Friends of Nachusa Grasslands
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​Stop 2 — Oak Savanna

​​As you enjoy this hike, you may pass in and out of savannas and woodlands. Savannas usually transition the woodland to the prairie. Keep looking up at the tree canopy cover to determine if you are in a woodland, prairie or savanna.

Historically, oak savannas were very common in the midwestern states. However, after the early settlers arrived, their home construction, agriculture, and lack of fire soon damaged the oak trees and their understory plants — the oak savannas began to disappear. Now, oak savannas in the Midwest are very rare.
 
How is an oak savanna different from a woodland?
LOOK UP AT THE TREE CANOPY. The savanna tree canopy will cover 10%-50% of the sky, with the trees well–spaced from one another.
  • Note that the savanna trees tend to still have all their lower limbs because the trees are well–spaced from one another and more sunlight pours through the canopy to reach the lower branches. The oaks in a savanna have a beautiful, majestic shape, similar to that seen in a community park. In contrast, woodland trees grow closer together, and since less light reaches the lower branches, these branches usually die off.
 

​LOOK AT THE UNDERSTORY.
  • Both grasses and forbs can be found in the savanna. Where the sky is covered by only 10% tree canopy, there is more available sun and the prairie–like plants will flourish. When the tree canopy covers the sky by 50%, woodland–like plants that require more shade will thrive. There are also savanna specialists, plants that prefer part–sun and part–shade. Since the savanna provides all three light conditions of full sunlight, partial sunlight and shade, there is more specie diversity here than in either the prairie or the woodland.
 
Try to find the Pennsylvannia Sedge! (Carex pennsylvanica) This sedge (a grass–like plant with triangular stems) grows along the hill slopes and is the dominant ground cover in a black oak savanna. This sedge spreads clonally and forms large patches.

Stop 3 — St. Peter Sandstone

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  • Home
  • About Friends
    • Mission, Leadership, Objectives, and Financials
    • Endowments
    • Heritage Heroes Initiative
    • Friends Annual Reports
    • Newsletters >
      • PrairiE–Update (email)
      • A Prairie Calling (print and digital)
    • Friends Annual Meeting 2022
    • Commenting Policy
  • Plan Your Visit
    • Hours & Parking
    • Directions and Map
    • Visitor Center
    • Pet Policy
    • Public Bison Tours
    • Bison Viewing
    • Hiking >
      • Hiking Guidelines
      • Hiking Destinations
      • Stone Barn Savanna Tour
      • Visitor Center Trail
      • Scavenger Hunt
    • What's In Bloom?
    • Autumn on the Prairie
    • Exploring Nachusa Grasslands on Your Own
    • Things to Do
    • Places to Eat and Stay
    • Local Sites to Visit and Explore
  • Donate
  • Calendar
  • Volunteer
    • Volunteer Opportunities
    • Thursday and Saturday Workdays >
      • Workday Signup
      • Volunteer Workday Safety Protocols
      • Workdays – November to February
      • Leader Workday Safety Protocols
      • Steward Workday Tips
    • Stewardship Teams
    • Workday Email List
    • Steward Login
  • Stewardship
    • Nachusa Stewardship
    • Restorations
    • Planting Histories >
      • Stewardship Unit Planting Histories
      • Planting Histories in Chronological Order
      • Science Symposium Abstracts 2016
    • Stewards and Staff
    • Groups and Committees
    • Available Units
    • Controlled Burns
    • Prescribed Fire Recruitment
    • Restoration Publications
    • Stewardship Resources >
      • Weekly Top Picks
      • Seed Collection Guides
      • Invasive Plant Management
      • Invasive Identification
      • Monitoring
      • Links & Resources
  • Science
    • Science at Nachusa Grasslands
    • Science Grants >
      • Science Grants 2023
      • Science Grants 2022
      • Science Grants 2021
      • Science Grants 2020
      • Science Grants 2019
      • Science Grants 2018
      • Science Grants 2017
      • Science Grants 2016
      • Science Grants 2015
      • Science Grants 2014
      • Science Grants 2013/2012/2011
    • Science Symposium 2023
    • Science Symposium Abstracts >
      • Science Symposium Abstracts 2019
      • Science Symposium Abstracts 2018
      • Science Symposium Abstracts 2017
    • Potential Research Topics
    • Scientific Publications
    • Testimonials >
      • Dr. Holly Jones
      • Dr. Nick Barber
      • Kimberly Elsenbroek
    • Science Videos
    • Become a Community Scientist >
      • About Community Scientists
      • Butterfly Monitoring
      • Calling Frog Monitoring
      • Dragonflies & Damselflies
      • RiverWatch
  • About Nachusa
    • General Info
    • Prairie Smoke Annual Reports
    • Plant Inventory >
      • Common Names
      • Genus Species
    • Animal Inventory >
      • Amphibians
      • Birds
      • Bison Bison >
        • Bison
        • Bison Babies Broadcast Videos
      • Fish
      • Insects
      • Mammals
      • Other Arthropods
      • Reptiles
    • History
    • Jobs
    • Hunting
    • Geology >
      • Geology Part 1
      • Geology Part 2
      • Geology Part 3
    • 30th Anniversary Memories
    • Websites of Interest
  • BLOG AND MEDIA
    • Nachusa Blog
    • In The News
    • Photo Gallery >
      • Spring Photos
      • Summer Photos
      • Autumn Photos
      • Winter Photos
      • Visitor Photos
    • Submit Your Photos
    • Videos
  • Contact Us / FAQs