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Sand Cherry in ANHC Tallgrass Prairie Natural Areas
The few small remnants of native tallgrass prairie in the Grand
Prairie region of eastern Arkansas are full of interesting and uncommon
plant species. One of the rarest of these is sand cherry (Prunus pumila var. susquehanae),
a native prairie shrub. In addition to having declined with the loss of
prairie habitat, the populations of sand cherry in the Grand Prairie
are a long way from the main range of the species. In fact, the nearest
populations to Arkansas are in northern Illinois. Like many of the
shrubs of our native grasslands, sand cherry is low-growing and clonal,
or thicket-forming.
As part of an effort to secure the future of several small
populations of sand cherry on ANHC Natural Areas in Prairie County,
ANHC staff will attempt to propagate this rare species in 2010 from
cuttings and from seed. If successful, additional patches of sand
cherry will be established on these natural areas and possibly in
nearby prairie restoration projects.
Flowering sand cherry (left) and sand cherry fruit (right). Photos by Bill Shepherd.
Update Date:
January, 01 2010