Floristic composition, phytogeography and relationships of prairies, savannas and sand barrens along the Trent River, eastern Ontario

Abstract

Analysis of 15 remnants of natural vegetation of dry openings revealed three major groups (limestone savanna, prairie, and sand barren). The savannas, developing on fine textured soils shallowly overlying limestone bedrock, were dominated by shrubs including Cornus racemosa, Symphoricarpos alba and Rhus aromatica. The prairies were dominated by the prairie grasses Andropogon gerardii, Schizachyrium scoparium and Sorghastrum nutans and the shrubs Prunus virginiana, Ceanothus herbaceus and Rhusaro matica. Sand barrens occured on soils with less organic matter than prairies and were dominated by Carex siccata, Carex Tonsa, Ceanothus americanus and Pteridium aquilinum. Species present in all three major vegetation types included Anemone cylindrica, Carex siccata, Carex pensylvanica, Poa compressa and Poa pratensis. Comments are made on phytogeography and post-glacial history is inferred. -from Authors