Little Calumet River Prairie & Wetlands Species List | Analysis and Graphs | Cover | Fungi | DBH (woody stems) | Soil | Maps | Photos

20 10 '11 '12 '13 '14 '15 '16 '17 '18

The Little Calumet River Prairie and Wetlands Nature Preserve is owned by the city of Gary, and the eastern part of the parcel is managed by Dr. Spencer Cortwright of IUN (affectionately known as "Cortwright's Prairie" by IUN folks). This is a 10 acre site that stretches from Indiana University Northwest north to 80/94 and west around the Gleason Golf Coarse and park area. The area is one small part of an ambitious, long-term initiative to restore more than 1,000 acres of wetlands, prairie, and savanna. There are more than 150 native plant species that can be found in this prairie land.
Press release
Video
Four new wetland/grassland/wooded plots were added in 2013 in preparation for possible future expansion.

Species list for all plots
To prevent poaching, endangered species are not included in this list. More info...

>>Compare against other sites/plots Latin Name Common Name Map Strata Native? Abutilon theophrasti velvetleaf; butterprint NO Acalypha rhomboidea three-seeded mercury YES Acer negundo box elder YES Acer saccharinum silver maple YES Agrimonia gryposepala tall agrimony YES Agrimonia parviflora swamp agrimony YES Ailanthus altissima tree of heaven NO [invasive] Alisma subcordatum common water plantain YES Alliaria petiolata garlic mustard NO [invasive] Allium cernuum nodding wild onion YES Amaranthus hybridus green amaranth YES Ambrosia artemisiifolia common ragweed YES Ambrosia trifida giant ragweed YES Andropogon gerardii big bluestem; turkeyfoot YES Anemone   ? Anemone virginiana tall anemone; thimbleweed YES Apocynum cannabinum indian help; dogbane YES Apocynum sibiricum prairie indian hemp; dogbane YES Aquilegia canadensis wild columbine YES Arctium minus common burdock NO [invasive] Arnoglossum atriplicifolium pale indian plantain YES Arrhenatherum elatius tall oat grass NO Artemisia vulgaris mugwort NO [invasive] Asclepias   ? Asclepias incarnata swamp milkweed YES Asclepias sullivantii prairie milkweed YES Asclepias syriaca common milkweed YES Asclepias tuberosa butterfly weed; butterly milkweed YES Asclepias verticillata whorled milkweed YES Aster   ? Aster ericoides heath aster YES Aster laevis smooth blue aster YES Aster lanceolatus var. simplex panicled aster YES Aster lateriflorus side-flowering aster YES Aster novae-angliae New England aster YES Aster pilosus hairy aster; frost-weed aster YES Aster umbellatus flat-top aster YES Baptisia tinctoria yellow wild indigo YES Barbarea vulgaris yellow rocket; winter cress NO Bidens   ? Bidens cernua nodding bur marigold YES Bidens tripartita swamp tickseed YES Boehmeria cylindrica rough false nettle YES Bouteloua curtipendula side-oats grama YES Bromus   ? Bromus japonicus Japanese chess NO Callirhoe involucrata purple poppy mallow NO Calystegia sepium hedge bindweed YES Capsella bursa-pastoris shepherd's purse NO Carex bicknellii copper-shouldered oval sedge YES Celtis occidentalis hackberry YES Cephalanthus occidentalis buttonbush YES Chenopodium album lamb's quarters NO Chrysanthemum leucanthemum ox-eye daisy NO [invasive] Cirsium altissimum tall thistle YES Cirsium arvense field thistle; Canada thistle NO [invasive] Cirsium discolor pasture thistle YES Cirsium vulgare bull thistle NO [invasive] Conyza canadensis horseweed YES Conyza ramosissima dwarf fleabane YES Coreopsis palmata prairie coreopsis YES Coreopsis tripteris tall coreopsis YES Crataegus monogyna single-seeded hawthorn NO Cuscuta   ? Cuscuta coryli hazel dodder YES Cuscuta gronovii common dodder YES Cyperus   ? Dactylis glomerata orchard grass NO Dalea   ? Dalea candida white prairie clover YES Dalea purpurea purple prairie clover YES Daucus carota wild carrot; Queen Anne's lace NO [invasive] Desmanthus illinoensis Illinois sensitive plant; Illlinois bundle flower YES Desmodium canadense showy tick trefoil YES Desmodium illinoense Illinois tick trefoil YES Desmodium paniculatum panicled tick trefoil YES Echinacea   ? Echinacea pallida purple coneflower YES Echinacea purpurea broad-leaved purple coneflower YES Echinochloa   ? Elymus   ? Elymus canadensis Canada wild rye YES Elymus repens quack grass NO [invasive] Elymus virginicus Virginia wild rye YES Eragrostis   ? Erechtites hieraciifolius var. hieraciifolius pilewort, burnweed, white fireweed YES Erigeron annuus annual fleabane YES Erigeron philadelphicus marsh fleabane YES Erigeron strigosus daisy fleabane YES Eryngium yuccifolium rattlesnake master YES Eupatorium altissimum tall boneset YES Eupatorium serotinum late boneset YES Euthamia graminifolia var. nuttallii hairy grass-leaved goldenrod YES Fallopia scandens climbing false buckwheat YES Fragaria virginiana wild strawberry YES Fraxinus pennsylvanica red ash YES Galium aparine annual bedstraw; cleavers YES Gaura biennis biennial gaura YES Geum canadense white avens; wood avens YES Gleditsia triacanthos honey locust YES Hackelia virginiana stickseed YES Helenium flexuosum purple-headed sneezeweed NO Helianthus   ? Helianthus divaricatus woodland sunflower YES Helianthus giganteus tall sunflower YES Helianthus grosseserratus sawtooth sunflower YES Helianthus hirsutus hispid sunflower YES Helianthus mollis downy sunflower YES Heliopsis helianthoides false sunflower, oxeye YES Heuchera richardsonii prairie alum root YES Hordeum jubatum squirrel-tail grass NO Hydrocotyle ranunculoides buttercup pennywort NO Hypericum   ? Lactuca serriola prickly lettuce NO Lamium amplexicaule dead nettle; henbit NO Lamium purpureum purple dead nettle NO Leersia oryzoides rice cut grass YES Lemna   ? Leonurus cardiaca motherwort NO Lepidium   ? Lepidium densiflorum small peppergrass; small peppercress NO Lepidium virginicum common peppergrass YES Liatris   ? Liatris aspera rough blazing star YES Lotus corniculatus bird's foot trefoil NO [invasive] Lycopus   ? Lycopus uniflorus northern bugle weed YES Lythrum salicaria purple loosestrife NO [invasive] Maianthemum   ? Maianthemum stellatum starry false Solomon's seal YES Malus coronaria wild sweet crab YES Medicago sativa alfalfa NO Melilotus sweet clover NO Melilotus alba white sweet clover NO [invasive] Mentha arvensis wild mint YES Monarda fistulosa wild bergamont YES Morus alba white mulberry NO [invasive] Nepeta cataria catnip NO Oenothera biennis common evening primrose YES Oxalis dillenii common wood sorrel YES Oxalis stricta tall wood sorrel YES Panicum virgatum switch grass YES Parthenium integrifolium wild quinine; American feverfew YES Pastinaca sativa wild parsnip NO [invasive] Penstemon   ? Penstemon digitalis foxglove beard tongue YES Persicaria amphibia var. stipulacea water knotweed; water heartsease YES Persicaria maculosa lady's thumb NO [invasive] Persicaria pensylvanica pinkweed; long-styled knotweed YES Persicaria punctata smartweed YES Phalaris arundinacea reed canary grass NO [invasive] Phragmites australis common reed NO [invasive] Physalis longifolia var. subglabrata tall ground cherry YES Phytolacca americana pokeweed YES Pilea pumila clearweed YES Plantago lanceolata English plantain NO Plantago major common plantain NO Plantago rugelii red-stalked plantain YES Poa compressa Canada blue grass NO [invasive] Poa pratensis Kentucky blue grass NO [invasive] Polygonatum biflorum smooth Solomon's seal YES Polygonum   ? Polygonum aviculare common knotweed NO Populus deltoides eastern cottonwood YES Potentilla arguta prairie cinquefoil YES Potentilla norvegica rough cinquefoil; Norway cinquefoil YES Prunus virginiana choke cherry YES Pycnanthemum tenuifolium slender mountain mint YES Pycnanthemum virginianum Virginia mountain mint YES Quercus bicolor swamp white oak YES Ranunculus   ? Ranunculus abortivus small-flowered buttercup YES Ranunculus pensylvanicus bristly buttercup YES Raphanus raphanistrum wild radish NO Ratibida pinnata yellow coneflower; gray-headed coneflower YES Rhamnus cathartica common buckthorn NO [invasive] Rhamnus frangula glossy buckthorn NO [invasive] Rhus copallina var. latifolia winged sumac; shining sumac YES Rosa carolina pasture rose YES Rosa multiflora Japanese rose; multiflora rose NO [invasive] Rudbeckia hirta black-eyed Susan YES Ruellia humilis hairy ruellia; wild petunia YES Rumex crispus curly dock NO Rumex verticillatus swamp dock YES Sagittaria cuneata arum-leaved arrowhead YES Sambucus canadensis elderberry YES Schedonorus pratensis meadow fescue NO [invasive] Schizachyrium scoparium little bluestem grass YES Scirpus   ? Scutellaria lateriflora mad-dog skullcap YES Senna hebecarpa wild senna YES Setaria   ? Silene latifolia ssp. alba white campion NO Silphium integrifolium var. integrifolium rosin weed YES Silphium laciniatum compass plant YES Silphium perfoliatum var. perfoliatum cup plant YES Silphium terebinthinaceum var. terebinthinaceum prairie dock YES Sinapis alba white mustard NO Sium suave tall water parsnip YES Solanum americanum American black nightshade YES Solanum dulcamara bittersweet nightshade NO [invasive] Solanum ptychanthum black nightshade YES Solidago altissima tall goldenrod YES Solidago caesia blue-stemmed goldenrod YES Solidago gigantea late goldenrod YES Solidago rigida stiff goldenrod YES Solidago speciosa ssp. speciosa showy goldenrod YES Sonchus arvensis ssp. uliginosus common sow thistle NO [invasive] Sonchus asper spiny sow thistle NO Sorghastrum nutans indian grass YES Sparganium eurycarpum common bur reed YES Spartina pectinata prairie cord grass YES Stellaria media common chickweed NO Taraxacum officinale common dandelion NO Thlaspi arvense penny cress NO Toxicodendron radicans poison ivy YES Tradescantia ohiensis common spiderwort YES Tragopogon dubius sand goat's beard NO [invasive] Trifolium dubium little hop clover NO Trifolium hybridum Alsike clover NO Trifolium pratense red clover NO [invasive] Trifolium repens white clover NO [invasive] Typha x glauca hybrid cattail NO [invasive] Ulmus pumila Siberian elm NO [invasive] Ulmus rubra slippery elm YES Urtica dioica ssp. gracilis tall nettle YES Verbena   ? Verbena hastata blue vervain YES Verbena simplex narrow-leaved vervain YES Verbena stricta hoary vervain YES Verbena urticifolia hairy white vervain YES Vernonia   ? Vernonia gigantea ssp. gigantea smooth tall ironweed YES Viola   ? Viola sororia common blue violet YES Vitis riparia riverbank grape YES Vulpia   ? Zizia aurea golden Alexanders YES 147 native28 unknown63 nonnative(30 invasive non-native)Species count : 238

Copy data to Excel or other programs:Latin Name Common Name Strata Native? Abutilon theophrasti velvetleaf; butterprint Herbaceous NO Acalypha rhomboidea three-seeded mercury Herbaceous YES Acer negundo box elder Tree/Shrub/Herbaceous YES Acer saccharinum silver maple Tree/Herbaceous YES Agrimonia gryposepala tall agrimony Herbaceous YES Agrimonia parviflora swamp agrimony Herbaceous YES Ailanthus altissima tree of heaven Herbaceous NO [invasive] Alisma subcordatum common water plantain Herbaceous YES Alliaria petiolata garlic mustard Herbaceous NO [invasive] Allium cernuum nodding wild onion Herbaceous YES Amaranthus hybridus green amaranth Herbaceous YES Ambrosia artemisiifolia common ragweed Herbaceous YES Ambrosia trifida giant ragweed Herbaceous YES Andropogon gerardii big bluestem; turkeyfoot Herbaceous YES Anemone   Herbaceous ? Anemone virginiana tall anemone; thimbleweed Herbaceous YES Apocynum cannabinum indian help; dogbane Herbaceous YES Apocynum sibiricum prairie indian hemp; dogbane Herbaceous YES Aquilegia canadensis wild columbine Herbaceous YES Arctium minus common burdock Herbaceous NO [invasive] Arnoglossum atriplicifolium pale indian plantain Herbaceous YES Arrhenatherum elatius tall oat grass Herbaceous NO Artemisia vulgaris mugwort Herbaceous NO [invasive] Asclepias   Herbaceous ? Asclepias incarnata swamp milkweed Herbaceous YES Asclepias sullivantii prairie milkweed Herbaceous YES Asclepias syriaca common milkweed Herbaceous YES Asclepias tuberosa butterfly weed; butterly milkweed Herbaceous YES Asclepias verticillata whorled milkweed Herbaceous YES Aster   Herbaceous ? Aster ericoides heath aster Herbaceous YES Aster laevis smooth blue aster Herbaceous YES Aster lanceolatus var. simplex panicled aster Herbaceous YES Aster lateriflorus side-flowering aster Herbaceous YES Aster novae-angliae New England aster Herbaceous YES Aster pilosus hairy aster; frost-weed aster Herbaceous YES Aster umbellatus flat-top aster Herbaceous YES Baptisia tinctoria yellow wild indigo Herbaceous YES Barbarea vulgaris yellow rocket; winter cress Herbaceous NO Bidens   Herbaceous ? Bidens cernua nodding bur marigold Herbaceous YES Bidens tripartita swamp tickseed Herbaceous YES Boehmeria cylindrica rough false nettle Herbaceous YES Bouteloua curtipendula side-oats grama Herbaceous YES Bromus   Herbaceous ? Bromus japonicus Japanese chess Herbaceous NO Callirhoe involucrata purple poppy mallow Herbaceous NO Calystegia sepium hedge bindweed Herbaceous YES Capsella bursa-pastoris shepherd's purse Herbaceous NO Carex bicknellii copper-shouldered oval sedge Herbaceous YES Celtis occidentalis hackberry Tree/Shrub/Herbaceous YES Cephalanthus occidentalis buttonbush Herbaceous YES Chenopodium album lamb's quarters Herbaceous NO Chrysanthemum leucanthemum ox-eye daisy Herbaceous NO [invasive] Cirsium altissimum tall thistle Herbaceous YES Cirsium arvense field thistle; Canada thistle Herbaceous NO [invasive] Cirsium discolor pasture thistle Herbaceous YES Cirsium vulgare bull thistle Herbaceous NO [invasive] Conyza canadensis horseweed Herbaceous YES Conyza ramosissima dwarf fleabane Herbaceous YES Coreopsis palmata prairie coreopsis Herbaceous YES Coreopsis tripteris tall coreopsis Herbaceous YES Crataegus monogyna single-seeded hawthorn Herbaceous NO Cuscuta   Herbaceous ? Cuscuta coryli hazel dodder Herbaceous YES Cuscuta gronovii common dodder Herbaceous YES Cyperus   Herbaceous ? Dactylis glomerata orchard grass Herbaceous NO Dalea   Herbaceous ? Dalea candida white prairie clover Herbaceous YES Dalea purpurea purple prairie clover Herbaceous YES Daucus carota wild carrot; Queen Anne's lace Herbaceous NO [invasive] Desmanthus illinoensis Illinois sensitive plant; Illlinois bundle flower Herbaceous YES Desmodium canadense showy tick trefoil Herbaceous YES Desmodium illinoense Illinois tick trefoil Herbaceous YES Desmodium paniculatum panicled tick trefoil Herbaceous YES Echinacea   Herbaceous ? Echinacea pallida purple coneflower Herbaceous YES Echinacea purpurea broad-leaved purple coneflower Herbaceous YES Echinochloa   Herbaceous ? Elymus   Herbaceous ? Elymus canadensis Canada wild rye Herbaceous YES Elymus repens quack grass Herbaceous NO [invasive] Elymus virginicus Virginia wild rye Herbaceous YES Eragrostis   Herbaceous ? Erechtites hieraciifolius var. hieraciifolius pilewort, burnweed, white fireweed Herbaceous YES Erigeron annuus annual fleabane Herbaceous YES Erigeron philadelphicus marsh fleabane Herbaceous YES Erigeron strigosus daisy fleabane Herbaceous YES Eryngium yuccifolium rattlesnake master Herbaceous YES Eupatorium altissimum tall boneset Herbaceous YES Eupatorium serotinum late boneset Herbaceous YES Euthamia graminifolia var. nuttallii hairy grass-leaved goldenrod Herbaceous YES Fallopia scandens climbing false buckwheat Herbaceous YES Fragaria virginiana wild strawberry Herbaceous YES Fraxinus pennsylvanica red ash Herbaceous YES Galium aparine annual bedstraw; cleavers Herbaceous YES Gaura biennis biennial gaura Herbaceous YES Geum canadense white avens; wood avens Herbaceous YES Gleditsia triacanthos honey locust Tree YES Hackelia virginiana stickseed Herbaceous YES Helenium flexuosum purple-headed sneezeweed Herbaceous NO Helianthus   Herbaceous ? Helianthus divaricatus woodland sunflower Herbaceous YES Helianthus giganteus tall sunflower Herbaceous YES Helianthus grosseserratus sawtooth sunflower Herbaceous YES Helianthus hirsutus hispid sunflower Herbaceous YES Helianthus mollis downy sunflower Herbaceous YES Heliopsis helianthoides false sunflower, oxeye Herbaceous YES Heuchera richardsonii prairie alum root Herbaceous YES Hordeum jubatum squirrel-tail grass Herbaceous NO Hydrocotyle ranunculoides buttercup pennywort Herbaceous NO Hypericum   Herbaceous ? Lactuca serriola prickly lettuce Herbaceous NO Lamium amplexicaule dead nettle; henbit Herbaceous NO Lamium purpureum purple dead nettle Herbaceous NO Leersia oryzoides rice cut grass Herbaceous YES Lemna   Herbaceous ? Leonurus cardiaca motherwort Herbaceous NO Lepidium   Herbaceous ? Lepidium densiflorum small peppergrass; small peppercress Herbaceous NO Lepidium virginicum common peppergrass Herbaceous YES Liatris   Herbaceous ? Liatris aspera rough blazing star Herbaceous YES Lotus corniculatus bird's foot trefoil Herbaceous NO [invasive] Lycopus   Herbaceous ? Lycopus uniflorus northern bugle weed Herbaceous YES Lythrum salicaria purple loosestrife Herbaceous NO [invasive] Maianthemum   Herbaceous ? Maianthemum stellatum starry false Solomon's seal Herbaceous YES Malus coronaria wild sweet crab Shrub/Herbaceous YES Medicago sativa alfalfa Herbaceous NO Melilotus sweet clover Herbaceous NO Melilotus alba white sweet clover Herbaceous NO [invasive] Mentha arvensis wild mint Herbaceous YES Monarda fistulosa wild bergamont Herbaceous YES Morus alba white mulberry Tree/Shrub/Herbaceous NO [invasive] Nepeta cataria catnip Herbaceous NO Oenothera biennis common evening primrose Herbaceous YES Oxalis dillenii common wood sorrel Herbaceous YES Oxalis stricta tall wood sorrel Herbaceous YES Panicum virgatum switch grass Herbaceous YES Parthenium integrifolium wild quinine; American feverfew Herbaceous YES Pastinaca sativa wild parsnip Herbaceous NO [invasive] Penstemon   Herbaceous ? Penstemon digitalis foxglove beard tongue Herbaceous YES Persicaria amphibia var. stipulacea water knotweed; water heartsease Herbaceous YES Persicaria maculosa lady's thumb Herbaceous NO [invasive] Persicaria pensylvanica pinkweed; long-styled knotweed Herbaceous YES Persicaria punctata smartweed Herbaceous YES Phalaris arundinacea reed canary grass Herbaceous NO [invasive] Phragmites australis common reed Herbaceous NO [invasive] Physalis longifolia var. subglabrata tall ground cherry Herbaceous YES Phytolacca americana pokeweed Herbaceous YES Pilea pumila clearweed Herbaceous YES Plantago lanceolata English plantain Herbaceous NO Plantago major common plantain Herbaceous NO Plantago rugelii red-stalked plantain Herbaceous YES Poa compressa Canada blue grass Herbaceous NO [invasive] Poa pratensis Kentucky blue grass Herbaceous NO [invasive] Polygonatum biflorum smooth Solomon's seal Herbaceous YES Polygonum   Herbaceous ? Polygonum aviculare common knotweed Herbaceous NO Populus deltoides eastern cottonwood Tree/Herbaceous YES Potentilla arguta prairie cinquefoil Herbaceous YES Potentilla norvegica rough cinquefoil; Norway cinquefoil Herbaceous YES Prunus virginiana choke cherry Herbaceous YES Pycnanthemum tenuifolium slender mountain mint Herbaceous YES Pycnanthemum virginianum Virginia mountain mint Herbaceous YES Quercus bicolor swamp white oak Herbaceous YES Ranunculus   Herbaceous ? Ranunculus abortivus small-flowered buttercup Herbaceous YES Ranunculus pensylvanicus bristly buttercup Herbaceous YES Raphanus raphanistrum wild radish Herbaceous NO Ratibida pinnata yellow coneflower; gray-headed coneflower Herbaceous YES Rhamnus cathartica common buckthorn Herbaceous NO [invasive] Rhamnus frangula glossy buckthorn Herbaceous NO [invasive] Rhus copallina var. latifolia winged sumac; shining sumac Shrub YES Rosa carolina pasture rose Herbaceous YES Rosa multiflora Japanese rose; multiflora rose Herbaceous NO [invasive] Rudbeckia hirta black-eyed Susan Herbaceous YES Ruellia humilis hairy ruellia; wild petunia Herbaceous YES Rumex crispus curly dock Herbaceous NO Rumex verticillatus swamp dock Herbaceous YES Sagittaria cuneata arum-leaved arrowhead Herbaceous YES Sambucus canadensis elderberry Shrub YES Schedonorus pratensis meadow fescue Herbaceous NO [invasive] Schizachyrium scoparium little bluestem grass Herbaceous YES Scirpus   Herbaceous ? Scutellaria lateriflora mad-dog skullcap Herbaceous YES Senna hebecarpa wild senna Herbaceous YES Setaria   Herbaceous ? Silene latifolia ssp. alba white campion Herbaceous NO Silphium integrifolium var. integrifolium rosin weed Herbaceous YES Silphium laciniatum compass plant Herbaceous YES Silphium perfoliatum var. perfoliatum cup plant Herbaceous YES Silphium terebinthinaceum var. terebinthinaceum prairie dock Herbaceous YES Sinapis alba white mustard Herbaceous NO Sium suave tall water parsnip Herbaceous YES Solanum americanum American black nightshade Herbaceous YES Solanum dulcamara bittersweet nightshade Herbaceous NO [invasive] Solanum ptychanthum black nightshade Herbaceous YES Solidago altissima tall goldenrod Herbaceous YES Solidago caesia blue-stemmed goldenrod Herbaceous YES Solidago gigantea late goldenrod Herbaceous YES Solidago rigida stiff goldenrod Herbaceous YES Solidago speciosa ssp. speciosa showy goldenrod Herbaceous YES Sonchus arvensis ssp. uliginosus common sow thistle