Local Flora of the Brandon Area

For this lab activity, students will survey either Beaver Creek Nature Area or Big Sioux Recreation Area (nature areas within a couple miles of the school).  Both nature areas have varied landscapes, including disturbed areas, restored prairies, wetlands and floodplain forests.  During the first quarter students will learn to identify, press and prepare herbarium tags for local plants. This lab will put plant identification skills to use as students identify various plants found at each nature area and observe the range of the plant within the nature area.  Students should be able to identify local habitats within the park and then they are to hike along a trail that includes each of the major habitat types found within the park.  While hiking, students should complete a table such as the example below.

The table below is an example of a local flora survey.   This summer I collected plants from the Wall Lake Waterfowl Production Area.  Below is a list of plants found at the site and the habitats in which each occurs:

 

Local Flora of Wall Lake Waterfowl Production Area

Latin Name

Common Name

Phenophase

Plant Associations

Upland Prairie

Disturbed Area

Wetland

Floodplain Forest

Cirsium arvense

Canada thistle

2

x

x

    

Achillea millefolium

Common yarrow

3

x

x

    

Apocynum cannabinum

Indian Hemp

2

x

      

Echinacea angustifolia

Purple coneflower

1

x

      

Gaillardia artistata

Blanket flower

3

x

      

Ratibida columnifera

Mexican hat

2

x

      

Silphium perfoliatum

Cup plant

1

x

      

Hesperis matronalis

Field Phlox

4

x

x

  

x

Amorpha canescens

Leadplant

1

x

      

Melilotus officinalis

Yellow sweetclover

3

x

x

    

Linum lewisii

Wild Blue Flax

3

x

      

Phleum pratense

Timothy grass

3

x

x

    

Anemone canadensis

Meadow anemone

3

x

  

x

  

Potentilla recta

Sulfur cinquefoil

2

x

x

    

Rosa arkansana

Prairie Rose

3

x

      

Populus deltoides

Plains cottonwood

4

x

    

x

Typhus angustifolia

Narrowleaf cattail

3

    

x

  

Verbena stricta

Wooly verbena

3

x

      

 

The goal of this lab is allow students to apply their identification skills and gain an appreciation for the diversity within our local parks.  I hope complete this lab in early October, although school schedules will determine the exact date.  If we aren't able to complete the trip as a fieldtrip, I may not include the "Phenophase" category as it will be difficult for students to identify plants not in the flowering stage.  When  used in conjunction with the herbarium, I  think this is an excellent field experience.