)

49. Poverty Oats Grass - Danthonia spicata (3)

50. Goat’s Rue - Tephrosia virginiana (7)

51. Pencil Flower - Stylosanthes biflora (5)

52. Pussytoes – Antennaria parlinii (4)

53. False Dandelion - Krigia biflora (5)

54. Starry Campion – Silene stellata (6)

55. Barren
•Dry
•Dry-mesic
•Mesic (rare)

56. Provo Cemetery Barrens – Alexander County

57. Rock Chestnut Oak - Quercus prinus (9)

58. Barrens - Gyp Williams Hollow

59. Simpson Township Barrens

60. Simpson Township Barrens

61. Dry-mesic Upland Forest

62. White Oak – Quercus alba (5)

63. Flowering Dogwood – Cornus florida (5)

64. Redbud - Cercis canadensis (3)

65. Wild Azalea - Rhododendron prinophyllum (10)

66. Red Buckeye – Aesculus pavia (7)

67. Carolina Rose - Rosa carolina (4)

68. Prairie Rose - Rosa setigera (5)

69. Indian Physic – Porteranthus stipulatus (6)

70. Bee-balm - Monarda bradburiana & fistulosa (5, 4)

71. Pagoda Plant – Blephilia hirsuta (5)

72. Wild Oregano (Dittany) – Cunila origanoides (5)

73. Skullcaps – Scutellaria elliptica (6)

74. Gray’s Sedge - Carex grayi (6)

75. Large-fruited Panic Grass - Dichanthelium boscii (5)

76. Marginal Shield Fern – Dryopteris marginalis (6)

77. Adam & Eve Orchid – Aplectrum hyemale (7)
Cranefly Orchid -Tipularia discolor (7)

78. Twayblade Orchid – Liparis lilifolia (4)

79. Wood Betony – Pedicularis canadensis (7)

80. Eastern Hognose Snake
Heterodon platirhinos

81. Racer – Coluber constrictor

82. Eastern Box Turtle – Terrapene carolina

83. Northern Slimy Salamander
Plethodon glutinosus

84. Five-lined Skink - Plestiodon fasciatus

85. Broadhead Skink – Eumeces laticeps

86. Spicebush Swallowtail – Papilio troilus

87. Mesic Upland Forest – Cedar Creek

88. Tulip Tree – Liriodendron tulipifera (5)

89. Little Grand Canyon – Jackson County

90. Harbinger-of-Spring – Erigenia bulbosa (7)

91. Spring Beauty - Claytonia virginiana (1)

92. Dutchman’s Breeches – Dicentra cucullaria (5)

93. Squirrel Corn – Dicentra canadensis (7)

94. Goldenseal – Hydrastis canadensis (7)

95. Wild Ginseng – Panax quinquefolia (7)

96. Bloodroot – Sanguinaria canadensis (5)

97. Rue Anemone (5) vs. False Rue Anemone (5)

98. Blue Cohosh – Caulophyllum thalictroides (8)

99. Jacob’s Ladder – Polemonium reptans (5)

100. Bellwort – Uvularia grandiflora (7)

101. White Trillium – Trillium flexipes (7)

102. Other Trilliums – Trillium recurvatum (5) & viride (9)

103. Wild Leek – Allium tricoccum (7)

105. Yellow Trout Lily – Erythronium americanum (7)

106. Miami Mist – Phacelia purshii (4)

107. Wild Columbine – Aquilegia canadensis (5)

108. Blue-eyed Mary – Collinsia verna (5)

109. Wild Ginger – Asarum canadense (5)

110. Wild Hyacinth – Camassia scilloides (7)

111. Wild Columbo – Frasera caroliniensis (8)

112. Doll’s Eyes – Actaea pachypoda (7)

113. Soloman’s Seal – Polygonatum biflorum (7)

114. Soloman’s Plume – Smilacina racemosa (4)

115. Green Dragon – Arisaema dracontium (4)

116. Yellow Lady Slipper Orchid –
Cypripedium pubescens (8)

117. Bladdernut – Staphylea trifoliata (5)

118. Maidenhair Fern – Adiantum pedatum (6)

119. Maidenhair Spleenwort Fern –
Asplenium trichomanes (10)

120. Broad Beech Fern – Phegopteris hexagonoptera (7)

121. Herps

122. Gray Treefrog – Hyla chrysoscelis

123. Green Treefrog – Hyla cinerea

124. BREAK

125. Loess Hill Prairie – Fults Hill Prairie

126. Loess Hill Prairie – Fults Hill Prairie

127. Loess Hill Prairie – Fults Hill Prairie

128. 1972 1995

129. Green Milkweed – Asclepias viridiflora (9)

130. Blue Hearts– Buchnera americana (10)

131. Crested Coralroot Orchid– Hexalectris spicata (10)

132. Cylindric Blazing Star –Liatris cylindracea (8)

133. Stickleaf –Mentzelia oligosperma (10)

134. Slender Heliotrope – Heliotropium tenellum (10)

135. Missouri Coneflower – Rudbeckia missouriensis (10)
Photo credit – Marty KemperPhoto credit – Debbie Newman

136. Photo credit – Marty Kemper

137. Photo credit – Marty Kemper
Plains Scorpion – Centruoides vittatus

138. Glacial Drift Hill Prairie – Lake Murphysboro

139. Floodplain Forest – Hickory Bottoms, CCNWR

140. Cardinal Flower – Lobelia cardinalis (6)

141. Sensitive Fern – Onoclea sensibilis (5)

142. Copper Iris – Iris fulva (9)

143. Blue Flag Iris – Iris schrevei (5)

144. Purple Fringless Orchid – Platanthera peramoena (7)

145. White Swamp Milkweed – Asclepias perennis (10)

146. Swamp Milkweed – Asclepias incarnata (4)

147. Indian Pink - Spigelia marilandica (7)

148. Spider Lily – Hymenocallis caroliniana (9)

149. Dodder – Cuscuta gronovii (2)

150. Pink Turtlehead – Chelone obliqua (8)

151. Copperbelly Watersnake

152. Northern Watersnake – Nerodia sipedon

153. Marbled Salamander – Ambystoma opacum

154. Southern Flatwoods

155. Samson’s Snakeroot - Oxbexilum pendunculatum (6)

156. Shrubby St. Johnswort – Hypericum prolificum (6)

157. Swamp – Little Black Slough

158. Cypress Swamp – Little Black Slough

159. Cypress / Tupelo Swamp - Heron Pond

160. Buttonland Swamp – Lower Cache River

161. Swamp – LaRue Pine Hills
Winter’s Pond

162. Shrub Swamp

163. Buttonbush – Cephalanthus occidentalis (4)

164. Arrowhead - Sagittaria latifolia (4)

165. Mosquito Fern – Azolla mexicana (8)

166. Marsh Mallow – Hibiscus lasiocarpos (5)

167. Pickerelweed – Pontederia cordata (8)

168. Water Lotus – Nelumbo lutea (5)

169. Cottonmouths

170. Eastern Newt – Notophthalmus viridescens

171. Illinois Chorus Frog – Pseudacris illinoensis

172. Stinkpot – Sternothorus odoratus

173. Stream – Bell Smith Springs

174. Seep – Greater Shawnee Hills

175. Cinnamon Fern – Osmunda cinnamomea (9)

176. Royal Fern – Osmunda regalis var. spectabilis (8)

177. Cretaceous Hills

178. Whorled Pogonia Orchid – Isotria verticillata (10)

179. Meadow Beauty – Rhexia virginica (10)

180. Sandstone Glade – Greater Shawnee Hills

181. Sandstone Glade - Garden of the Gods

183. Garden of the Gods – H Rock

184. Milk Snake – Lampropeltis triangulum

185. Todd Fink / Trigg Tower – Sandstone Glade

186. Lichen Grasshopper – Trimerotropis saxatilis

187. Small Bluets – Houstonia pusilla (3)

188. False Garlic – Nothoscordum bivalve (5)

189. Widow’s Cross – Sedum pulchellum (8)

190. Rushfoil – Crotonopsis elliptica (5)

191. Pineweed - Hypericum gentianoides (6)

192. Prickly Pear – Opuntia humifusa (5)

193. American Pennyroyal - Hedeoma pulgelioides (4)

194. Rough Buttonweed - Diodia teres (2)

195. American Agave - Manfreda virginiana (8)

196. Small-flowered Fameflower - Talinum parviflorum (10)

197. Blue Curls - Trichostema dichotomum (6)

198. Wild Orpine - Sedum telephioides (10)

199. Fence Lizard – Sceloporus undulatus

200. Six-lined Racerunner – Cnedimorphus sexlineatus

201. Degognia Canyon

202. Bishop’s Cap - Mitella diphylla (9)

203. Partridge-berry – Mitchella repens (8)

204. Shining Clubmoss – Huperzia lucidula (10)

205. Sphagnum Moss – Sphagnum compactum

206. Walking Fern – Asplenium rhizophyllum (8)

207. Liverleaf – Hepatica acutiloba

208. Cleft Phlox – Phlox bifida (7)

209. Forbe’s Saxifrage – Saxifraga forbesii (10)

210. Resurrection Ferns – Polypodium virginianum
(8) and Pleopletis polypodioides (10)

211. Netted Chain Fern – Woodwardia areolata (8)

212. Spinulose Woodfern – Dryopteris carthusiana (6)

213. Bladder Fern – Cystopteris bulbifera (8)

214. Hairy Synandra – Synandra hispidula (10)

215. Small-flowered Alumroot - Heuchera parviflora (8)

216. Spleenwort Fern - Asplenium pinnatifidum (10)

217. Sandstone Overhang

218. Shooting Star – Dodecatheon frenchii (10)

219. Filmy Fern – Trichomanes boschianum (10)

220. Copperhead

221. Cricket Frog – Acris crepitans

222. Piney Creek Ravine Nature Preserve

223. Swayne Hollow Ravine Nature Preserve

224. Mill Creek Natural Area

225. Shale Glade – Union County

226. Shale Glade – Berryville and McClure

227. LaRue Pine Hills

228. Cricket Frog – Acris crepitans

229. Zigzag Salamander – Plethodon dorsalis

230. Cave Salamander – Eurycea lucifuga

231. Cave Creek Glade – Limestone Glade

232. Hoary Puccoon – Lithospermum canescens (6)

233. Blue-eyed Grass – Sisyrinchium albidum (4)

234. Wild Petunia - Ruellia humilis (3)

235. Gray-headed Coneflower - Ratibida pinnata (4)

236. Obedient Plant - Physostegia virginiana (6)

237. Butterfly Milkweed - Asclepias tuberosa (5)

238. Marbleseed – Onosmodium molle var.
hispidissimum (8)

239. Blazing Stars – Liatris scabra (8) & aspera (7)

240. Prairie Dock - Silphium terebinthinaceum (4)

241. Silphium integrifolium – Rosinweed (5)

242. Cave Creek Glade – June 2010

243. Cave Creek Glade – June 2011
FGB = Full Glorious Bloom

244. Pale Purple Coneflower - Echinacea simulata (7)

245. Pale Purple Coneflower - Echinacea simulata

246. Blue Sage – Salvia azurea var. grandiflora (9)

247. Whoopie Cat Glade – Hardin County

248. Leisure City Glade – Pope County

249. Climbing Milkweed – Matelea obliqua (10)

250. Mead’s Milkweed – Asclepias meadii (10)

251. Pounds Hollow / Rim Rock

252. Bell Smith Springs

253. Natural Bridge

254. Jackson Hollow

255. Lusk Creek – Indian Kitchen

256. Other Unique Illinois Natural
Communities
•Calcareous Fen
•Forest Fen
•Seeps and Springs
•Bog
•Panne
•Beach/Foredune
•Northern Flatwoods
•Savanna
•Gravel Hill Prairie
•Dolomite Prairie

257. Calcareous Fen

258. Valerian – Valeriana edulis

259. Forested Fen

260. Seeps and Springs

261. Bog

262. Panne

263. Beach/Foredune

264. Beach/Foredune

265. Northern Flatwoods

266. Savanna

267. Dolomite Prairie

268. Gravel Hill Prairie

270. Chris Benda
botanizer@gmail.com
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