Harrell Prairie Botanical Area or Harrell Prairie Hill is a
tallgrass prairie
The tallgrass prairie is an ecosystem native to central North America. Historically, natural and anthropogenic fire, as well as grazing by large mammals (primarily bison) provided periodic disturbances to these ecosystems, limiting the encroachm ...
nature preserve
A nature reserve (also known as a wildlife refuge, wildlife sanctuary, biosphere reserve or bioreserve, natural or nature preserve, or nature conservation area) is a protected area of importance for flora, fauna, or features of geological o ...
located within
Bienville National Forest near
Forest, Mississippi
Forest is a city and the county seat of Scott County, Mississippi, United States. The population was 5,684 at the 2010 census and the population is a minority-majority.
Geography
According to the United States Census Bureau, the city has a total a ...
. It is a rare remaining example of the
Jackson Prairie Belt in Mississippi. It was declared a
National Natural Landmark
The National Natural Landmarks (NNL) Program recognizes and encourages the conservation of outstanding examples of the natural history of the United States. It is the only national natural areas program that identifies and recognizes the best ...
in May 1976 and a Botanical Area by the Forest Service in 1980.
Description
There are 68 identified prairies in the National Forest, locally called cedar fields, which avoided agriculture development due to their purchase by lumber companies.
[ Harrell Hill contains the "largest and least disturbed" example of the Jackson Prairie in Mississippi.]physiographic
Physical geography (also known as physiography) is one of the three main branches of geography. Physical geography is the branch of natural science which deals with the processes and patterns in the natural environment such as the atmosphere, ...
area in Mississippi and Alabama.soil
Soil, also commonly referred to as earth or dirt
Dirt is an unclean matter, especially when in contact with a person's clothes, skin, or possessions. In such cases, they are said to become dirty.
Common types of dirt include:
* Debri ...
s ( pH greater than 7.5) of the Maytag series ensure unique ecosystems unlike the nearby woodlands of Loblolly Pine
''Pinus taeda'', commonly known as loblolly pine, is one of several pines native to the Southeastern United States, from East Texas to Florida, and north to southern New Jersey. The wood industry classifies the species as a southern yellow pine. ...
(''Pinus taeda'').grass
Poaceae () or Gramineae () is a large and nearly ubiquitous family of monocotyledonous flowering plants commonly known as grasses. It includes the cereal grasses, bamboos and the grasses of natural grassland and species cultivated in lawns a ...
es include Little Bluestem (''Schizachyrium scoparium
''Schizachyrium scoparium'', commonly known as little bluestem or beard grass, is a species of North American prairie grass native to most of the contiguous United States (except California, Nevada, and Oregon) as well as a small area north of ...
''), Indiangrass (''Sorghastrum nutans
''Sorghastrum nutans'', commonly known as either Indiangrass or yellow Indiangrass, is a North American prairie grass found in the central and eastern United States and Canada, especially in the Great Plains and tallgrass prairies.
Descriptio ...
''), Big Bluestem
''Andropogon gerardi'', commonly known as big bluestem, is a species of tall grass native to much of the Great Plains and grassland regions of central and eastern North America. It is also known as tall bluestem, bluejoint, and turkeyfoot.
Taxon ...
(''Andropogon gerardii)''), Broomsedge Bluestem ('' A. virginicus var. virginicus''), Bushy Broomsedge ('' A. glomeratus''), and Switchgrass (''Panicum virgatum
''Panicum virgatum'', commonly known as switchgrass, is a perennial warm season bunchgrass native to North America, where it occurs naturally from 55°N latitude in Canada southwards into the United States and Mexico. Switchgrass is one of the ...
''). Other herbaceous plant
Herbaceous plants are vascular plants that have no persistent wood, woody stems above ground. This broad category of plants includes many perennial plant, perennials, and nearly all Annual plant, annuals and Biennial plant, biennials.
Definition ...
s include Yellow Coneflower ('' Rudbeckia pinnata''), Eastern Purple Coneflower (''Echinacea purpurea
''Echinacea purpurea'', the eastern purple coneflower, purple coneflower, hedgehog coneflower, or echinacea, is a North American species of flowering plant in the family Asteraceae. It is native to parts of eastern North America and present to s ...
''), Blazing Star (''Liatris
''Liatris'' (), commonly known as gayfeather and blazing star. is a genus of flowering plants in the tribe Eupatorieae within the family Asteraceae native to North America (Canada, United States, Mexico and the Bahamas). Some species are used ...
spp.''), False Boneset (''Brickellia
''Brickellia'' is a North American genus of about 100 to 110 species of plants in the family Asteraceae, known commonly as brickellbushes. They are found in Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Central America. Many species are native to the ...
'' ''eupatorioides'' var. ''eupatorioides''), Green Milkweed (''Asclepias
''Asclepias'' is a genus of herbaceous, perennial, flowering plants known as milkweeds, named for their latex, a milky substance containing cardiac glycosides termed cardenolides, exuded where cells are damaged. Most species are toxic to humans ...
hirtella''), Green Comet Milkweed ('' A. viridiflora''), Purple Prairie Clover (''Dalea
''Dalea'' is a genus of flowering plants in the legume family, Fabaceae. Members of the genus are commonly known as prairie clover or indigo bush. Its name honors English apothecary Samuel Dale (1659–1739). They are native to the Western hem ...
'' ''purpurea'' var. ''purpurea''), White Prairie Clover ( ''D. candida'' var. ''candida''), Aster ('' Symphyotrichum'' spp.), Tick-trefoil (''Desmodium
''Desmodium'' is a genus of plants in the legume family Fabaceae, sometimes called tick-trefoil, tick clover, hitch hikers or beggar lice. There are dozens of species and the delimitation of the genus has shifted much over time.
These are mostly ...
'' spp.), Rosepink ('' Sabatia angularis''), Smooth Oxeye ('' Heliopsis helianthoides''), Little-leaved Mountain Mint (''Pycnanthemum tenuifolium
''Pycnanthemum tenuifolium'', the narrowleaf mountainmint, slender mountainmint, common horsemint or Virginia thyme, is a perennial herbaceous plant in the mint family, Lamiaceae. It is native to central and eastern North America.
Description ...
'') and Wild Bergamot ('''').
Visiting
There are no trails or facilities in the area. There is parking along the side of FS 515 and a sign indicating the area. Many of the flowering species are in bloom in late spring.[ Since it is a nature preserve, there is a leave no trace policy to protect the rare species.][
]
References
External links
Official site
{{authority control
National Natural Landmarks in Mississippi
Protected areas of Scott County, Mississippi
Nature reserves in Mississippi
Protected areas established in 1980
1980 establishments in Mississippi