Uncas Dunes Scientific and Natural Area

[rtbaum]

Uncas Dunes SNA is a relic dune complex from the shores of Glacial Lake Grantsburg. It is the home of several rare plants and insects from a 5000 years past. The characteristic Dry Barrens Oak Savanna has been largely eliminated, 0.02 % remains in the midwest. The biggest problem is that the sandy soil makes for excellent building sites for residential sub-divisions.



Rarest of all, this fleeting glimpse of yours truly traipsing through the grasses of the oak savanna




Beach Needle Grass is one of those rare grasses found on this site. I've always liked the engineering of this grass. The seed is coated with long, stiff hairs that are aligned toward the long awn. The tip of the kernel is a very sharp point. The seed dislodges easily in the fur..or clothing...of passing mammals, think bison. Those hairs are very slick when the seed is rubbed toward the long awn, but catch when rubbed toward the sharp tip. What it is designed to do is burrow through the fur and irritate the carrier, the carrier will rub against a nearby oak tree to remove the irritant. Seed falls to ground and that long awn comes into play, the long awn is lined on one side with thick walled cells that cause the awn to twist with changes in humidity. The twisting of the awn, coupled with the unidirectional hairs and that needle-like tip in effect allow the seed to screw itself into the soil.




Prairie Dropseed is another native grass found on this site. Prairie Dropseed colonizes the blowouts with those fat little seeds, stabilizing the dune, trapping organic matter for other plants. The long hairs protect the plant from desiccating winds and intense sun.






Butterfly weed adds vibrant color to the savanna and is an important nectar source for insects. Uncas Dunes gets its name from the Uncas Skipper, last documented on site in 1987. As it turns out, altough endangered in Mn...it is more common out west in the short grass prairies of the Dakotas.

Also note the poison ivy that carpeted the entire area, much care was exercised by yours truly




Prairie Larkspur finds the open areas to its liking




Spiderwort is found at the edges of the blowouts.




Burr oaks add variety to the landscape. They are able to withstand fire, wind, drought, extreme cold...and heat. They are my candidate for tough tree of the month.



And finally for those Bug People










How about we retry another, earlier attempt, Bailey?



Didn't think so.....

[Shadowman]

Nice series, still can't think of a humorous caption for that last one.

[IzzieK]

What a beautiful write - up. Your post remind me of Geoff. I always admire his patience in photographing plants and the like. BUT! you have categories for everyone here, especially for doggie lovers like me. Excellent series. I enjoyed the journey. Hate poison ivies. I did't know they are dangerous when inhaled.

[rtbaum]

Your post remind me of Geoff. I always admire his patience in photographing plants and the like.

I will take that as a compliment! I enjoy his posts as well!

As for the poison ivy, It effectively keeps people from tramping all over the flowers , Neither poison ivy nor mosquitoes really bother me too much, the solution to both is long sleeves and pants.

[Ziggy]

Thanks for taking us along, enjoyed.