What is a plant community?

A plant community is an assemblage of plant species that interact with one another and their environment in a given area. Environmental factors such as topography, soil, climate, hydrology and geology are important in determining where plant communities occur. Plant communities are usually described by dominant species and named by dominant species or physical characteristics.

How many globally rare plant communities are located in the Oak Openings Region?

There are five globally rare plant communities in the Oak Openings Region. Black Oak/Lupine Barren and Midwest Sand Barren are dry or upland communities that occur on ancient dunes and remnant beach ridges where water drains quickly making it a harsh environment for plants to survive. Mesic Sand Tallgrass Prairie, Twigrush Wet Prairie, and Great Lakes Pin Oak-Swamp White Oak Flatwoods are wet or lowland communities found in swales (low depressions) between the higher sand ridges and dunes.

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