Ozark Hills

Description

This preserve is located in the Southern Section of the Ozark Division, that part of Illinois that is geologically similar to the Ozark Region of Missouri. The site is mature second growth forest. It contains several unusual plant species such as red buckeye, azalea and cucumber magnolia. These plants have a very limited distribution in Illinois. The community that these plants occur in is dry-mesic and mesic upland forest. The dry-mesic forest contains white oak, black oak and hickories while American beech, tulip tree, sugar maple and sweet gum comprise the mesic upland forest. In the spring the forest floor is blanketed by colorful wildflowers including phlox, Dutchman's breeches, spring beauty, bellflower, celandine poppy and squirrel corn. This preserve provides habitat for scarlet tanager, summer tanager, hooded warbler, worm-eating warbler and Kentucky warbler.