Searles Prairie Natural Area (Rogers, Arkansas)

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Searles Prairie is a ten-acre remnant of tallgrass prairie. It represents the original Osage Prairie on the Springfield Plateau west of the White River/Illinois Divide. Prairies are open grasslands with scattered shrubs and trees, often exhibiting a gradation in community type related to soil moisture and doughtiness. Searles Prairie exhibits asignificant shift in species composition with a gradual transition from dry (little bluestem) to mesic(big bluestem) to hydric species (switchgrass and buttonbush). Decades of mowing for hay, fire suppression, and poor drainage contribute to the present condition of Searles Prairie. Native grasses are reduced in comparison to forbs and other shrubs. Many invasive grass species arepresent here, including fescue, ryegrass, velvet grass, and a bromegrass. Additionally, species such as Japanese honeysuckle, sumac, blackberry, sassafras, persimmon, and others are present on the prairie in greater density than is optimal.