Agenda November 6, 2002

Lupine field in the NWSA
Photo Credit: Gary Dunsmoor

There are three plant communities found in the Northwest Sands Area (NWSA); oak savannah in the southern part of the area, pine barrens in the middle, and red and white pine savannahs in the north. Within the communities you can find forest, wetlands, and prairies. The forest area is dominated by Jack pine, red and white pines, and oaks. The understory is dominated by young pine and oak, with hazel, sand willow, sweet fern, blueberry, and large variety of prairie grasses and forbs.

Many of the wetland in the NWSA are kettle lakes which are groundwater fed. Sedge meadows are the most abundant wetland type in the southern and western portions of the region. Other important wetland communities are the conifer swamps consisting of black spruce, tamarack and white cedar; alder thickets; open bogs; wet forests of primarily black ash; and floodplain forest along streams and rivers.

Following initial prescribed burns to convert forests back to brush prairie, a tremendous response in prairie plants was observed. Prairie plants and seeds often persist for decades in shaded areas until the forest overstory can be removed. The Crex plant list includes nearly 600 species including more than 200 with prairie affinities. Some of the more common prairie plants found in the NWSA are big and little bluestem, Indian grass, needlegrass, leadplant, hoary puccoon, prairie phlox, blazing star, and spiderwort.

Click here to see other plants of the Northwest Sands Area.

Jack Pine is a dominant species found in the Barrens

Mature jack pine stand.
Photo Credit: WDNR

Jack pine cone.
Photo Credit: UW-EXT

Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana)
Description: Jack pines are a pioneer species, quickly appearing in burned areas. Often growing 50-70 feet tall their trunks stay under 2 feet in diameter. The tree is conical in shape, keeping its dead branches on the trunk all the way to the ground. The Jack pine has short (1-inch) needles that are slightly twisted growing in bundles of two. Their cones are about 1 1/2 inches long, resinous, and brown when they are ripe. Seeds are released only during periods of intense heat, during fires or periods of hot sun. Many times the closed cones can remain on the tree for a number of years waiting for adequate heat.

Range: The Jack pine is the most widely distributed pine in Canada and the most northerly pine of the United States. In Wisconsin they prefer the sandy soils found in the northern parts of Wisconsin.

Human History: Jack pine wood is light and soft, used primarily as pulpwood for papermaking. Early settlers thought that evil spirits residing in Jack pines were the cause of infertility among women and animals. This myth most likely originated because crops would not grow in the poor soil conditions found near the trees.

Wildlife uses: The Jack pine is used during nesting by the endangered Kirtland's warbler (Dendroica kirtlandii). White-tailed deer, snowshoe hares, porcupines, red squirrels, chipmunks, mice, goldfinches, and robins all utilize this tree.

Tamaracks in the fall.
Photo Credit: UW-EXT

Tamarack needles.
Photo Credit: UW-EXT

Tamarack, Eastern or American Larch, Hackmatack (Larix laricina)
Description: The tamarack is a deciduous conifer that reaches an average of 30 to 75 feet with trunk diameters of 14 to 20 inches. They have graceful slender branches that droop in horizontal sweeps. The branches are self pruning; on mature trees at least half of the trunk length is clear of branches. The soft short needles (3/4 to 1 inch long) are blue green, and grow in clusters of 10-20 along the branches. The needles are deciduous turning yellow in the autumn and shedding during the winter. The cones of the tamarack are small (less than an inch), light chestnut brown, rose shaped and remain on the tree throughout the winter. The largest cone production occurs in stands that are 50-150 years old, in good years some trees can produce as many as 20,000 cones. The tamarack is a pioneer tree, especially on open bogs and burned organic soil.

Range: The tamarack has one of the widest ranges of all North American conifers extending across Canada to central Alaska and south to Minnesota, Wisconsin, and New England. The tamarack can tolerate a wide range of soil conditions but is most common on wet to moist organic soils.

Human history: The tamarack is not a major commercial timber species. But because of its rot resistance, is used for posts, mine timbers, and railroad ties. Historically, Ojibwes used the fine roots to sew the edges of canoes and in making woven bags; the wood was used for arrow shafts, and the bark for medicine. Early Americans used the soft needles as pillows and mattresses stuffing. The inner bark was used medicinally to treat melancholy.

Wildlife uses: The tamarack has many wildlife uses; porcupines feed on the inner bark, snowshoe hares browse on seedlings, and red squirrels eat the seeds. Mice, voles, and shrews consume large numbers of seeds off the ground. Spruce and sharp-tailed grouse eat the needles and buds; Pine Siskin, Crossbills, and other birds eat the seeds.

Sweet fern plant in the fall.
Photo Credit: UW-EXT

Close up of sweet fern leaf.
Photo Credit: UW-EXT

Sweet Fern (Comptonia peregrina)
Description: The name Sweet Fern comes from the plant's spicy aroma and the shape of the leaf. It is the only woody plant in the North Woods with fern like foliage. This pioneer plant is low (1 to 3 feet) often spreading twice their height. They form dense stands spreading by rhizomes. It can also be a host to Sweet fern Blister Rust (Cronartium comptoniae), which reduces growth of Jack Pine (Pinus banksiana).

Range: Sweet fern is found of on dry, especially sandy or rocky soil of woodlands that covers Southern Canada and northeastern US as far west as North Dakota

Human History: The leaves can be used for potpourri, and a cold-water infusion of the leaves has been used to counter the effects of poison ivy and insect stings.

Wildlife Use: Rabbits and deer eat the foliage and stems during the winter months. The foliage, buds and catkins are used as food and cover by the ruffed and sharp-tailed grouse.

Big Bluestem plant. Photo Credit: UW-EXT

Closeup of seed heads.
Photo Credit: UW-EXT

Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
Description: Big bluestem called the "King of Grasses" forms large clumps that can grow to heights of 9 feet, averaging 3-6 feet. One plant, grown at the University of Kentucky, grew to a height of 21 feet. The hairy leaves and stems are blue-green in early summer, turning copper /red after frost. In late summer, the flowering stalk has three finger-like branches (3 inch long) that look to some like a turkey's foot. The shape of the seed heads give big bluestem its other name Turkey feet.

This grass has very deep roots reaching depths of 8 to 10 feet. The deep roots keep soil in place during the windy conditions that constantly blows on the prairie. When early settlers plowed the prairies there was nothing left to keep the dirt from eroding setting the stage for the dust bowl disaster of the 1930s.
Range: Big bluestem is found throughout North American tall grass prairies. It is abundant in the tall grass prairies of midwestern United States growing best in moist, well drained soil.

Myths and Uses: Native Americans traditionally used big bluestem to treat digestive problems. Ranchers often use big bluestem for grazing livestock and for hay.

Wildlife Uses: Historically this species was the food of choice for the American bison. Today it remains important to the remaining bison herds as well as many herbivore species. It is remains palatable and nutritious over a long period of time. It is commonly used as a primary component in wildlife plantings. Upland birds and mammals use it for nesting and escape cover throughout the year. The large numbers of insects attracted big bluestem also attracts many species of songbirds.

Indian grass seed head. Photo Credit: Wisconsin State Herbarium, Thomas Givinish

Indian Grass (Sorghastrum nutans)
Description: Indian grass usually grows 3 to 5 feet tall with the flowering stems reaching up to 7 feet. The narrow tapering leaves can be up to 2 feet long. The plants grow in tufts or as single stems mixed with other grasses, such as big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii). The featherlike seed heads in the fall are chestnut brown in color and feel silky when touched. Indian grass can be identified without the flowering stalks by a pair of erect, narrow, pointed lobes "like rabbit ears" at the point where the leaf blade joins the stem. Most prairie grasses have amazing root systems and Indian grass is no exception with roots that reach depths of 7 feet, making up approximately two-thirds of the plant's total biomass.

Range: Indian grass grows throughout most of North America, common in mesic to dry prairies as well as pastures, fields, and open savannas.

Wildlife Uses: Indian grass is a host species for the larvae of some skipper butterflies. Many birds eat the seeds and it provides cover for ground-nesting birds. The grass is very nutritious and many herbivore species graze on it.

Blazing star in bloom.
Photo Credit: Sheri Snowbank

Blazing Star, Gay Feather or Button Snakeroot (Liatris)
Description: Blazing Star has showy feathery deep rose-purple flower heads (about 1/2 inch wide) crowded on long spikes that grow up to 4 feet tall. The leaves are linear and rough textured. Lower leaves are 4 to 12 inches long and decrease in size as you move up the plant. Blazing star is a pioneer plant most abundant after fires.

Range: Found in dry prairies blazing star is tolerant of poor soil and drought conditions. Its range covers the eastern and Midwestern part of the US.

Human history: The scientific name for blazing star "Liatris" comes from the Greek word for "crowded," which describes both the leaves and the flowers. Plains Indians and early settlers used the boiled leaves and roots to treat intestinal pain.

Wildlife uses: The flower nectar is a food source for butterflies and hummingbirds and the seeds are eaten by songbirds.

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