Shooting Star Prairie SNA

 

 

     
 
About
 
 

Ownership

 
 

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Minnesota DNR

 
     
 

Overview

 
 

 

 
     
 

History

 
 

Shooting Star Prairie SNA was designated November 16, 1989.

 
     
 

Management

 
 

 

 
     
 

Comments

 
 

 

 
     
 
Location
 
 

Maps

 
 

 

 
         
 

Printable Map(s) with GPS coordinates

 
  Printable map      
         
 

Size

 
 

8.3 acres

 
         
 

Parking

 
 

There is a ditch crossing/field access over a culvert on 130th Street 120 feet west of the intersection. Pull off the road and park over the culvert. There is room for two vehicles.

N43 32.622, W92 34.692

 
         
 

Driving Directions

  Area and County  
 

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          Mower County  
          Southeast Minnesota  
     
 
Activities
 
 

Hiking Trails

 
 

No maintained trails

 
     
 

Hunting

 
 

No hunting

 
     
 
Ecology
 
 

Ecological Classification

  Ecological Classification  
  Ecological Province    

Eastern Broadleaf Forest Province

   
  Ecological Section    

Minnesota & NE Iowa Morainal

   
  Ecological Subsection    

Oak Savanna

   
  Land Type Association    

Hayfield Till Plain

   
             
 

Native Plant Communities*

   
 

Mesic Prairie (Southern)

   
  * Source: The Minnesota Biological Survey, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Division of Ecological Resources      
         
 

Natural Features

     
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

High Quality Prairie

Visitors to this site shouldn’t just walk the old railbed. The area between the rail bed and County Road 8 is high quality mesic prairie.

 

 

 

 

           
 
Visitor Photos
 
           
 

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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

Parking

 
    Shooting Star Prairie SNA   Shooting Star Prairie SNA  
           
 

Culvert

 
    Shooting Star Prairie SNA      
           
 

Prairie Information

 
    Shooting Star Prairie SNA      
           
 

Wood Routed Sign

 
    Shooting Star Prairie SNA   Shooting Star Prairie SNA  
           
 

Old Rail Bed

 
    Shooting Star Prairie SNA   Shooting Star Prairie SNA  
           
    Shooting Star Prairie SNA      
           
 

Mesic Prairie (Southern)

 
    Shooting Star Prairie SNA      

 

Camera

     
 
Slideshows
 
 
     
     

 

slideshow

       
 
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Visitor Sightings
 
           
 

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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

Visits

8/28/2005

  6/8/2016   6/4/2018        
 
 

Birds

 
 

American Crow (Corvus brachyrhynchos)

Cliff Swallow (Petrochelidon pyrrhonota)

Common Grackle (Quiscalus quiscula)

Common Yellowthroat (Geothlypis trichas)

Eastern Kingbird (Tyrannus tyrannus)

Eastern Wood-peewee (Contopus virens)

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

Mourning Dove (Zenaida macroura)

Ovenbird (Seiurus aurocapilla)

Red-winged Blackbird (Agelaius phoeniceus)

Ring-necked Pheasant (Phasianus colchicus)

Rose-breasted Grosbeak (Pheucticus ludovicianus)

Song Sparrow (Melospiza melodia)

 

Common Grackle

Mourning Dove

Red-winged Blackbird

 
 

Insects and Arachnids

 
 

common wood nymph (Cercyonis pegala)

deer fly (Chrysops sp.)

eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)

goldenrod bunch gall midge (Rhopalomyia solidaginis)

goldenrod gall fly (Eurosta solidaginis)

goldenrod soldier beetle (Chauliognathus pennsylvanicus)

monarch (Danaus plexippus)

multicolored Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis)

painted lady (Vanessa cardui)

 

goldenrod soldier beetle

painted lady

 
 

Mammals

 
 

plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius)

striped skunk (Mephitis mephitis)

whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

  plains pocket gopher  
 

Plants

 
 

Four plant species with conservation status in Minnesota are found here:

Endangered

prairie shooting star (Primula meadia)

wild quinine (Parthenium integrifolium)

Special Concern

rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium var. yuccifolium)

white wild indigo (Baptisia alba var. macrophylla)

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas and Minnesota Biological Survey Vegetation Releves Plant List

 
 

Plants frequently found in:

Mesic Prairie (Southern) UPs23a

     
 

 

Allegheny blackberry (Rubus allegheniensis)

alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum)

American basswood (Tilia americana var. americana)

American black currant (Ribes americanum)

American groundnut (Apios americana)

American hazelnut (Corylus americana)

American hog peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata var. bracteata)

American red raspberry (Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus)

American stinging nettle (Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis)

American vetch (Vicia americana ssp. americana)

Amur maple (Acer ginnala)

annual fleabane (Erigeron annuus)

bastard toadflax (Comandra umbellata ssp. umbellata)

big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi)

bird’s-foot trefoil (Lotus corniculatus var. corniculatus)

black cherry (Prunus serotina var. serotina)

black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis)

black walnut (Juglans nigra)

black-seeded plantain (Plantago rugelii var. rugelii)

bland sweet cicely (Osmorhiza claytonii)

Blue Ridge carrionflower (Smilax lasioneura)

blue vervain (Verbena hastata)

boxelder (Acer negundo var. negundo)

bracted spiderwort (Tradescantia bracteata)

bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa)

Canada anemone (Anemonastrum canadense)

Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis)

Canada lettuce (Lactuca canadensis)

Canada plum (Prunus nigra)

Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense)

cattail (Typha sp.)

chokecherry (Prunus virginiana var. virginiana)

clammy groundcherry (Physalis heterophylla)

cleavers (Galium aparine)

clustered black snakeroot (Sanicula odorata)

common blue violet (Viola sororia)

common burdock (Arctium minus)

common cinquefoil (Potentilla simplex)

common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale)

common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis)

common false Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum racemosum var. racemosum)

common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

common snowberry (Symphoricarpos albus var. albus)

common strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum var. perfoliatum)

curly dock (Rumex crispus)

cut-leaved coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata var. laciniata)

dame’s rocket (Hesperis matronalis ssp. matronalis)

Dewey’s sedge (Carex deweyana)

downy phlox (Phlox pilosa ssp. fulgida)

eastern swamp saxifrage (Micranthes pensylvanica)

falsegold groundsel (Packera pseudaurea var. semicordata)

field horsetail (Equisetum arvense)

field pennycress (Thlaspi arvense)

field thistle (Cirsium discolor)

garlic mustard (Alliaria petiolata)

giant goldenrod (Solidago gigantea)

giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida)

golden alexanders (Zizia aurea)

gray dogwood (Cornus racemosa)

heart-leaved four o’clock (Mirabilis nyctaginea)

heart-leaved golden alexanders (Zizia aptera)

hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium)

hoary puccoon (Lithospermum canescens)

Illinois carrion flower (Smilax illinoensis)

Indian hemp (Apocynum cannabinum)

Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans)

interrupted fern (Claytosmunda claytoniana)

Jerusalem artichoke (Helianthus tuberosus)

late goldenrod (Solidago altissima)

leadplant (Amorpha canescens)

long-leaved chickweed (Stellaria longifolia)

Maryland black snakeroot (Sanicula marilandica)

meadow garlic (Allium canadense var. canadense)

northern bedstraw (Galium boreale)

northern lady fern (Athyrium filix-femina var. angustum)

northern pin oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis)

plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides ssp. molinifera)

prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya var. pycnostachya)

prairie blue-eyed grass (Sisyrinchium campestre)

prairie cordgrass (Sporobolus michauxianus)

prairie rose (Rosa arkansana)

prairie violet (Viola pedatifida var. pedatifida)

purple meadow-rue (Thalictrum dasycarpum)

purple prairie clover (Dalea purpurea var. purpurea)

pussy willow (Salix discolor)

quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)

rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium var. yuccifolium)

red baneberry (Actaea rubra ssp. rubra)

red clover (Trifolium pratense)

red mulberry (Morus rubra)

red osier dogwood (Cornus sericea ssp. sericea)

redtop (Agrostis gigantea)

reed canary grass (Phalaris arundinacea)

rough blazing star (Liatris aspera)

sandbar willow (Salix interior)

Scribner’s panic grass (Dichanthelium oligosanthes ssp. scribnerianum)

slender willow (Salix petiolaris)

smooth brome (Bromus inermis)

smooth Solomon’s seal (Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum)

smooth sumac (Rhus glabra)

southern blue flag (Iris virginica var. shrevei)

spotted Joe Pye weed (Eutrochium maculatum)

spotted touch-me-not (Impatiens capensis)

spotted water hemlock (Cicuta maculata)

spreading dogbane (Apocynum androsaemifolium)

starry false Solomon’s seal (Maianthemum stellatum)

stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida ssp. rigida)

sulphur cinquefoil (Potentilla recta)

swamp milkweed (Asclepias incarnata ssp. incarnata)

tall blue lettuce (Lactuca biennis)

Tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica)

upright carrionflower (Smilax ecirrhata)

veiny pea (Lathyrus venosus var. intonsus)

violet wood sorrel (Oxalis violacea)

western bracken fern (Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum)

western poison ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii)

white clover (Trifolium repens ssp. repens)

white rattlesnake root (Nabalus albus)

white sage (Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana)

white snakeroot (Ageratina altissima var. altissima)

white sweet clover (Melilotus albus)

wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

wild cucumber (Echinocystis lobata)

wild geranium (Geranium maculatum)

wild grape (Vitis riparia)

wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa)

wild quinine (Parthenium integrifolium)

wild yam (Dioscorea villosa)

woodbine (Parthenocissus vitacea)

woodland horsetail (Equisetum sylvaticum)

yellow star grass (Hypoxis hirsuta)

yellow wood sorrel (Oxalis stricta)

 

Acer ginnala (Amur maple)

Acer negundo var. negundo (boxelder)

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow)

Actaea rubra ssp. rubra (red baneberry)

Ageratina altissima var. altissima (white snakeroot)

Agrostis gigantea (redtop)

Alliaria petiolata (garlic mustard)

Allium canadense var. canadense (meadow garlic)

Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed)

Ambrosia trifida (giant ragweed)

Amorpha canescens (leadplant)

Amphicarpaea bracteata var. bracteata (hog peanut)

Andropogon gerardi (big bluestem)

Anemonastrum canadense (Canada anemone)

Apios americana (American groundnut)

Apocynum androsaemifolium (spreading dogbane)

Apocynum cannabinum (Indian hemp)

Arctium minus (common burdock)

Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana (white sage)

Asclepias incarnata ssp. incarnata (swamp milkweed)

Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed)

Athyrium filix-femina var. angustum (northern lady fern)

Bromus inermis (smooth brome)

Calystegia sepium (hedge bindweed)

Carex deweyana (Dewey’s sedge)

Cicuta maculata (spotted water hemlock)

Cirsium arvense (Canada thistle)

Cirsium discolor (field thistle)

Comandra umbellata ssp. umbellata (bastard toadflax)

Cornus racemosa (gray dogwood)

Cornus sericea ssp. sericea (red osier dogwood)

Corylus americana (American hazelnut)

Dalea purpurea var. purpurea (purple prairie clover)

Dichanthelium oligosanthes ssp. scribnerianum (Scribner’s panic grass)

Dioscorea villosa (wild yam)

Echinocystis lobata (wild cucumber)

Equisetum arvense (field horsetail)

Equisetum sylvaticum (woodland horsetail)

Erigeron annuus (annual fleabane)

Eryngium yuccifolium var. yuccifolium (rattlesnake master)

Eutrochium maculatum (spotted Joe Pye weed)

Fragaria virginiana (common strawberry)

Galium aparine (cleavers)

Galium boreale (northern bedstraw)

Geranium maculatum (wild geranium)

Helianthus tuberosus (Jerusalem artichoke)

Hesperis matronalis ssp. matronalis (dame’s rocket)

Hypoxis hirsuta (yellow star grass)

Impatiens capensis (spotted touch-me-not)

Iris virginica var. shrevei (southern blue flag)

Juglans nigra (black walnut)

Lactuca biennis (tall blue lettuce)

Lactuca canadensis (Canada lettuce)

Lathyrus venosus var. intonsus) (veiny pea)

Liatris aspera (rough blazing star)

Liatris pycnostachya var. pycnostachya (prairie blazing star)

Lithospermum canescens (hoary puccoon)

Lonicera tatarica (Tatarian honeysuckle)

Lotus corniculatus var. corniculatus (bird’s-foot trefoil)

Maianthemum racemosum var. racemosum (common false Solomon’s seal)

Maianthemum stellatum (starry false Solomon’s seal)

Melilotus albus (white sweet clover)

Micranthes pensylvanica (eastern swamp saxifrage)

Mirabilis nyctaginea (heart-leaved four o’clock)

Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot)

Morus rubra (red mulberry)

Nabalus albus (white rattlesnake root)

Oenothera biennis (common evening primrose)

Osmorhiza claytonii (bland sweet cicely)

Claytosmunda claytoniana (interrupted fern)

Oxalis stricta (yellow wood sorrel)

Oxalis violacea (violet wood sorrel)

Packera pseudaurea var. semicordata (falsegold groundsel)

Parthenium integrifolium (wild quinine)

Parthenocissus vitacea (woodbine)

Pastinaca sativa (wild parsnip)

Phalaris arundinacea (reed canary grass)

Phlox pilosa ssp. fulgida (downy phlox)

Physalis heterophylla (clammy groundcherry)

Plantago rugelii var. rugelii (black-seeded plantain)

Polygonatum biflorum var. commutatum (smooth Solomon’s seal)

Populus deltoides ssp. molinifera (plains cottonwood)

Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen)

Potentilla recta (sulphur cinquefoil)

Potentilla simplex (common cinquefoil)

Prunus nigra (Canada plum)

Prunus serotina var. serotina (black cherry)

Prunus virginiana var. virginiana (chokecherry)

Pteridium aquilinum var. latiusculum (western bracken fern)

Quercus ellipsoidalis (northern pin oak)

Quercus macrocarpa var. macrocarpa (bur oak)

Rhus glabra (smooth sumac)

Ribes americanum (American black currant)

Rosa arkansana (prairie rose)

Rubus allegheniensis (Allegheny blackberry)

Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus (American red raspberry)

Rubus occidentalis (black raspberry)

Rudbeckia laciniata var. laciniata (cut-leaved coneflower)

Rumex crispus (curly dock)

Salix discolor (pussy willow)

Salix interior (sandbar willow)

Salix petiolaris (slender willow)

Sanicula marilandica (Maryland black snakeroot)

Sanicula odorata (clustered black snakeroot)

Silphium perfoliatum var. perfoliatum (cup plant)

Sisyrinchium campestre (prairie blue-eyed grass)

Smilax ecirrhata (upright carrionflower)

Smilax illinoensis (Illinois carrion flower)

Smilax lasioneura (Blue Ridge carrionflower)

Solidago altissima (late goldenrod)

Solidago canadensis (Canada goldenrod)

Solidago gigantea (giant goldenrod)

Solidago rigida ssp. rigida (stiff goldenrod)

Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass)

Sporobolus michauxianus (prairie cordgrass)

Stellaria longifolia (long-leaved chickweed)

Symphoricarpos albus var. albus (common snowberry)

Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale (common dandelion)

Thalictrum dasycarpum (purple meadow-rue)

Thlaspi arvense (field pennycress)

Tilia americana var. americana (American basswood)

Toxicodendron rydbergii (western poison ivy)

Tradescantia bracteata (bracted spiderwort)

Trifolium hybridum (alsike clover)

Trifolium pratense (red clover)

Trifolium repens ssp. repens (white clover)

Typha sp. (cattail)

Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis (American stinging nettle)

Verbena hastata (blue vervain)

Vicia americana ssp. americana (American vetch)

Viola pedatifida var. pedatifida (prairie violet)

Viola sororia (common blue violet)

Vitis riparia (wild grape)

Zizia aptera (heart-leaved golden alexanders)

Zizia aurea (golden alexanders)

 

Allegheny blackberry

American black currant

American red raspberry

American vetch

bird’s-foot trefoil

black raspberry

bracted spiderwort

Canada anemone

chokecherry

common blue violet

giant ragweed

common strawberry

common yarrow

cup plant

dame’s rocket

downy phlox

golden alexanders

heart-leaved four o’clock

hoary puccoon

interrupted fern

leadplant

meadow garlic

northern bedstraw

prairie rose

prairie violet

purple prairie clover

rattlesnake master

sulphur cinquefoil

spotted touch-me-not

swamp milkweed

Tatarian honeysuckle

violet wood sorrel

western poison ivy

white snakeroot

wild bergamot

wild quinine

 

 

 

Binoculars

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rare Plants

At one time, an attempt was made to reintroduce Prairie shooting star into this tiny SNA. Red mulberry, rare (in Minnesota) but without conservation status, is found here.

 

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