Native Prairie Native Plants Saskatchewan prairies began to
Native Prairie Native Plants
Saskatchewan prairies began to form 17, 000 years ago as the last of the ice from the Wisconsin Glaciation melted. Landscape was shaped by: - Harsh climates - Periodic Fires - Grazing Animals
Native prairie is a grassland ecosystem. Grassland ecosystems cover between 41 -56 million km 2 (31 - 43%) of the earth's surface. They represent one of the earth's major biomes and, historically at least, are one of the most productive and diverse terrestrial ecosystems.
The disappearance of native prairie means the disappearance of thousands of years of evolutionary history.
Grasses dominate native prairie, but a close look at the prairie uncovers hundreds of different species of grasses and wildflowers! Native Plant: a plant indigenous to Saskatchewan that has evolved here! - Have adapted to their specific climatic zone and soil type Pasture Sage
Some adaptations of prairie plants include: - The growing point of many prairie plants is underground, where it can survive fire/grazing and regrow
- Prairie grasses have narrow leaves that lose less water to evaporation than broad, flat leaves lose. - Prairie plants have roots that extend downward for as much as 3. 5 meters and form networks to absorb moisture during dry periods.
- Brightly colored flowers attract pollinators such as bees, wasps, and birds. Blanket Flower Prairie Rose
Native prairie plants are part of the biodiversity that help to keep our ecosystems healthy. Support a vast number of species that have evolved with them in an intricate relationship. Prairie Coneflower
Wild Blue Flax
Purple Prairie Clover
Blue Grama Grass
Needle and Thread Grass
June Grass
Prairie Sandreed
Foxtail Barley
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