Oak Openings Plant List

Graminoids

  • big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii)
  • sedges (Carex bicknellii, C. brevior, C.meadii, and others)
  • panic grasses (Dichanthelium spp.)
  • porcupine grass (Hesperostipa spartea)
  • switch grass (Panicum virgatum)
  • little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium)
  • Indian grass (Sorghastrum nutans)

Forbs

  • hog-peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata)
  • thimbleweed (Anemone cylindrica)
  • pussytoes (Antennaria howellii and A. parlinii)
  • spreading dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium)
  • pale Indian plantain (Arnoglossum atriplicifolium)
  • milkweeds (Asclepias purpurascens, A. syriaca, A. tuberosa, A. verticillata, and A. viridiflora)
  • white false indigo (Baptisia lactea)
  • false boneset (Brickellia eupatorioides)
  • bastard-toadflax (Comandra umbellata)
  • prairie coreopsis (Coreopsis palmata)
  • tall coreopsis (Coreopsis tripteris)
  • tick-trefoils (Desmodium spp.)
  • daisy fleabane (Erigeron strigosus)
  • upland boneset (Eupatorium sessilifolium)
  • flowering spurge (Euphorbia corollata)
  • wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)
  • American columbo (Frasera caroliniensis)
  • northern bedstraw (Galium boreale)
  • white gentian (Gentiana alba)
  • wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)
  • woodland sunflower (Helianthus divaricatus)
  • western sunflower (Helianthus occidentalis)
  • pale-leaved sunflower (Helianthus strumosus)
  • veiny pea (Lathyrus venosus)
  • bush-clovers (Lespedeza capitata, L. frutescens, L. hirta, L. violacea, and L. virginica)
  • hoary puccoon (Lithospermum canescens)
  • wild lupine (Lupinus perennis)
  • false spikenard (Maianthemum racemosum)
  • wild-bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)
  • wood-betony (Pedicularis canadensis)
  • prairie phlox (Phlox pilosa)
  • Solomon-seal (Polygonatum biflorum)
  • common mountain mint (Pycnanthemum virginianum)
  • early buttercup (Ranunculus fascicularis)
  • yellow coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)
  • black-eyed Susan (Rudbeckia hirta)
  • starry campion (Silene stellata)
  • goldenrods (Solidago caesia, S. juncea, S. nemoralis, S. rigida, and S. speciosa)
  • asters (Symphyotrichum laeve, S. oolentangiense, and S. pilosum)
  • yellow pimpernel (Taenidia integerrima)
  • feverwort (Triosteum perfoliatum)
  • Culver’s root (Veronicastrum virginicum)
  • American vetch (Vicia americana)
  • pale vetch (Vicia caroliniana)
  • golden alexanders (Zizia aurea)

Ferns

  • bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum)

Woody Vines

  • Virginia creeper (Parthenocissus quinquefolia)
  • bristly greenbrier (Smilax hispida)
  • poison-ivy (Toxicodendron radicans)
  • summer grape (Vitis aestivalis)
  • riverbank grape (Vitis riparia)

Shrubs

  • leadplant (Amorpha canescens)
  • New Jersey tea (Ceanothus americanus)
  • gray dogwood (Cornus foemina)
  • American hazelnut (Corylus americana)
  • American plum (Prunus americana)
  • pasture rose (Rosa carolina)
  • northern dewberry (Rubus flagellaris)
  • sumacs (Rhus copallina, R. glabra, and R. typhina)
  • prairie willow (Salix humilis)

Trees

  • pignut hickory (Carya glabra)
  • shagbark hickory (Carya ovata)
  • white oak (Quercus alba)
  • bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa)
  • chinquapin oak (Quercus muehlenbergii)
  • dwarf chinquapin oak (Quercus prinoides)
  • red oak (Quercus rubra)
  • black oak (Quercus velutina)

Citation

Cohen, J.G., M.A. Kost, B.S. Slaughter, D.A. Albert, J.M. Lincoln, A.P. Kortenhoven, C.M. Wilton, H.D. Enander, and K.M. Korroch. 2020. Michigan Natural Community Classification [web application]. Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Michigan State University Extension, Lansing, Michigan. Available https://mnfi.anr.msu.edu/communities/classification. (Accessed: April 26, 2024).