Clinton County Conservation Board


Manikowski Prairie

Manikowski Prairie is a 180-acre prairie on dry, shallow soils over a limestone bedrock. This preserve is located a half mile north of the town of Goose Lake in Clinton County. The area was purchased by Clinton CCB with the assistance of the Iowa Natural Heritage Foundation in 1985 from the Manikowski family and dedicated as a biological and geological preserve in the same year. Located in the easternmost portion of the Southern Iowa Drift Plain landform region, this prairie grows in thin soil among low rock outcrops of Silurian-age dolomite (430 M years old). The prairie is dominated by little bluestem and sideoats grama with over forty species of plants including shooting star, rockcress and indigo bush.

180 acre property protects virgin limestone prairie and  is a dedicated state preserve. It is the largest remain limestone prairie left in Iowa. A limestone prairie is defined where the grasses and wildflowers grow out soil filled cracks in the rock. Hunting is allowed on the preserve.

 

This Compass plant grows up to 9 feet. The brown trees are Red Cedars, killed by a recent prescribed burn.

Rough Blazingstar

Yellow Coneflower

Columbine and Shooting Star

Cream Colored False Indigo

Lead Plant

Marbleseed

New England Aster

Birdsfoot Violet

Ragwort, prettier than it sounds

Shooting Star

Yellow Star Grass

Manikowski Prairie State Preserve, Clinton Co.
(by common name)

from: www.cgrer.uiowa.edu/herbarium/CheckLists/ManikowskiCom.htm

COMMON NAME
SPECIES
FAMILY
ORIGIN
COMMENTS
Pteridophytes (ferns & allies)      
Bulblet bladder fern Cystopteris bulbifera (L.) Bernh. Aspleniaceae native On dolomite bluffs, usually northern aspect, or shaded areas.
Common horsetail Equisetum arvense L. Equisetaceae native Along creek.
Ebony spleenwort Asplenium platyneuron (L.) Oakes ex DC. Aspleniaceae native Above bluff, not common.
Rattlesnake fern Botrychium virginianum (L.) Sw. Ophioglossaceae native Not common, in semi-shaded prairie area.
Smooth cliff-brake Pellaea glabella Mett. ex Kuhn Adiantaceae native Vertical areas of rock outcrops, usually southern orientation.
Smooth scouring rush Equisetum laevigatum A. Br. Equisetaceae native Prairie.
Spinulose wood fern Dryopteris carthusiana (Vill.) H.P. Fuchs [=D. spinulosa (O.F. Muell.) Watt.] Aspleniaceae native Only one plant noted, growing in a rotted stump along a ravine in prairie.
         
Gymnosperms (conifers)        
Red cedar Juniperus virginiana L. Cupressaceae native  
         
Angiosperms: Dicotyledons        
Alfalfa Medicago sativa L. Fabaceae Caspian area Planted to "improve pasture".
Alumroot Heuchera richardsonii R. Br. Saxifragaceae native  
Annual fleabane Erigeron annus (L.) Pers. Asteraceae native Disturbed areas, agricultural.
Aromatic aster Aster oblongifolius Nutt. Asteraceae native Locally abundant on dry prairie forming patches. Clonal through rhizomes.
Basswood Tilia americana L. Tiliaceae native Rare. isolated location along south bluff.
Bastard toadflax Comandra umbellata (L.) Nutt. Santalaceae native Common prairie species.
Bindweed Calystegia sepium (L.) R. Br. Convolvulaceae native Moist, disturbed areas.
Bird's-foot trefoil Lotus corniculatus L. Fabaceae Europe Planted to "improve pasture".
Bird's-foot violet Viola pedata L. Violaceae native Very common, shallow soil.
Black nightshade Solanum americanum P. Miller Solanaceae native Disturbance areas, small areas of soil between rock.
Black willow Salix nigra Marsh. Salicaceae native along stream.
Bladdernut Staphylea trifolia L. Staphyleaceae native Base of dolomite bluffs, southern and western orientation.
Blazing star Liatris cylindracea Michx. Asteraceae native Hundreds, more likely thousands, on many rocky, thin soiled areas of the prairie and when in flower cause a great amont of excitement to many species of butterflies, skippers, bees and so on.
Blue Verbain Verbena hastata L. Verbenaceae native Moist area of Prairie.
Bouncing bet Saponaria officinalis L. Caryophyllaceae Eurasia cult. Extreme south west corner of preserve and also in main prairie southeast of compass plants.
Box elder Acer negundo L. Aceraceae native Common tree species found along stream.
Bracted plantain Plantago aristata Michx. Plantaginaceae native Dry prairie.
Bristly sunflower Helianthus hirsutus Raf. Asteraceae native Mesic soil along drainageway.
Buckhorn or English plantain Plantago lanceolata L. Plantaginaceae Eurasia Disturbed prairie.
Bur oak Quercus macrocarpa Michx. Fagaceae native Some large trees up to 3 feet diameter breast hieght, with open crowns along stream. Danger of being shade-pruned by Prunus species.
Catnip Nepeta cataria L. Lamiaceae Eurasia  
Cleavers Galium aparine L. Rubiaceae native Along creek.
Columbine Aquilegia canadensis L. Ranunculaceae native Common rock species.
Common chickweed Stellaria media (L.) Vill. Caryophyllaceae Europe Moist, shaded disturbed soil.
Common milkweed Asclepias syriaca L. Asclepiadaceae native  
Common mullein Verbascum thapsus L. Scrophulariaceae Europe Frequent in shallow soil of rock outcrops, frequencey increases in areas of disturbance.
Common plantain Plantago rugelii Dcne. Plantaginaceae native  
Common ragweed Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. Asteraceae native Gopher mounds, disturbed soil.
Common St. John's wort Hypericum perforatum L. Hypericaceae Europe  
Compass plant Silphium laciniatum L. Asteraceae native Mesic prairie, local. Grows in same areas as Helianthus rigidus.
Cottonwood Populus deltoides Bartram ex Marsh. Salicaceae native  
Cream wild indigo Baptisia bracteata Muhl. ex Ell. var. glabrescens (Larisey) Isely Fabaceae native Infrequent prairie species.
Creeping verbain Verbena bracteata Lag. & Rodr. Verbenaceae native Along road at edge of prairie.
Daisy fleabane Erigeron strigosus Muhl. ex Willd. Asteraceae native Prairie.
Dandelion Taraxacum officinale Weber Asteraceae Eurasia  
Diamond-leaved willow Salix rigida Muhl. [=S. eriocephala Michx.] Salicaceae native  
Dogbane Apocynum sibiricum Jacq. Apocynaceae native  
Downy painted cup Castilleja sessiliflora Pursh Scrophulariaceae native  
Dwarf prairie rose Rosa arkansana T.C. Porter Rosaceae native Drier uplands.
Elderberry Sambucus canadensis L. Caprifoliaceae native Edges of bluffs.
European bittersweet Solanum dulcamara L. Solanaceae Eurasia  
Everlasting Gnaphalium obtusifolium L. Asteraceae native Rocky prairie.
False boneset Brickellia eupatorioides (L.) Shinners [=Kuhnia eupatorioides L.] Asteraceae native Prairie, common.
False buckwheat Polygonum scandens L. Polygonaceae native Thickets, riparian.
False gromwell Onosmodium molle Michx. var. hispidissium (Mack.) Cronq. Boraginaceae native Prairie
False pennyroyal Trichostema brachiatum L. [=Isanthus brachiatus (L.) BSP.] Lamiaceae native Dry soil.
Field bindweed Convolvulus arvensis L. Convolvulaceae Europe Dry, disturbed areas.
Field cress Lepidium campestre (L.) R. Br. Brassicaceae Europe  
Field thistle Cirsium discolor Muhl. ex Willd. Asteraceae native Moist areas around prairie.
Fistulous goat's beard Tragopogon dubius Scop. Asteraceae Europe Prairie weed.
Flowering spurge Euphorbia corollata Engelm. Euphorbiaceae native Common prairie species.
Fringed puccoon Lithospermum incisum Lehm. Boraginaceae native Prairie.
Garlic mustard Alliaria petiolata (Bieb.) Cavara & Grande Brassicaceae Europe In shade along creek, not as extensive as it is usually found, but never the less a plant to be leary of. Removing the shade may destroy it's habitat.
Gaura Gaura biennis L. Onagraceae native  
Gerardia Agalinis aspera (Douglas ex Bentham) Britton [=Gerardia aspera Douglas] Scrophulariaceae native Level hill tops on prairie, local.
Germander Teucrium canadense L. var. boreale (Bickn.) Shinners Lamiaceae native Base of bluffs in prairie.
Giant chickweed Myosoton aquaticum (L.) Moench [=Stellaria aquatica (L.) Scop.] Caryophyllaceae Europe  
Giant ragweed Ambrosia trifida L. Asteraceae native Agricultural wasteground, alluvial soil.
Gooseberry Ribes missouriensis Nutt. ex T. & G. Saxifragaceae native Along bluffs.
Gray dogwood Cornus foemina P. Miller ssp. racemosa (Lam.) J.S. Wilson Cornaceae native  
Gray evening primrose Oenothera villosa Thunb. [=O.biennis L. var. canescens T. & G.] Onagraceae native Scattered throughout both prairie and disturbed areas.
Gray or field goldenrod Solidago nemoralis Aiton Asteraceae native Prairie. This is one of the charactoristic species of the thin-soiled areas of exposed rock, usually only attaining a height of three to nine inches.
Gray-headed coneflower Ratibida pinnata (Vent.) Barnh. Asteraceae native Mesic prairie, frequent.
Green milkweed Asclepias viridiflora Raf. Asclepiadaceae native This species has either been overlooked, or is not on Manikowski where there should be suitable habitat. It appears to prefer more mesic areas, which in the remaining remnants is dry-mesic.
Ground cherry Physalis virginiana P. Miller [=P. Longifolia Nutt.] Solanaceae native Common prairie species, does well in disturbed soil.
Gum weed Grindelia squarrosa (Pursh) Dunal Asteraceae native Disturbed prairie, rare. Only two plants noted.
Hackberry Celtis occidentalis L. Ulmaceae native  
Hairy aster Aster pilosus Willd. Asteraceae native Prairie.
Hairy blue violet Viola sororia Willd. Violaceae native Common along stream, not common along edges of prairie, usally noted in areas of disturbance of varying degrees.
Heath aster Aster ericoides L. Asteraceae native Prairie, scattered, infrequent.
Hedge nettle Stachys palustris L. var. pilosa (Nutt.) Fern. Lamiaceae native Base of bluffs in prairie. Along stream, alluvial soil, usually disturbed.
Hoary puccoon Lithospermum canescens (Michx.) Lehm. Boraginaceae native Prairie.
Hoary vervain Verbena stricta Vent. Verbenaceae native Prairie.
Honewort Cryptotaenia canadensis (L.) DC. Apiaceae native Woodland.
Honey locust Gleditsia triacanthos L. Fabaceae native  
Horse gentian Triosteum perfoliatum L. Caprifoliaceae native Edges of bluffs, local.
Horse nettle Solanum carolinense L. Solanaceae native  
Horseweed Conza canadensis (L.) Cronq. [=Erigeron canadensis L.] Asteraceae native Disturbed soil throughout dry prairie where it grows to a height of about two or three inches and along stream where it attains several feet in height.
Illinois tick-trefoil Desmodium illinoence Gray Fabaceae native  
Ladies' tobacco Antennaria plantaginifolia (L.) Richardson Asteraceae native Prairie.
Leadplant Amorpha canescens Pursh Fabaceae native Prairie.
Leafy spurge Euphorbia escula L. Euphorbiaceae Eurasia Small population south of road along fence line.
Little skullcap Scutellaria parvula Michx. Lamiaceae native Common, rocky prairie areas.
Lopseed Phryma leptostachya L. Phrymaceae (Verbenaceae) native Woodland
Lyre -leaved rockcress Arabis lyrata L. Brassicaceae native Very common in shallow soils and on rock outcrops.
Maple-leaved goosefoot Chenopodium hybridum L. var: gigantospermum (Aellen) Rouleau [=C. gigantospermum Aellen] [=C. simplex (Torr.) Raf.] Chenopodiaceae native Base of bluffs, local on semi-disturbed soil.
Moonseed Menispermum canadense L. Menispermaceae native Base of limestone bluffs.
Morrow's honeysuckle Lonicera morrowii Gray Caprifoliaceae Japan Edges of bluffs.
Motherwort Leonurus cardiaca L. Lamiaceae Asia  
Mountain mint Pycnanthemum virginianum (L.) Dur. & Jackson Lamiaceae native Restricted to western edge of one hill close to creek.
Multiflora rose Rosa muliflora Thunb. ex Murray Rosaceae east. Asia  
Musk thistle Carduus nutans L. Asteraceae Europe Edges of agricultural ground.
Narrow-leaved goosefoot Chenopodium desiccatum A. Nelson [=C. leptophyllum (Moq.) Nutt. ex S. Watson var. oblongifolium S. Watson] Chenopodiaceae native Infrequent in disturbed upland prairie area.
Narrow-leaved verbain Verbena simplex Lehm. Verbenaceae native Prairie.
Nodding spurge Euphorbia nutans Lag. Euphorbiaceae native Prairie, edges of field.
Osage orange, hedge apple Maclura pomifera (Raf. ex Sarg.) Schneider Moraceae Ark.,Okla.,
& Tex.		  
Pale purple coneflower Echinacea pallida Nutt. Asteraceae native Prairie, common.
Pale-leaved sunflower Helianthus strumosus L. Asteraceae native Alluvial soil along stream and at edge of agricultural ground. Could be other species listed here also, since this is the "'wastebasket' species" of sunflower experts. (Charles Heiser ex Voss p.431.)
Pale-spike lobelia Lobelia spicata Lam. Campanulaceae native Common prairie species.
Pasture rose Rosa carolina L. var. villosa (Best) Rehder Rosaceae native Base of bluffs.
Pellitory Parietaria pensylvanica Muhl. ex Willd. Urticaceae native Usually on rock.
Pin-cherry Prunus pensyvanica L. f. Rosaceae native  
Poison ivy Toxicodendron radicans (L.) Kuntze Anacardiaceae native  
Poor-man's pepper Lepidium virginicum L. Brassicaceae native  
Prairie cinquefoil Potentilla arguta Pursh Rosaceae native  
Prairie coreopsis Coreopsis palmata Nutt. Asteraceae native  
Prairie Indian plantain Cacalia plantaginea (Raf.) Shinners [=C. tuberosa Nutt.] Asteraceae native Only one plant noted at base of outcroppings.
Prairie ragwort Senecio plattensis Nutt. Asteraceae native Prairie, not common.
Prairie violet Viola pedatifida G. Don Violaceae native  
Prairie violet and Common blue violet Hybrid Viola X bernardii Greene [=V. pedatifida X V. sororia] Violaceae native The parent species, Viola pedatifida, was not noted at Manikowski, however it is noted in an earlier list.
Prickly lettuce Lactuca serriola L. Asteraceae native Disturbed prairie.
Purple meadow-rue Thalictrum dasycarpum Fischer & Ave-Lall. Ranunculaceae native South bluff.
Purple prairie clover Dalea purpurea Vent. [=Petalostemon purpureum (Vent.) Rydb.] Fabaceae native  
Pussytoes Antennaria neglecta Greene Asteraceae native Prairie
Riverbank grape Vitus riparia Michx. Vitaceae native Common on rocky prairie.
Rock cress Arabis hirsuta (L.) Scop. var. pycnocarpa (M. Hopkins) Rollins. Brassicaceae native Prairie.
Rock sandwort Minuartia michauxii (Fern.) Farw. [=Arenaria stricta Michx.] Caryophyllaceae native Listed as Iowa special concern species 1994.
Rosinweed Silphium integrifolium Michx. Asteraceae native Infrequent, although locally common in prairie. Favors slopes with northern orientation and better moisture than the rocky uplands.
Rough blazing star Liatris aspera Michx. Asteraceae native Shuns the driest soils that L. cylindracea prefers for dry-mesic and mesic soils.
Rough pennyroyal Hedeoma hispidum Pursh Lamiaceae native  
Sandbar willow Salix exigua Nutt. ssp. interior (Rowlee) Cronq. [=S. interior Rowlee] Salicaceae native  
Shooting star Dodecatheon meadia Primulaceae native Locally abundant on hillsides with northern orientation, usually in shallow soil, sometimes in rock crevices.
Siberian elm Ulmus pumila L. Ulmaceae Asia  
Silky aster Aster sericeus Vent. Asteraceae native Dry prairie, common.
Silver maple Acer saccharinum L. Aceraceae native Fence rows and creek, not common.
Sky-blue aster Aster azureus Lindley [=A. oolentangiensis Riddell] Asteraceae native Frequent on prairie, seems to prefer rocky, hill slopes with northern orientations, although found elsewhere.
Sleepy catchfly Silene antirrhina L. Caryophyllaceae native Thin rocky soil.
Small-flowered crowfoot Ranunculus abortivus L. Ranunculaceae native Along stream and in disturbed moist areas.
Smooth sumac Rhus glabra L. Anacardiaceae native Colonies established in prairie.
Speedwell Veronica peregrina L. Scrophulariaceae native Along creek.
Spotted horsemint Monarda punctata L. Lamiaceae native Confined to one small "borrow" area by prairie planting. Unable to determine if of local origin, or if came in from seed for reconstruction purposes..
spotted spurge Euphorbia maculata L. Euphorbiaceae native Edge of field.
Spurge Euphorbia glytosperma Engelm. Euphorbiaceae native Infrequent in undisturbed prairie, usually in cracks of rock; common on edge of fields where herbicides have killed existing vegetation.
Stickseed Hackelia virginiana (L.) I.M. Johnston Boraginaceae native Shaded, alluvial soil.
Stiff goldenrod Solidago rigida L. Asteraceae native Infrequent on prairie.
Stiff or prairie sunflower Helianthus rigidus (Cass.) Desf. ssp. subrhomboideus (Rydb.) Heiser [=H. pauiflorus Nutt. var. subrhomboideus (Rydb.) Cronq. Asteraceae native Favors the same mesic draws as Silphium laciniatum. These mesic areas, however, are rare in this prairie complex.
Stinging nettle Urtica dioica L. Urticaceae native Moist disturbed soil, along creek.
Sulfur cinquefoil Potentilla recta L. Rosaceae Europe Disturbed prairie.
Sycamore Platanus occidentalis L. Platanaceae native  
Tall goldenrod Solidago canadensis L. var. canadensis Asteraceae native Often disturbed prairie in moister soils.
Tall lettuce Lactuca canadensis L. Asteraceae native Scattered throughout prairie and disturbed areas alike.
Tall thoroughwort Eupatorium altissimum L. Asteraceae native Prairie
Thimbleweed Anemone cylindrica Gray Ranunculaceae native Prairie.
Three-seeded mercury Acalypha rhomboidea Raf. Euphorbiaceae native  
Toothed spurge Euphorbia dentata Michx. [=Poinsettia dentata (Michx.) Kl. & Garcke] Euphorbiaceae native Dry prairie.
Tower mustard Arabis glabra (L.) Bernh. Brassicaceae native Edge of field.
Upland white aster Solidago ptarmicoides (Nees) Boivin [=Aster ptarmicoides (Nees) T & G] Asteraceae native Common on rocky prairie soil. Colonizer on poor soils.
Venus' looking-glass Triodanis perfoliata (L.) Nieuw. Campanulaceae native Disturbed prairie areas.
Violet wood sorrel Oxalis violacea L. Oxalidaceae native Common prairie species.
Virgin's bower Clematis virginiana L. Ranunculaceae native Prairie.
Wavy-leaved thistle Cirsium undulatum (Nutt.) Sprengel Asteraceae native Current Iowa special concern species. Favors mesic draws.
Western ragweed Ambrosia psilostachya DC. Asteraceae native Dry, disturbed soil.
Western sagewort