Mark Twain National Forest

Plants

The Mark Twain National Forest encompasses a large and varied landscape throughout most of the Ozarks of Missouri, and even a small part of the prairie region in the center of the State. Although the Mark Twain National Forest is known for its extensive stands of shortleaf pine, oaks and hickories, this landscape is also home to a wide variety of other ecosystems ranging from the balds near Ava and Cassville, to the hills of the Current River country, the bottomland hardwood forests near Poplar Bluff and the igneous domes of the St. Francois Mountains. Within this wide and varied landscape there exists a diverse array of plants. Of the roughly 2800 species of plant in Missouri, about two-thirds can be found on the Forest. While most can be found commonly throughout the Forest, less common species can be found in specific natural communities such as calcareous fens, acid seeps, and glades (limestone, dolomite and igneous). Spring wildflowers are especially showy in the Missouri Ozarks, and a hike in riparian forests in March and April will lead the visitor to many beautiful displays of wildflowers. One of the best areas to see spring wildflowers is along the Greer Spring Trail near Alton, on the Eleven Point Ranger District. The glades near Ava and Cassville are a good place for wildflower viewing, and a drive along the Glade Top Trail on the Ava Unit in June and July will lead the visitor to many fine views of not only wildflowers, but also the hills and balds that are famous in this region.

Native

Non-Native

Threatened, Endangered, and Candidate Species

US Forest Service - Mark Twain National Forest
Last modified: Thursday, 11 September 2008
http://www.fs.fed.us/r9/forests/marktwain