Agencies
Services
Nature Preserve Area
9
County
Union
Location And Access
From Jonesboro take Highway 127/146 west 0.5 mile to a county road (Berryville Road). Take this road 1.5 miles to another county road. Turn south on this county road and go 0.5 mile. The preserve is on the east side of the road. The preserve is 0.5 mile east of the road. Access to the preserve is by walking down the lane.
Description
This shale barrens is one of only three shale barrens in Illinois. This plant community was not known from Illinois until the completion of the Illinois Natural Areas Inventory. The trees present here are stunted and gnarled due to the moisture and mineral deficiencies of the shale. Trees which grow in this site are hickory, white oak, blackjack oak and post oak. Dwarf hackberry, a plant of arid sites is scattered throughout the preserve. The herbaceous plants present in this site are little bluestem, goats rue, butterfly weed, goldenrods and sunflowers. Like the trees and shrubs, the dry shale limits the development and growth of these plants.
Ownership
Illinois Department of Natural Resources
Dedicated
August 1989
Size
41.3 acres
Topographic Quad
Jonesboro
Topo Map
For Further Information
Illinois Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Biologist, Ferne Clyffe State Park, P.O. Box 67, Goreville, IL 62939 (618/995-2568)