Typha angustifolia (Narrow-Leaved Cattail)

Typha angustifolia is a highly invasive plant that grows in moist to saturated soils such as those in marshes, ditches, and along the edges of lakes. Some say that this plant is native, while others would largely disagree and say that it is exotic since it is not exactly known if this plant was in North America before pre-settlement times.This plant is distinguished from Typha latifolia by its long and thin leaves (1/2 '' wide and 6' long) coming from a single point of origin. Most importantly, this plant has a gap between the pistillate and the staminate flowers whereas, T. latifolia does not. From recent observations, Phragmites australis outcompetes T. angustifolia, but the latter outcompetes Typha latifolia in the same habitat.

Typha latifolia (Broad-leaved cattail)

   Broadleaf cattail is a wetland plant native to many parts of the world. Some sources say that broadleaf cattail is native to North America, Europe, Asia, northern Africa and even India. In the United States, it is native to the lower 48, but a noxious invasive plant in Hawaii. Broadleaf cattail can be found in marshes, riverbanks, swamps, seeps, ditches, and other moist areas.

   Broadleaf cattail is characterized by very long leaves originating from a central portion of the plant. The flowers and the seed head is a large cylindrical body. This plant is highly aggressive and can form large monotypic stands. Today, this plant is being outcompeted by Phragmites australis and Typha latifolia (two highly invasive exotic weeds).

Dalea purpurea (Purple Prairie Clover)

Purple Prairie Clover is a perennial legume native to central North American prairies. This plant is a legume which means that it introduces nitrogen into the soil,  prevents erosion, and is not a picky plant when growing. Although this plant can tolerate vast growing conditions this plant will most likely be growing in undisturbed places with dry to mesic soil.

Purple Prairie Clover is unique in its appearance, and the only plant that resembles Purple Prairie Clover is White Prairie Clover, which is taller and has white flowers.

Royal Catchfly (Silene Regia)

 Royal Catchfly likes to grow in mesic prairies, preferably in full sun, but can also tolerate some shade. It is an interesting plant because it has red flowers which are rare to have in a prairie. There are only a few other species in prairies that have red flowers like Michigan lily, turk's cap lily, and cardinal flower.

Red flower color is not noticed by most pollinating insects and is therefore favored by a few insects such as certain species of butterflies. As a consequence, royal catchfly is endangered in the state of Illinois and in other prairie states.

Partridge Pea (Chamaecrista fasciculata)

 Partridge pea is an annual legume native to the eastern half of the United States. It can grow to about 2 feet.

It likes to grow in dry to mesic soil along with compass plant, showy and stiff goldenrods, rosinweed, prairie blazing stars, wild bergamot, yellow coneflowers, and black eyed susans. It is especially present after a prairie burn.

 Partridge Pea has alternate composite leaves typical of a legume. It flowers from springtime to fall time.

It is a relatively easy plant to grow especially in beginner's gardens because partridge pea can thrive even in nutrient poor soil.

Indian Cup (Silphium perfoliatum)

 Rainwater is accumulated in the "cups" of the plant and are important breeding spots for dragonflies.

 An Indian Cup plant in early spring.

 The leaves are perfoliate which means that each pair of leaves on the stem are adjacent to each other and are joined at the base.

Indian cup in full bloom in mid-summer. Indian cup is closely related to the sunflowers since they are all in the same tribe Heliantheae.