Despite intensive urbanization and development, the Chicago region is a center of biodiversity in North America. A wide variety of natural communities exist across the spectrum from prairie to savanna to woodland, with numerous types of wetlands interspersed among them. Discover the many rare plants and showy wildflowers unique to this area, along with the habitats in which they occur.

1. Rare and Showy Plants of the
Chicago Region and the
Habitats That Support Them
Christopher David Benda
Montrose Beach Dunes

2. CHRISTOPHER DAVID BENDA
Visiting Plant Ecologist
IL Natural History Survey
Instructor, Flora of Southern Illinois
Southern Illinois University
Instructor, Tree Identification and
Ecology The Morton Arboretum
President
Illinois Native Plant Society
Technical Expert Consultant
Illinois Endangered Species
Protection Board
Somme Woods

3. Beach (Foredune)
Illinois Beach Nature Preserve

4. Marram Grass (Ammophila breviligulata), IL-E

5. Seaside Spurge (Chamaesyce polygonifolia), IL-E

6. Sea Rocket (Cakile edentula), IL-T

7. Pitcher’s Thistle (Cirsium pitcheri), Fed-T, IL-T

8. Trailing Juniper (Juniperus horizontalis), IL-E
Illinois Beach Nature Preserve

9. Kalm’s St. Johnswort (Hypericum kalmianum), IL-E

10. Bog
Volo Bog Nature Preserve

11. Water Arum (Calla palustris), IL-E

12. Snake-mouth Orchid (Pogonia ophioglossoides), IL-E

13. Leatherleaf (Chamaedaphne calyculata), IL-T

14. Dolomite Cliff
Sagawau Canyon Nature Preserve

15. Bird’s Eye Primrose (Primula mistassinica), IL-E

16. Dolomite Prairie
Lockport Prairie Nature Preserve

17. Leafy Prairie Clover (Dalea foliosa), Fed-E, IL-E

18. Quillwort (Isoetes butleri), IL-E

19. Lakeside Daisy (Tetraneuris herbacea), Fed-T, IL-E

20. Leafy Prairie Clover (Dalea foliosa)

21. Slender Sandwort (Minuartia patula), IL-T

22. Car0lina Anemone (Anemone caroliniana)

23. Fens and Seeps
Watersmeet Woods

24. Fens and Seeps
Bluff Spring Fen Nature Preserve

25. Fens and Seeps
Lake in the Hills Fen Nature Preserve

26. False Asphodel (Tofieldia glutinosa), IL-T

27. White Turtlehead (Chelone glabra)

28. Lesser Fringed Gentian (Gentianopsis virgata)

29. Kalm’s Lobelia (Lobelia kalmii)

30. Grass-of-Parnassus (Parnassia glauca)

31. Marsh
Illinois Beach Nature Preserve

32. Marsh Speedwell (Veronica scutellata), IL-T

33. Scarlet Smartweed (Persicaria coccinea)

34. Northern Flatwoods
Potawatomi Woods

35. Cousin It Sedge (Carex bromoides), IL-T

36. Purple Fringed Orchid (Platanthera psycodes), IL-E

37. Prairie
Palatine Prairie Nature Preserve

38. Mead’s Milkweed (Asclepias meadii), Fed-T, IL-E

39. Queen-of-the-Prairie (Filipendula rubra), IL-E

40. Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid (Platanthera leucophea), Fed-E. IL-E

41. Royal Catchfly (Silene regia), IL-E

42. Indian Paintbrush (Castilleja coccinea)

43. Prairie Gentian (Gentiana puberulenta)

44. Prairie Lily (Lilium philadelphicum)

45. Prairie Sundrops (Oenothera perennis), IL-T

46. Eared Foxglove (Tomanthera auriculata), IL-T

47. Sand Prairie
Illinois Beach Nature Preserve

48. Yellow Fringed Orchid (Platanthera ciliaris), IL-E

49. Meadow Beauty (Rhexia virginica)

50. Bird’s-foot Violet (Viola pedata)

51. Oklahoma Grass Pink Orchid (Calopogon oklahomensis), IL-E

52. Grass Pink Orchid (Calopogon tuberosus), IL-E

53. Calopogon oklahomensis vs. tuberosus)

54. White Lady Slipper Orchid (Cypripedium candidum), IL-T

55. Savanna
Baker’s Lake

56. Oval-leaved Milkweed (Asclepias ovalifolia), IL-E

57. Sweet Fern (Comptonia peregrina), IL-E

58. Pale Vetchling (Lathyrus ochroleucus), IL-T

59. Savanna Blazing Star (Liatris scariosa var. nieuwlandii), IL-T

60. Woodland
Cap Sauer’s Nature Preserve

61. Yellow Lady Slipper Orchid (Cypripedium pubescens)

62. Bishop’s Cap (Mitella diphylla)

63. American Columbo (Frasera caroliniensis)

64. American Columbo (Frasera caroliniensis)

65. Goldenseal (Hydrastis canadensis)

66. Indian Pipe (Monotropa uniflora)

67. Black Cohosh (Cimicifuga racemosa), IL-E

68. American Spikenard (Aralia racemosa)

69. Kankakee Mallow (Iliamna remota), IL-E

70. Illinois Botanizer