This is a presentation to the Illinois Master Naturalists about the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory and the natural communities of southern Illinois. This presentation was given on September 11, 2013 at the University of Illinois Extension Center in Waterloo, Illinois.

1. Illinois Master Naturalist
September 11, 2013
Instructor: Christopher David Benda
Burden Falls Wilderness

2. Christopher D. Benda – Regional Ecologist
Illinois Natural Areas Inventory Update
Degognia Canyon – Jackson County

3. Photo credit – Randy Nyboer
Statewide Project
5 Regional Ecologists

4. Illinois Native Plant Society
Southern Chapter
www.facebook.com/southernillinoisplants
Technical
Expert
Consultant

5. The Flora of Southern Illinois
PLB 451 – Plant Biology Dept.
Southern Illinois University

6. 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.

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

25. The Natural Communities of
Southern Illinois
September 11th
, 2013
all photos & maps by presenter
except where noted
Camel Rock at Garden of the Gods Wilderness

26. Binomial Nomenclature
“The beginning of wisdom is to call
things by their rightful names.”
Kingdom
Phylum
Class
Order
Family
Genus
Species
Animalia
Cordata
Reptilia
Testudines
Emydidae
Emydoidea
E. blandingii

27. Latin Pronunciation
O Pronounce every letter except diphthongs
 Echinacea, Tradescantia, Opuntia humifusa, Ambrosia artemisiifolia
O “ch” is a “k” sound: Polystichum, Heuchera
O If a word has two syllables, the accent always goes with the next to the last (called the penult);
e.g., Àcer.
O If a word has three or more syllables, the accent always goes either with the next to the last
(penult) or the third from the last (called the antepenult).
 Synandra hispidula, Onoclea sensibilis, Liriodendron tulipifera
 phyllum – rhizophyllum, Podophyllum, triphyllum
 ae Pellaea atropurpurea, Arisaema
 au Daucus carota
 Eu Teucrium, Leucanthemum
 Oe (phoebe), Platanthera peramoena, Ipomoea
 Ui Equisetum
O “oi” is not a diphthong!
 Pleopeltis polypodioides
O Pronounce when ending with “e”
 Silene, canadense, sessile, hyemale
O Latinized last names (one or two i’s)
 Dodecatheon frenchii, Emydoidea blandingii
O Most trees have been feminized!
 Quercus rubra, Fagus grandifolia, Ulmus americana

28. Plant Resources for Southern Illinois
Field Guide Books & Websites

29. Plant Humor
Q. How can you ID a dogwood tree?

30. Plant Humor
A. By its bark!

31. Gee whiz?! information
If you can’t tell a joke about it,
explain where the name comes
from, or tell story about the plant
then:
WHO CARES!!!

34. Natural Areas in Southern Illinois
109 sites

35. Natural Areas in Southwestern Illinois

36. Shawnee Hills & Shawnee Nat’l Forest

37. 0.07% in a natural condition

38. 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

39. Camp Ondessonk – Pakentuck

40. Camp Ondessonk – Pakentuck

41. Camp Ondessonk – Pakentuck

42. Japanese Stiltgrass – Microstegium vimineum

43. Obligate
Vs.
Facultative

44. 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.

45. Upland Forest/Woodland
•Xeric
•Dry
•Dry-mesic
•Mesic

46. Xeric/Dry Upland Forest/Woodland

47. Blackjack Oak - Quercus marilandica (6)

48. Post Oak - Quercus stellata (5)

49. Farkleberry – Vaccinium arboreum (6)

50. Lowbush Blueberry - Vaccinium pallidum (7)

51. Red Cedar - Juniperus virginiana (1)

52. Winged Elm - Ulmus alata (5)

53. Serviceberry - Amelanchier arborea (7)

54. Poverty Oats Grass - Danthonia spicata (3)

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

56. Pencil Flower - Stylosanthes biflora (5)

57. Pussytoes – Antennaria parlinii (4)

58. False Dandelion - Krigia biflora (5)

59. Starry Campion – Silene stellata (6)

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

61. Provo Cemetery Barrens – Alexander County

62. Rock Chestnut Oak - Quercus prinus (9)

63. Barrens - Gyp Williams Hollow

64. Simpson Township Barrens

65. Simpson Township Barrens

66. Dry-mesic Upland Forest

67. White Oak – Quercus alba (5)

68. Flowering Dogwood – Cornus florida (5)

69. Redbud - Cercis canadensis (3)

70. Wild Azalea - Rhododendron prinophyllum (10)

71. Red Buckeye – Aesculus pavia (7)

72. Carolina Rose - Rosa carolina (4)

73. Prairie Rose - Rosa setigera (5)

74. Indian Physic – Porteranthus stipulatus (6)

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

76. Pagoda Plant – Blephilia hirsuta (5)

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

78. Skullcaps – Scutellaria elliptica (6)

79. Gray’s Sedge - Carex grayi (6)

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

81. Marginal Shield Fern – Dryopteris marginalis (6)

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

83. Twayblade Orchid – Liparis lilifolia (4)

84. Wood Betony – Pedicularis canadensis (7)

85. Eastern Hognose Snake
Heterodon platirhinos

86. Racer – Coluber constrictor

87. Eastern Box Turtle – Terrapene carolina

88. Northern Slimy Salamander
Plethodon glutinosus

89. Five-lined Skink - Plestiodon fasciatus

90. Broadhead Skink – Eumeces laticeps

91. Spicebush Swallowtail – Papilio troilus

92. Mesic Upland Forest – Cedar Creek

93. Tulip Tree – Liriodendron tulipifera (5)

94. Little Grand Canyon – Jackson County

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

96. Spring Beauty - Claytonia virginiana (1)

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

98. Squirrel Corn – Dicentra canadensis (7)

99. Goldenseal – Hydrastis canadensis (7)

100. Wild Ginseng – Panax quinquefolia (7)

101. Bloodroot – Sanguinaria canadensis (5)

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

103. Blue Cohosh – Caulophyllum thalictroides (8)

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

105. Bellwort – Uvularia grandiflora (7)

106. White Trillium – Trillium flexipes (7)

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

108. Wild Leek – Allium tricoccum (7)

110. Yellow Trout Lily – Erythronium americanum (7)

111. Miami Mist – Phacelia purshii (4)

112. Wild Columbine – Aquilegia canadensis (5)

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

114. Wild Ginger – Asarum canadense (5)

115. Wild Hyacinth – Camassia scilloides (7)

116. Wild Columbo – Frasera caroliniensis (8)

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

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

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

120. Green Dragon – Arisaema dracontium (4)

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

122. Bladdernut – Staphylea trifoliata (5)

123. Maidenhair Fern – Adiantum pedatum (6)

124. Maidenhair Spleenwort Fern –
Asplenium trichomanes (10)

125. Broad Beech Fern – Phegopteris hexagonoptera (7)

126. Herps

127. Gray Treefrog – Hyla chrysoscelis

128. Green Treefrog – Hyla cinerea

129. BREAK

130. Loess Hill Prairie – Fults Hill Prairie

131. Loess Hill Prairie – Fults Hill Prairie

132. Loess Hill Prairie – Fults Hill Prairie

133. 1972 1995

134. Green Milkweed – Asclepias viridiflora (9)

135. Blue Hearts– Buchnera americana (10)

136. Crested Coralroot Orchid– Hexalectris spicata (10)

137. Cylindric Blazing Star –Liatris cylindracea (8)

138. Stickleaf –Mentzelia oligosperma (10)

139. Slender Heliotrope – Heliotropium tenellum (10)

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

141. Flathead Snake
Coachwhip
Photo credit – Marty Kemper

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

143. Glacial Drift Hill Prairie – Lake Murphysboro

144. Floodplain Forest – Hickory Bottoms, CCNWR

145. Cardinal Flower – Lobelia cardinalis (6)

146. Sensitive Fern – Onoclea sensibilis (5)

147. Copper Iris – Iris fulva (9)

148. Blue Flag Iris – Iris schrevei (5)

149. Purple Fringless Orchid – Platanthera peramoena (7)

150. White Swamp Milkweed – Asclepias perennis (10)

151. Swamp Milkweed – Asclepias incarnata (4)

152. Indian Pink - Spigelia marilandica (7)

153. Spider Lily – Hymenocallis caroliniana (9)

154. Dodder – Cuscuta gronovii (2)

155. Pink Turtlehead – Chelone obliqua (8)

156. Copperbelly Watersnake

157. Northern Watersnake – Nerodia sipedon

158. Marbled Salamander – Ambystoma opacum

159. Southern Flatwoods

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

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

162. Swamp – Little Black Slough

163. Cypress Swamp – Little Black Slough

164. Cypress / Tupelo Swamp - Heron Pond

165. Buttonland Swamp – Lower Cache River

166. Swamp – LaRue Pine Hills
Winter’s Pond

167. Shrub Swamp

168. Buttonbush – Cephalanthus occidentalis
(4)

169. Arrowhead - Sagittaria latifolia (4)

170. Mosquito Fern – Azolla mexicana (8)

171. Marsh Mallow – Hibiscus lasiocarpos (5)

172. Pickerelweed – Pontederia cordata (8)

173. Water Lotus – Nelumbo lutea (5)

174. Cottonmouths

175. Eastern Newt – Notophthalmus viridescens

176. Illinois Chorus Frog – Pseudacris illinoensis

177. Stinkpot – Sternothorus odoratus

178. Stream – Bell Smith Springs

179. Seep – Greater Shawnee Hills

180. Cinnamon Fern – Osmunda cinnamomea (9)

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

182. Cretaceous Hills

183. Whorled Pogonia Orchid – Isotria verticillata (10)

184. Meadow Beauty – Rhexia virginica (10)

185. Sandstone Glade – Greater Shawnee Hills

186. Sandstone Glade - Garden of the Gods

188. Milk Snake – Lampropeltis triangulum

189. Todd Fink / Trigg Tower – Sandstone Glade

190. Lichen Grasshopper – Trimerotropis saxatilis

191. Small Bluets – Houstonia pusilla (3)

192. False Garlic – Nothoscordum bivalve (5)

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

194. Rushfoil – Crotonopsis elliptica (5)

195. Pineweed - Hypericum gentianoides (6)

196. Prickly Pear – Opuntia humifusa (5)

197. American Pennyroyal - Hedeoma pulgelioides (4)

198. Rough Buttonweed - Diodia teres (2)

199. American Agave - Manfreda virginiana (8)

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

201. Blue Curls - Trichostema dichotomum (6)

202. Wild Orpine - Sedum telephioides (10)

203. Fence Lizard – Sceloporus undulatus

204. Six-lined Racerunner – Cnedimorphus sexlineatus

205. Degognia Canyon

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

207. Partridge-berry – Mitchella repens (8)

208. Shining Clubmoss – Huperzia lucidula (10)

209. Sphagnum Moss – Sphagnum compactum

210. Walking Fern – Asplenium rhizophyllum (8)

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

212. Netted Chain Fern – Woodwardia areolata (8)

213. Spinulose Woodfern – Dryopteris carthusiana (6)

214. Bladder Fern – Cystopteris bulbifera (8)

215. Shooting Star – Dodecatheon frenchii (10)

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

217. Hairy Synandra – Synandra hispidula (10)

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

219. Spleenwort Fern - Asplenium pinnatifidum (10)

220. Cleft Phlox – Phlox bifida (7)

221. Copperhead

222. Cricket Frog – Acris crepitans

223. Piney Creek Ravine Nature Preserve

224. Swayne Hollow Ravine Nature Preserve

225. Mill Creek Natural Area

226. Shale Glade – Union County

227. Shale Glade – Berryville and McClure

228. LaRue Pine Hills

229. Cricket Frog – Acris crepitans

230. Zigzag Salamander – Plethodon dorsalis

231. Cave Salamander – Eurycea lucifuga

232. Cave Creek Glade – Limestone Glade

233. Hoary Puccoon – Lithospermum canescens (6)

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

235. Wild Petunia - Ruellia humilis (3)

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

237. Obedient Plant - Physostegia virginiana (6)

238. Butterfly Milkweed - Asclepias tuberosa (5)

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

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

241. Prairie Dock - Silphium terebinthinaceum (4)

242. Silphium integrifolium – Rosinweed (5)

243. Cave Creek Glade – June 2010

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

245. Pale Purple Coneflower - Echinacea simulata (7)

246. Pale Purple Coneflower - Echinacea simulata

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

248. Climbing Milkweed – Matelea obliqua (10)

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

250. Pounds Hollow / Rim Rock

251. Bell Smith Springs

252. Natural Bridge

253. Jackson Hollow

254. Lusk Creek – Indian Kitchen

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

256. Calcareous Fen

257. Valerian – Valeriana edulis

258. Forested Fen

259. Seeps and Springs

260. Bog

261. Panne

262. Beach/Foredune

263. Beach/Foredune

264. Northern Flatwoods

265. Savanna

266. Dolomite Prairie

267. Gravel Hill Prairie

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

269. Wildflowers of Southern Illinois

270. 100 Best Nature Photos
http://www.flickr.com/photos/100801363@N03/

271. Questions?