worldkigoparkinglot : Message: NORTH AMERICAN PRAIRIE SAIJIKI

http://members.fortunecity.com/karina16/north_american_prairie_saijikipageone.html

from © Karina

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TREES
	Oak Openings" Oak Savannas--In places where grasslands neared the forest edge, oak trees spread out across the prairie. Settlers called these parklike grasslands "oak openings." Today, they are known as oak savannas. A prairie oak's shade creates a microclimate underneath its boughs, allowing prairie plant species with broader leaves to thrive in the cooler, more even temperatures and moister soils. Red bud tree Pea pod Box alder trees Silver maple tree
GRASSES
	Autumn tall grasses (hades of yellow, orange and tan) Big Bluestem Blue Gamma Grass Buffalo Grass Canada Wild Rye Indian Grass June Grass Little Bluestem Porcupine Grass Turkey Feet QUACK GRASS Elytrigia repens Grass Family (Poaceae) Habitat/Range: Quack grass is a pest species, introduced from Europe. It crowds other plants, taking over land from Maine west to Minnesota. Quack grass (also called couch grass) is rather coarse, 1 to 3 feet high, and when in flower resembles rye or beardless wheat. Its smooth hollow stems, which are thickened at the joints, are produced from a long, creeping rootstock. The flowering heads are produced from July to September. CANADA WILD RYE Elymus canadensis Grass Family (Poaceae) Habitat/Range: Common throughout most of the tallgrass region in moist to moderately dry prairies, thickets, fields, and along stream banks. Comments: Native Americans are reported to have used these seeds as food. Stout grasses growing in bunches up to 3-5 feet tall. The leaves are flat or curled inward at their tip. The flowers occur above the leaves in a long, nodding cluster, 4-10 inches long at the top of the stem. SMOOTH BROME Bromus inermis Grass Family (Poaceae) Habitat/Range: It was introduced into the United States in 1884 and is now widely distributed. Smooth brome is native to northern Europe and Asia. Smooth brome is a sod-forming perennial grass (1-4 feet tall) and has strong underground plant growth. It has escaped throughout its range and is often considered to be a highly competitive weed of roadsides, forests, prairies, fields, and lawns. PORCUPINE GRASS Stipa spartea Grass Family (Poaceae) Habitat/Range: Common in dry upland prairies of the northern tallgrass region, and occasionally southward to southern Missouri and southern Illinois. Plants grow in small tufts, with unbranched stems up to 4 feet tall. The leaves are long and slender. Typically, there are hairs on the upper surfaces of the leaves. The seeds are narrow and long (.5-1 inch) with a sharp, pointed, furry base and a very long, twisting awn. Also called "Needle and Thread" grass because of its needle sharp fruit tip and long awn. The sharp-pointed seeds can injure livestock. INIDAIN GRASS Sorghastrum nutans Grass Family (Poaceae) Habitat/Range: Common in mesic to dry prairies as well as pastures, fields, and open savannas throughout the tallgrass region. Flowering stems are up to 7 feet tall, with plants occurring as dense tufts or single stems mixed with other grasses, especially Big Bluestem. The leaves are up to 2 feet long and taper, and are rarely more than a half inch wide. Although the individual flowers are inconspicuous, the pollen is produced on protruding yellow stamens.
FLOWERS
	Black-eyed Susan Common Spiderwort Jewelweed Prairie Blazing Star Purple Coneflower Purple Prairie Clover Western Prairie-fringed Orchid Wild Bergamo Milkweed Flower Pollen Sacs Saddlebags (refer to milkweed flower) Stinging Nettle Sunflowers Magenta (when detemined when in bloom for kigo) Poison Ivy Purple Petals ( when they fall off?) Coneflower Rosinweed Long Stalk sedges (grass like plants) Sideoats Gamma Sweet Cornflower Wild Indigos Yellow Coneflowers JEWELWEED Impatiens capensis Touch Me Not Family (Balsaminaceae) Habitat/Range: Stream edges and woodlands Also called the touch-me-not, it is a common wildflower of moist, shady woodlands and stream edges. Jewel weed has funnel-shaped yellow-orange flowers about 1-1.5 inches long which are often spotted with reddish brown flecks. It grows to a height of 2 to 5 feet. Its oval leaves can be more than three inches long. The liquid of this plant is known to alleviate the itching caused by STINGING NETTLE, POISON IVY, WESTERN PRAIRIE FRINGED ORCHID Platanthera praeclara Orchid Family (Orchidaceae) Habitat/Range: Once widespread in the tallgrass region, the western prairie fringed orchid is on the federal endangered species list. The loss of intact prairie systems continues to put their future in jeopardy. Stout, erect orchids growing up to 2.5 feet tall, with smooth, hairless stems and leaves. The flowers are in clusters along the tops of the stems, often with more than 20 white flowers per plant. The leaves are alternate and are long with pointed tips. Text from: Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers : A Falcon Field Guide : A Nature Conservancy Book LEAFY SPURGE Euphorbia esula Grass Family (Poaceae) Habitat/Range: Across most of the U.S., excluding the deep south. It inhabits approximately 3 million acres of rangeland. Montana, the Dakotas, Nebraska, and Wyoming are particularly affected. Conservationists dislike leafy spurge because it crowds out native grasses, reducing species diversity and habitat for wildlife. This perennial, narrow-leafed Eurasian herb was first recorded in the U.S. in 1827, introduced either by accident in a mix of agricultural seed stock, or by design for its attractive yellow flowers. COMMON SPIDERWORT Tradescantia ohiensis Spiderwort Family (Commelinaceae) Habitat/Range: Common in savannas and prairies ranging from dry to mesic, and in pastures and along roadsides and railroads; found in all but the northwest part of the tallgrass region. Smooth, bluish green plants up to 3 feet tall with alternate leaves. A cluster of flowers is above 2 leaves at the top of the thin stems. Each flower has 3 rounded, blue to purple petals, and 6 yellow-tipped stamens covered with long, purple-pink hairs. Spiderwort flowers last for just a single day before decaying into a sticky, liquefied mass. Text from: Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers : A Falcon Field Guide : A Nature Conservancy Book PURPLE CONEFLOWER Echinacea purpurea Aster Family (Asteraceae) Habitat/Range: Occasional in prairies and open woodlands; scattered throughout the tallgrass region west to southeastern Kansas. Plants to 5 feet tall with branched stems. The rough leaves are coarsely toothed and alternate. Flower heads are on individual stalks near the tops of stems, with each head 2.5-5 inches wide and consisting of up to 20 purple, petal-like ray flowers surrounding a cone-shaped head. Text from: Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers : A Falcon Field Guide : A Nature Conservancy Book WILD BERGAMOT Monarda fistulosa Mint Family (Lamiaceae) Habitat/Range: Common throughout the tallgrass region and prairie thickets, pastures, old fields, and occasionally in open dry prairies. Fragrant mints with branching stems to 5 feet tall. The long, narrow, purple flowers are clustered in rounded heads at the top of the stems. The crushed leaves smell like oregano. Bergamot tea has been used for various medicinal purposes and is still used for herbal teas. Text from: Tallgrass Prairie Wildflowers :Falcon Field Guide : A Nature Conservancy Book

BIRDS
	Canadian Geese Goldfinches Eagles Prairie Chickens Wild Turkeyfly Catcher Meadowlarks Bobolinks Burrowing Owl Common Snipe Ferruginous Hawk Golden Eagle Killdeer Long-Billed Curlew Lesser Prairie Chicken Northern Harrier Greater Prairie Chicken Red-Tailed Hawk Sandhill Crane* Short-Eared Owl Western Meadowlark ALL YEAR Northern Goshawk (raptor) Merlin (raptor) Ray Ray Partridge (grouse & allies) Ruffed Grouse (grouse & allies) Sharp-Tailed Grouse (grouse & allies) Rock Dove (doves) Eastern Screech-Owl Great Horned Owl Downy Woodpecker ALL YEAR BIRDS CONTINUED Jay Jay (jays & crows) Blue Jay (jays & crows) Black-Billed Magpie (jays & crows) Common Raven (jays & crows) Horned Lark (larks) Black-Capped Chickadee White-Breasted Nuthatch Red-Breasted Nuthatch Dark-Eyed Junco Pine Siskin (finches) American Goldfinch (finches) House Finch (finches) House Sparrow Reference Book Manitoba Birds (author?)
iINSECTS
	Bumblee Crickets Dung Beetle Monarch larvae Blister Beetle Carrion Beetle Grasshopper Monarch Butterfly Tiger Beetle Grasshoppers -- long, slender, winged insects with powerful hind legs and strong mandibles, or mouthparts, adapted for chewing. They have a front pair of rigid wings and a hind pair of larger, membranous wings, oftenHabitat/Range: Grasshoppers occur throughout the continental United States. Extensive grasshopper damage, however, is confined primarily to subhumid, semiarid areas of the country from Montana and Minnesota southward into New Mexico and Texas. Approximately 600 species of grasshoppers are found in the United States. Cabbage Butterfly Lepidoptera Length: Habitat/Range: Nationwide. Universal in gardens and roadsides in agricultural areas. This butterfly was imported from Europe to Canada in the mid-1800s and has since spread to all parts of the continent. Eating Habits: Larvae feed on the first formed outer leaves of their host plants, which often appear riddled with irregularly shaped holes. As the caterpillars become mature, they feed in the center of the plant.Fecal pellets can be found between the leaves. This pest also damages turnip, radish, mustard, and nasturtiums in addition to cole crops. The Cabbage butterfly has black-tipped forewings that span about 1-2 inches. Males have 1 black spot on top of each of their forewings and females have 2. The hindwings are all white on the surface except for a black spot on the outer front margin. There is a slight yellowish hue on the underside of the wings. This butterfly was imported from Europe to Canada in the mid-1800s and has since spread to all parts of the continent.
BUTTERFLIES
	Spring White-Flight: One flight from February-July. Spring Azure Pale Swallowtail Cabbage White Checkered Whites White Peacock Gossamer-wing Butterfly Pearl Crescent Little Glassywing Lacewing Skipper Cobweb Skipper Mourning Cloak Painted Lady Swarthy Skipper Pipevine Coral Hairstreak Mariposa Copper Tawny Crestent Viceroy Ridings Satyr Plains Skipper Summer Azure Harvester Butterfly--late summer

AMPHIBIANSS AND REPTILES
	American Toad Canadian Toad Great Plains Toad Common Garter Snake Gopher Snake (Bullsnake) Lined Snake Fox Snake Northern Leopard Frog Plains Spadefoot Plains Garter Snake Prairie Skink Racer Western Hognose Snake Woodhouse's Toad Racer Coluber constrictor Length: 90-150 cm (36-60 in.) Habitat/Range: They live in open dry habitats such as grass and bluff prairies. They are found from Maine to Florida and west to the Pacific coast. Eating Habits: They eat small mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians and large insects. They hunt by sight so they avoid areas of dense vegetation. This is a slender snake that has large eyes and moves quickly. The dorsal color of adults is a blue-gray or light brown. The throat and neck are usually bright yellow. The rest of the abdomen is light gray or white Northern Leopard Frog Rana pipiens Length: 5-9 cm (2-3 in.) Habitat/Range: In the United States, they are found from Nevada east through the north-central portion into New England. They are most often found near wet meadows and tallgrass prairies near ponds and lakes. Eating Habits: They eat insects that hide in the tall grasses. This is a medium sized frog. Its skin color is green or brown with irregular-sized dark spots on its back. The hind legs have dark stripes and the belly is white. They often congregate in the aquatic vegetation of ponds and streams during the winter. Plains Garter Snake Thamnophis radix Length: 38-71 cm (15-28 in.) Habitat/Range: It is found in western Indiana through the Great Plains west to the Rocky Mountains. Plains Garter snakes prefer open grasslands and savannas. They are most often found near water in these prairie habitats. Eating Habits: They prefer amphibians but will eat insects, fish and small mammals. This snake has a dark brown body color with three light-colored stripes along its entire length. The middle stripe is usually a dark yellow with the other two stripes being much paler in color. Its underside is a pale green or gray.It will also spray a musk smell if it is captured. However, it is not as aggressive as the Common Garter Snake. Great Plains Toad Bufo cognatus Size: 7-8 cm (3 in.) Habitat/Range: It is found in the Great Plains of North America from Montana to Minnesota and south into Mexico. Eating Habits: It is a very rapid burrower and will dig 100 centimeters or 40 inches down. They eat beetles, ants, moths and flies. The Great Plains Toad has large, dark spots with light edges on its back. Each spot has a few small warts. Their belly is white or ivory Prairie Skink( (snake) Eumeces septentrionalis Length: 12-24 cm (5-9 in.) Habitat/Range: It is found in a band from Minnesota and western Wisconsin to eastern Texas. They prefer open grassy areas in savanna-like areas with scattered rocks. Eating Habits: This is a very secretive species and spends most of its day under rocks and other ground cover. They eat crickets, grasshoppers, treehoppers, leafhoppers, beetles, caterpillars, and spiders. This skink has three wide light tan stripes separated by two dark lines that run from head onto the tail. Also, there are three black or dark stripes found on each side. The abdomen is gray or tan without
Mammals
	Black-footed Ferret Bison Black-tailed Jackrabbit Coyote Eastern Cottontail Meadow Vole Northern Grasshopper Mouse Prairie Dog Pronghorn Red Fox Richardson's Ground Squirrel 13-lined Ground Squirrel White-tailed Jackrabbit Meadow voles and 13-lined ground squirrels love to munch on grasses and forbs. Both also build networks of underground pathways. These underground pathways are insulated against snow during the harsh prairie winter. Although red fox and coyote are abundant on the tallgrass prairie, these noctural hunters are rarely seen during the daylight hours. Bobcats Bison Gray wolf Herds of Deer Antelope

HEAVENS
MOON
	JANUARY Full Wolf Moon Old Moon Moon After Yule FEBRUARY Full Snow Moon Full Hunger Moon MARCH Full Worm - earthworm casts appear, robins retunFull Crow Moon, -when the cawing of crows signals the end of winter Full Crust Moon Full Sap Moon, Lenten Moon Last full Moon of Winter. APRIL Full Pink Moon - the herb moss pink, or wild ground phlox sprouting Grass Moon, Eg g Moon MAY Full Flower Moon Full Corn Planting Moon Milk Moon. JUNE Full Strawberry Moon Wild Rose Moon. JULY The Full Buck Moon Full Thunder Full Hay Moon. Green Corn Moon Grain Moon. AUGUST Full Barley Fruit Moon SEPTEMBER Full Harvest Moon - closest to the autumn equinox. In two years out of three, the Harvest Moon comes in September, but in some years it occurs in October. At the peak of harvest, farmers can work late into the night by the light of this Moon. Usually the full Moon rises an average of 50 minutes later each night, but for the few nights around the Harvest Moon, the Moon seems to rise at nearly the same time each night: just 25 to 30 minutes later across the U.S., and only 10 to 20 minutes later for much of Canada and Europe. Corn, pumpkins, squash, beans, and wild rice the chief Indian staples are now ready for gathering. OCTOBER Full Hunter's Moon NOVERMBER Full Beaver Moon Frosty Moon. DECEMBER The Full Cold Moon Full Long Nights Moon Moon Before Yule STARS AND SKY Prairie Sky
EARTH
To be uploaded
HUMANITY
	Barbwire Combine Cowboy and Cowgirl Cornhusking Ghost Riders Piioneer Prairie Dog Watching Prairie Rose Thrasher Saddlebags (also see plants) FESTIVALS Corn Festival( State)

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Dr. Gabi Greve
Daruma Museum Japan
http://darumasan.blogspot.com/
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