Michigan Conservation Stewards Program – Grasslands
Site 1
A friend on the local school board knows that you’ve just completed the Conservation Stewards program, and
asks you to take a look at some property that the school district owns. It is part of a larger parcel but was never
developed because it is very wet in spring, even though it dries out by fall.
He gives you a brief plant list that was done by a biology teacher:
Scientific Name
Common Name
W
C
Andropogon gerardii
big bluestem
_____
________
Aletris farinosa
colic root
_____
______
Carex spp.
sedges
_____
______
Coreopsis tripteris
tall coreopsis
_____
______
Ludwigia alternifolia
seedbox
_____
______
Sorghastrum nutans
Indian grass
_____
______
Pycnanthemum virginianum
Virginia mountain mint
_____
______
Pedicularis lanceolata
swamp-betony
_____
______
Solidago riddellii
Riddell’s goldenrod
_____
______
Vernonia missourica
ironweed
_____
______
1. Appendix C of the Floristic Quality Assessment document includes some useful information:
 Non-native species are written in all capitals
 It includes both the wetland category and wetness coefficient (W) for each species (W values range from
-5 for obligate wetland species to 5 for obligate upland species)
 It includes an index of conservatism (C) for each species (C values range from 1 to 10 - lower numbers
indicate weedier species that can turn up anywhere, while higher numbers indicate species that are like to
turn up only in a narrow range of habitats. Species with high values for C may indicate that a site is a high
quality remnant.
Calculate the average value for W: __________
2. Before you go out to visit the site, you locate the site on:
Quaternary Geology Map ___________________________________________________
Circa 1800 Vegetation Map _________________________________________________
3. When you get there, you dig a deep hole to see what soils are present – you find:
 Fine sand down to 3 feet
 Silty clay loam below this, with no gravel or rocks
4. Work your way through the Key to the Natural Communities of Michigan. What community do you think
you’re looking at?
________________________________________________________________________
Michigan Conservation Stewards Program – Grasslands
Site 2
Your local Parks Department requests a Conservation Steward to help assess a new parcel that has been acquired
by the city. It seems suitable for a park because of the widely spaced oaks that are present but he wonders if the
understory should be planted as lawn or managed as a natural area.
A consultant has prepared a brief plant list:
Scientific Name
Common Name
W
C
Andropogon gerardii
big bluestem
_____
_______
Aster oolentangiensis
sky-blue aster
_____
______
Aureolaria spp.
False foxglove
_____
______
Carex pennsylvanicus
Penn sedge
_____
______
Helianthus divaricatus
woodland sunflower
_____
______
Krigia biflora
dwarf dandelion
_____
______
Coreopsis lanceolata
lance-leaved coreopsis
_____
______
Sorghastrum nutans
Indian grass
_____
______
Quercus alba
white oak
_____
______
Quercus velutina
black oak
_____
______
1. Appendix C of the Floristic Quality Assessment document includes some useful information:
 Non-native species are written in all capitals
 It includes both the wetland category and wetness coefficient (W) for each species (W values range from
-5 for obligate wetland species to 5 for obligate upland species)
 It includes an index of conservatism (C) for each species (C values range from 1 to 10 - lower numbers
indicate weedier species that can turn up anywhere, while higher numbers indicate species that are like to
turn up only in a narrow range of habitats. Species with high values for C may indicate that a site is a high
quality remnant.
Calculate the average value for W: __________
2. Before you go out to visit the site, you locate the site on:
Quaternary Geology Map _____________________________________________
Circa 1800 Vegetation Map ___________________________________________
3. When you get there, you dig a deep hole to see what soils are present – you find:
 Fine sand down to 4 feet
 Silty clay loam below this, with no gravel or rocks
4. Work your way through the Key to the Natural Communities of Michigan. What community do you
think you’re looking at?
________________________________________________________________________
Michigan Conservation Stewards Program – Grasslands
Site 3
You’ve just joined the board of the local land conservancy and have been asked to help evaluate a parcel that is
being considered for acquisition. Although it is quite scenic, with small streams running through the site, it was
never developed because it is very wet throughout the year.
They have a brief plant list which notes that there are some shrubs but few trees on the site:
Scientific Name
Common Name
W
C
Aster spp.
asters
_____
________
Calamagrostis canadensis
blue-joint grass
_____
______
Carex stricta
meadow sedge
_____
______
Carex aquatilis
sedge
_____
______
Cladium maariscoides
twig-rush
_____
______
Eupatorium maculatum
Joe-Pye-weed
_____
______
Sorghastrum nutans
Indian grass
_____
______
Potentilla fruticosa
shrubby cinquefoil
_____
______
Scirpus acutus
hardstem bulrush
_____
______
Solidago ohioensis
Ohio goldenrod
_____
______
1. Appendix C of the Floristic Quality Assessment document includes some useful information:
 Non-native species are written in all capitals
 It includes both the wetland category and wetness coefficient (W) for each species (W values range from
-5 for obligate wetland species to 5 for obligate upland species)
 It includes an index of conservatism (C) for each species (C values range from 1 to 10 - lower numbers
indicate weedier species that can turn up anywhere, while higher numbers indicate species that are like to
turn up only in a narrow range of habitats. Species with high values for C may indicate that a site is a high
quality remnant.
Calculate the average value for W: __________
2. Before you go out to visit the site, you locate the site on:
Quaternary Geology Map ___________________________________________________
Circa 1800 Vegetation Map _________________________________________________
3. When you get there, you dig a deep hole to see what soils are present – you find:
 Saturated organic material - down to 2.5 to 3 feet
 Marl – whitish mineral deposits
 Coarse, well sorted sands and gravels below
4. Work your way through the Key to the Natural Communities of Michigan. What community do you think
you’re looking at?
________________________________________________________________________
Michigan Conservation Stewards Program – Grasslands
Site 4
You inherit a piece of land from your great-great uncle, who tried to farm it in the 30s but gave up, as it was too
dry for most crops. He kept it because he liked the wildflowers and butterflies in the summer but you don’t really
know what to do with the land.
His wife had made a plant list and noted that trees were gradually establishing, but very slowly:
Scientific Name
Common Name
W
C
Andropogon scoparius
little bluestem
_____
________
Antennaria parlinii
smooth pussy-toes
_____
______
Asclepias tuberosa
Butterflyweed
_____
______
Carex pennsylanica
Penn sedge
_____
______
Danthonia spicata
poverty grass
_____
______
Euphorbia corollata
flowering spurge
_____
______
Lupinus perennis
wild lupine
_____
______
Koeleria macrantha
June grass
_____
______
Monarda fistulosa
wild bergamot
_____
______
Solidago nemoralis
old field goldenrod
_____
______
1. Appendix C of the Floristic Quality Assessment document includes some useful information:
 Non-native species are written in all capitals
 It includes both the wetland category and wetness coefficient (W) for each species (W values range from
-5 for obligate wetland species to 5 for obligate upland species)
 It includes an index of conservatism (C) for each species (C values range from 1 to 10 - lower numbers
indicate weedier species that can turn up anywhere, while higher numbers indicate species that are like to
turn up only in a narrow range of habitats. Species with high values for C may indicate that a site is a high
quality remnant.
Calculate the average value for W: __________
2. Before you go out to visit the site, you locate the site on:
Quaternary Geology Map ___________________________________________________
Circa 1800 Vegetation Map _________________________________________________
3. When you get there, you dig a deep hole to see what soils are present – you find:
 loamy sand down to 3 feet
 well-sorted sands and gravel below
4. Work your way through the Key to the Natural Communities of Michigan. What community do you think
you’re looking at?
________________________________________________________________________
Michigan Conservation Stewards Program – Grasslands
Site 5
The local Boy Scout Camp is interested in enhancing habitat on a wetland at the far end of their property. It is
wet, with lots of sedges and rushes, and funny little hummocks everywhere. One board parent would like to fill it
in a bit and plant a gamebird seed mix but they are still exploring options.
An Eagle Scout made a preliminary plant list several years ago:
Scientific Name
Common Name
W
C
Asclepias incarnata
swamp milkweed
_____
________
Aster puniceus
swamp aster
_____
______
Carex stricta
meadow sedge
_____
______
Cicuta bulbifera
water hemlock
_____
______
Iris virginica
blue flag
_____
______
Lycopus uniflorus
northern bugleweed
_____
______
Pycnanthemum virginianum
Virginia mountain mint
_____
______
Rumex orbiculatus
great water dock
_____
______
Solidago patula
swamp goldenrod
_____
______
Viola cuculata
marsh violet
_____
______
1. Appendix C of the Floristic Quality Assessment document includes some useful information:
 Non-native species are written in all capitals
 It includes both the wetland category and wetness coefficient (W) for each species (W values range from
-5 for obligate wetland species to 5 for obligate upland species)
 It includes an index of conservatism (C) for each species (C values range from 1 to 10 - lower numbers
indicate weedier species that can turn up anywhere, while higher numbers indicate species that are like to
turn up only in a narrow range of habitats. Species with high values for C may indicate that a site is a high
quality remnant.
Calculate the average value for W: __________
2. Before you go out to visit the site, you locate the site on:
Quaternary Geology Map ___________________________________________________
Circa 1800 Vegetation Map _________________________________________________
3. When you get there, you dig a deep hole to see what soils are present – you find:
 Saturated organic material, as deep as you can dig
4. Work your way through the Key to the Natural Communities of Michigan. What community do you think
you’re looking at?
________________________________________________________________________
Michigan Conservation Stewards Program – Grasslands
Site 6
Your local Parks Department requests a Conservation Steward to help assess a new parcel that has been
acquired by the city. It seems suitable for a park because of the widely spaced oaks that are present but
he wonders if the understory should be planted as lawn or managed as a natural area.
A consultant has prepared a brief plant list:
Scientific Name
Common Name
W
C
Andropogon gerardii
big bluestem
_____
_______
Aster oolentangiensis
sky-blue aster
_____
______
Carex pennsylvanica
Penn sedge
_____
______
Coreopsis lanceolata
lance-leaved coreopsis
_____
______
Helianthus divaricata
woodland sunflower
_____
______
Liatris aspera
blazing star
_____
______
Stipa spartea
needle grass
_____
______
Pedicularis canadensis
wood-betony
_____
______
Solidago nemoralis
old field goldenrod
_____
______
Viola pedata
birdfoot violet
_____
______
1. Appendix C of the Floristic Quality Assessment document includes some useful information:
 Non-native species are written in all capitals
 It includes both the wetland category and wetness coefficient (W) for each species (W values range from
-5 for obligate wetland species to 5 for obligate upland species)
 It includes an index of conservatism (C) for each species (C values range from 1 to 10 - lower numbers
indicate weedier species that can turn up anywhere, while higher numbers indicate species that are like to
turn up only in a narrow range of habitats. Species with high values for C may indicate that a site is a high
quality remnant.
Calculate the average value for W: __________
2. Before you go out to visit the site, you locate the site on:
Quaternary Geology Map _____________________________________________
Circa 1800 Vegetation Map ___________________________________________
3. When you get there, you dig a deep hole to see what soils are present – you find:
 coarse sand as deep as you can dig
4. Work your way through the Key to the Natural Communities of Michigan. What community do you
think you’re looking at?
________________________________________________________________________