prairie

Level or rolling grassland, especially that found in central North America. Decreasing amounts of rainfall, from 40 in. (100 cm) at the forested eastern edge to less than 12 in. (30 cm) at the desertlike western edge, affect the species composition of the prairie grassland. The vegetation is composed primarily of perennial grasses, with many species of flowering plants of the pea and composite families. The three main types of prairie are the tallgrass prairie; midgrass, or mixed-grass, prairie; and shortgrass prairie, or shortgrass plains. Coastal prairie, Pacific or California prairie, Palouse prairie, and desert plains grassland are covered primarily with combinations of mixed-grass and shortgrass species.

prairie

a treeless grassy plain of the central US and S Canada

prairie [′prer·ē]

(geography)

An extensive level-to-rolling treeless tract of land in the temperate latitudes of central North America, characterized by deep, fertile soil and a cover of coarse grass and herbaceous plants.

Prairie

a tract of grassland in North America (Canada and the United States) resembling a steppe or, less frequently, a savanna. Prairie soils are similar to chernozems. The natural grass vegetation, which has survived in small areas, forms a thick, high (up to 1.5 m) cover consisting primarily of perennial grasses with deep root systems. The principal species are beard grass, feather grass, and couch grass. Trees are encountered primarily in river valleys and the least dry low-lying regions. In the north there are stands of aspen, poplar, and willow, and in the south oak, hazel, and poplar predominate. Forest-steppe areas with birch, aspen, and pine woodlands have survived in some parts of Canada. The term “prairies” is also used to designate level regions in North America having open woodlands and thick, high grassy vegetation.

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No references found	Purple coneflower: This native of the North American prairies is not only striking, but one of the best known medicinal plants--Echinacea. Flower power: the medicinal properties of popular plants by Izakson, Orna / E 29) Today there is very little of the North American prairies remaining, and they have been considered to be as threatened as, or more than, tropical forests,(30) For example, almost the entire tallgrass prairie has been destroyed; midgrass prairies have mostly been turned into farms, and the shortgrass prairies are under heavy assault. The national grassland and disappearing biodiversity: can the prairie ... by Dolan, Coby C. / Environmental Law	Norsk H¿stfest Norstad, Lauris norte Norte de Santander Nortel Networks North North Adams North Africa North Africa campaigns North Africa, campaigns in North African Campaigns of 1940–43 north aisle North Albanian Alps North America North American anticyclone North American Basin North American blastomycosis North American Family Campers Association North American Free Trade Agreement North American high North American Indian Days North American Indian music North American International Auto Show North American Native art North American Nebula North American Prairies North American presentation-level protocol syntax North American Solar Challenge North American Wife-Carrying Championship North and South Poles North Andover North Arlington North Atlantic Current North Atlantic Drift North Atlantic Treaty Organization North Atlantic Treaty Organization NATO North Attleboro North Augusta North Australia North Ayrshire North Battleford North Bay North Beach North Bellmore North Bend Rail Trail North Bend State Park North Bohemia North Bohemian Coal Basin North Borneo North Brabant North Braddock	North American Pizza and Ice Cream Show North American Plant Collections Consortium North American Plant Protection Organization North American Plastics Industry Study North American Pocketbike Racing Association North American Poker League North American Poker Tour North American Pole Vault Association North American Police Equestrian Championships North American Police Ski Championships North American Police Work Dog Association North American Pollen Database North American Pollinator Protection Campaign North American Polo League North American Polyelectrolyte Producers Association North American Porcupine North American Post-Poliomyelitis Pyridostigmine Study North American Potbellied Pig Association North American Power Group North American Power Insight North American Power Sweeping Association North American Power Symposium North American Power Systems Interconnection Committee North American Powerlifting Federation North American Prairies North American Precis Syndicate North American Preclearance and Safety System North American Prep Hockey Association North American Presbyterian and Reformed Council North American Presentation Level Protocol Standard North American Presentation-Level Protocol Syntax North American Presentation-Level Protocol Syntax North American Primary Care Research Group North American Printing Ink Company North American Procedure North American Prodromal Longitudinal Study North American Product Classification System North American Productivity Workshop North American Professional Liability Insurance Agency North American Professors of Christian Education North American Proficiency Testing Program North American Project Operations North American Prospect Expo North American Pt-to-Pt Association North American Public Switched Telephone Network North American Publishing Company North American Pulse Improvement Association North American Punch Manufacturers Association North American Purebred Dog Registry North American Purebred Registry, Inc.

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Purple coneflower: This native of the North American prairies is not only striking, but one of the best known medicinal plants--Echinacea.

Flower power: the medicinal properties of popular plants by Izakson, Orna / E

29) Today there is very little of the North American prairies remaining, and they have been considered to be as threatened as, or more than, tropical forests,(30) For example, almost the entire tallgrass prairie has been destroyed; midgrass prairies have mostly been turned into farms, and the shortgrass prairies are under heavy assault.

The national grassland and disappearing biodiversity: can the prairie ... by Dolan, Coby C. / Environmental Law

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