Plants

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Short grasses are mostly found in the western, unglaciated parts of North Dakota, often on rolling plains with some buttes or badlands formations, such as the Little Missouri National Grasslands. The shortgrass prairie is characterized by its semi-arid climate, short-to mid-height grasses, and Forbs (flowering plants) that survive on limited moisture.

Dominant grasses include blue grama (Figure 1), buffalo grass, and threadleaf sedge. These species also occur in the mixed prairies of the National Grasslands, including those along the Grand River, Cedar River, and Little Missouri.

Shortgrass prairie provides essential habitat and resources for various animals, supporting grazing herbivores and their predators. The grasses serve as a primary food source for species like prairie dogs, pronghorn, and various birds, including the Western meadowlark and the burrowing owl.

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Tallgrass prairie is a diverse ecosystem dominated by tall, native grasses, with a variety of forbs (flowering plants). It is characterized by flat or rolling terrain, fertile soils, and moderate rainfall. Tallgrass prairie soils are typically deep and dark with a thick topsoil of rich organic matter formed from the decomposition of deep-rooted grasses.

Dominant grasses include Big Bluestem (Figure 2), Little Bluestem, lndiangrass, Switchgrass, Prairie Cordgrass, and Side-oats grama. Various animals, including large grazing mammals like deer, insects, amphibians, reptiles, and numerous grassland birds such as the greater prairie chicken, call tallgrass prairies home.

The Sheyenne National Grassland is the only National Grassland located in the tallgrass prairie ecosystem in the United States. Because of the fertile soils, much of the tallgrass prairie region was converted to agriculture production and today, less than 4% of the tallgrass prairie that once covered North America remains.

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Mixed-grass prairie is characterized by a mix of tall, mid, and short grasses and a rich variety of forbs (flowering plants). Healthy mixed-grass prairie soil is fertile and resistant to erosion, thanks to the strong root systems of prairie grasses.

Prevalent grass species include Western Wheatgrass, Needle-and-thread, Blue grama, Little Bluestem, and Needleleaf sedge (Figure 3). Mixed-grass prairies support a diverse array of wildlife, including mule deer, coyotes, and sharp-tailed grouse.

Mixed-grass prairie is found in the central and western parts of North and South Dakota. It represents an
ecotone where the species composition shifts between the tall and short grass prairie types. The Grand River, Cedar River, Sheyenne, and Little Missouri National Grasslands all have areas with mixed-grass prairie.

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Warm-season grasses are a key part of the prairie ecosystem. These grasses thrive during the warmer
months of the year, typically from early to late summer, and are well-suited to the hot, dry conditions of the Great Plains. Many of them grow in a bunch-grass growth form, providing both open ground for wildlife movement and overhead cover.

Examples of common warm-season grasses on the Dakota Prairie Grasslands include switchgrass (Figure 4), Indiangrass, big bluestem, little bluestem, and blue grama.

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Cool-season grasses thrive during the spring and fall months when temperatures are cooler and there is more moisture. They are adapted to the region's climate with large temperature fluctuations and become less active in the summer due to high temperatures and lower precipitation; however, their growth resumes in the fall when temperatures drop. They can thrive in various soil conditions, from shallow to deep and moderately coarse to fine textured, as long as the soil is moderately well to
well-drained.

Grasses like western wheatgrass (both North and South Dakota's state grass), green needlegrass, and needle-and thread grass (Figure 5) are examples of cool-season grasses.

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The Western Prairie Fringed Orchid (Platanthera praeclara) (Figure 6) is a unique and beautiful plant
species known for its large, creamy white blossoms that form an open, spike-like arrangement at the top of the stem with fringed lower petals. The orchid has a single, smooth stem with alternate leaves that grow from a fleshy, tuberous root. Its height ranges from 15 to 33 inches, and it can bear up to two dozen or more flowers. The orchid emerges in May and blooms in July. It requires direct sunlight for growth and is found in moist tallgrass prairie and sedge meadows. 

At night, large sphinx moths pollinate their fragrant flowers. A video of the sphinx moth pollinating the orchid is available here.

The western prairie fringed orchid is federally protected under the Endangered Species Act as a threatened species. Due to their protection, please never pick these flowers! One of the largest remaining populations of the orchid occurs on the Sheyenne National Grassland. During the early weeks of July, it can be spotted in the ditches along ND Highway 27 within the Sheyenne National Grassland. 

An invasive species is non-native to the ecosystem it occupies, and its existence in that ecosystem causes or is likely to cause harm to the economy, environment, or human health. Invasive species can be plants, animals, algae, fungi, or disease-causing microorganisms. These harmful invaders can threaten aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems if left unchecked.

A noxious weed is a weed that an agricultural or other governing authority has designated as a plant harmful to agricultural or horticultural crops, natural habitats or ecosystems, or humans or livestock. There are several common noxious weeds found on the Dakota Prairie Grasslands, including leafy spurge, Canada thistle, and Absinthe wormwood. Noxious weeds are treated on the Grasslands with various methods, including biocontrol, livestock grazing, mechanical methods, and herbicide treatments.

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The Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) (Agrilus planipennis) (Figure 7) is a destructive wood-boring winged beetle that feeds on and kills ash trees. Currently there are no known locations of EAB on the Dakota Prairie
Grasslands, but it is a threat to the green ash found along rivers, streams and woody draws across the
Grasslands.

EAB has been reported in both North and South Dakota. North Dakota is estimated to have around 90 million ash trees, the state's most abundant forest land tree species. South Dakota's green ash population accounts for 21% of its hardwood biomass.

Contact the local Ranger District Office for more information or to report an EAB sighting.