good prairie indicators. They tend to be pres- 
ent only in prairies that have never fallen 
under the plow, particularly in bluestem prai- 
Tie€Se 
Not much of the high prairie has escaped the 
plow but there are certain conspicuous indicator 
plants, recognizable from a speeding car, that 
enable us to spot the few relatively undisturbed 
areas. Compass plant, prairie dock and rattle- 
snake master are easy to learn and all have large 
basal leaves and tall stems topped bythe flower- 
heads. The deeply-cut leaves of compass plant 
orient with flat edge toward the sun. The broad 
heart-shaped leaves of prairie dock can be seen 
for a long distance. The bristly, strap-shaped 
leaves of rattlesnake master are very distinctive 
The purple blazing star and aster and the yel- 
low black-eyed Susan and goldenrod are equally 
characteristic--also lead plant and purple prai- 
rie clover. 
_ Lane Technical High School 
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ZONE Cow PRAIRIE GRASSES 
