Wild Indigo SNA

 

 

     
 
About
 
 

Ownership

 
 

Minnesota DNR logo

 
     
 

Links

 
 

Minnesota DNR

 
     
 

Overview

 
 

 

 
     
 

History

 
 

Wild Indigo SNA was established 10/7/1980.

 
     
 

Management

 
 

 

 
     
 

Comments

 
 

 

 
     
 
Location
 
 

Maps

 
 

 

 
         
 

Printable Map(s) with GPS coordinates

 
 

West Unit

  East Unit  
  Printable map   Printable map  
         
 

Size

 
 

145 acres

 
         
 

Parking

 
 

East (Front Street)
N43 43.254, W92 42.568

Center (610th Ave.)
N43 44.063, W92 49.763

West (570th Ave.)
N43 43.565, W92 54.564

 
         
 

Driving Directions

  Area and County  
 

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          Mower County  
          Southeast Minnesota  
     
 
Activities
 
 

Hiking Trails

 
 

Primitive hiking trail: 12 miles

 
     
 

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

Le Roy Till Plain

   
             
 

Native Plant Communities*

   
 

Mesic Prairie (Southern)

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

Natural Features

     
 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Too Much for One Day

Wild Indigo SNA follows an abandoned railroad right-of-way for 12 miles. Parts of the primitive trail are mowed at least once in some years. In mid- and late summer, if it is not mowed, hiking through the dense tall grass quickly becomes fatiguing. Plan to explore just one half of the SNA on your visit, unless you can be dropped off at one end and picked up at the other end.

 

 

 

 

           
 
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Photos
 
 

West Parking

 
    West Parking Area   Wild Indigo SNA  
           
 

Center Parking

 
    Wild Indigo SNA   Center Parking Area  
           
 

East Parking

 
    East Parking Area      
           
 

Railroad Bridges

 
    Wild Indigo SNA   Wild Indigo SNA  
           
 

Mesic Prairie (Southern)

 
    Wild Indigo SNA   Wild Indigo SNA  

 

Camera

     
 
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MinnesotaSeasons.com Sightings
 
 

Visits

10/28/2008

  8/25/2010            
 
 

Birds

 
 

American Goldfinch (Spinus tristis)

Black-capped Chickadee (Poecile atricapillus)

Gray Catbird (Dumetella carolinensis)

Red-tailed Hawk (Buteo jamaicensis)

Wild Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo)

 

American Goldfinch

Wild Turkey

 
 

Insects and Arachnids

 
 

American pelecinid wasp (Pelecinus polyturator)

black swallowtail (Papilio polyxenes)

Carolina grasshopper (Dissosteira carolina)

dog day cicada (Neotibicen canicularis)

eastern tent caterpillar moth (Malacosoma americanum)

eastern tiger swallowtail (Papilio glaucus)

goldenrod bunch gall midge (Rhopalomyia solidaginis)

goldenrod gall fly (Eurosta solidaginis)

gray hairstreak (Strymon melinus)

large milkweed bug (Oncopeltus fasciatus)

monarch (Danaus plexippus)

multicolored Asian lady beetle (Harmonia axyridis)

orange sulphur (Colias eurytheme)

red saddlebags (Tramea onusta)

viceroy (Limenitis archippus)

 

eastern tent caterpillar

eastern tiger swallowtail

monarch

orange sulphur

 
 

Mammals

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Mammals List

 
 

plains pocket gopher (Geomys bursarius)

whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus)

  whitetail deer  
 

Plants

 
 

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

Endangered

wild quinine (Parthenium integrifolium)

Threatened

edible valerian (Valeriana edulis var. ciliata)

prairie milkweed (Asclepias hirtella)

Sullivant’s milkweed (Asclepias sullivantii)

tuberous Indian plantain (Arnoglossum plantagineum)

Special Concern

cream wild indigo (Baptisia bracteata var. leucophaea)

rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium var. yuccifolium)

small white lady’s slipper (Cypripedium candidum)

white wild indigo (Baptisia alba var. macrophylla)

wild sweet William (Phlox maculata ssp. maculata)

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas and Minnesota Biological Survey Vegetation Releves Plant List

 
 

Plants frequently found in:

Mesic Prairie (Southern) UPs23a

     
 

 

alsike clover (Trifolium hybridum)

American basswood (Tilia americana var. americana)

American elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)

American hazelnut (Corylus americana)

American hog peanut (Amphicarpaea bracteata)

American plum (Prunus americana)

American red raspberry (Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus)

American stinging nettle (Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis)

asparagus (Asparagus officinalis)

big bluestem (Andropogon gerardi)

black bindweed (Fallopia convolvulus)

black medick (Medicago lupulina)

black raspberry (Rubus occidentalis)

black-seeded plantain (Plantago rugelii var. rugelii)

blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis)

bottle gentian (Gentiana andrewsii)

bouncing bet (Saponaria officinalis)

boxelder (Acer negundo var. negundo)

broadleaf enchanter’s nightshade (Circaea canadensis)

Canada mayflower (Maianthemum canadense)

Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense)

Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis)

Canadian tick-trefoil (Desmodium canadense)

candle anemone (Anemone cylindrica)

chokecherry (Prunus virginiana var. virginiana)

clammy groundcherry (Physalis heterophylla)

cleavers (Galium aparine)

common burdock (Arctium minus)

common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale)

common evening primrose (Oenothera biennis)

common milkweed (Asclepias syriaca)

common motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca ssp. cardiaca)

common ragweed (Ambrosia artemisiifolia)

common St. Johnswort (Hypericum perforatum)

common self-heal (Prunella vulgaris)

common strawberry (Fragaria virginiana)

common yarrow (Achillea millefolium)

compass plant (Silphium laciniatum)

cup plant (Silphium perfoliatum var. perfoliatum)

curly dock (Rumex crispus)

cut-leaved coneflower (Rudbeckia laciniata var. laciniata)

dyc (Flava composita var. damnatus)

early figwort (Scrophularia lanceolata)

field horsetail (Equisetum arvense)

field thistle (Cirsium discolor)

giant foxtail (Setaria faberi)

giant ragweed (Ambrosia trifida)

giant sunflower (Helianthus giganteus)

golden alexanders (Zizia aurea)

grass-leaved goldenrod (Euthamia graminifolia)

gray-headed coneflower (Ratibida pinnata)

green ash (Fraxinus pennsylvanica)

ground ivy (Glechoma hederacea)

hairy four o’clock (Mirabilis albida)

hairy sunflower (Helianthus hirsutus)

hedge bindweed (Calystegia sepium)

Indian hemp (Apocynum cannabinum)

Indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans)

June grass (Koeleria macrantha)

late goldenrod (Solidago altissima)

narrow-leaved cattail (Typha angustifolia)

New England aster (Symphyotrichum novae-angliae)

northern bedstraw (Galium boreale)

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

pagoda dogwood (Cornus alternifolia)

plains cottonwood (Populus deltoides ssp. molinifera)

prairie blazing star (Liatris pycnostachya var. pycnostachya)

prairie cordgrass (Sporobolus michauxianus)

prairie dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis)

prickly lettuce (Lactuca serriola)

purple rattlesnake root (Nabalus racemosus)

quaking aspen (Populus tremuloides)

rattlesnake master (Eryngium yuccifolium var. yuccifolium)

red clover (Trifolium pratense)

rock elm (Ulmus thomasii)

rough blazing star (Liatris aspera)

round-headed bush clover (Lespedeza capitata)

round-leaved dogwood (Cornus rugosa)

sawtooth sunflower (Helianthus grosseserratus)

silver maple (Acer saccharinum)

smooth scouring rush (Equisetum laevigatum)

smooth sumac (Rhus glabra)

staghorn sumac (Rhus typhina)

starry campion (Silene stellata)

stiff goldenrod (Solidago rigida)

stiff sunflower (Helianthus pauciflorus ssp. subrhomboideus)

tall blue lettuce (Lactuca biennis)

Tatarian honeysuckle (Lonicera tatarica)

timothy (Phleum pratense ssp. pratense)

tower mustard (Turritis glabra)

western poison ivy (Toxicodendron rydbergii)

white campion (Silene latifolia ssp. alba)

white clover (Trifolium repens ssp. repens)

white sage (Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana)

white sweet clover (Melilotus albus)

wild bergamot (Monarda fistulosa)

wild cucumber (Echinocystis lobata)

wild grape (Vitis riparia)

wild parsnip (Pastinaca sativa)

wild quinine (Parthenium integrifolium)

winged loosestrife (Lythrum alatum var. alatum)

wolfberry (Symphoricarpos occidentalis)

woodbine (Parthenocissus vitacea)

yellow foxtail (Setaria pumila ssp. pumila)

yellow goat’s beard (Tragopogon dubius)

 

Acer negundo var. negundo (boxelder)

Acer saccharinum (silver maple)

Achillea millefolium (common yarrow)

Ambrosia artemisiifolia (common ragweed)

Ambrosia trifida (giant ragweed)

Amphicarpaea bracteata (American hog peanut)

Andropogon gerardi (big bluestem)

Anemone cylindrica (candle anemone)

Apocynum cannabinum (Indian hemp)

Arctium minus (common burdock)

Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. ludoviciana (white sage)

Asclepias syriaca (common milkweed)

Asparagus officinalis (asparagus)

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

Bouteloua gracilis (blue grama)

Calystegia sepium (hedge bindweed)

Circaea canadensis (broadleaf enchanter’s nightshade)

Cirsium arvense (Canada thistle)

Cirsium discolor (field thistle)

Cornus alternifolia (pagoda dogwood)

Cornus rugosa (round-leaved dogwood)

Corylus americana (American hazelnut)

Desmodium canadense (Canadian tick-trefoil)

Echinocystis lobata (wild cucumber)

Elymus canadensis (Canada wildrye)

Equisetum arvense (field horsetail)

Equisetum laevigatum (smooth scouring rush)

Eryngium yuccifolium var. yuccifolium (rattlesnake master)

Euthamia graminifolia (grass-leaved goldenrod)

Fallopia convolvulus (black bindweed)

Flava composita var. damnatus (dyc)

Fragaria virginiana (common strawberry)

Fraxinus pennsylvanica (green ash)

Galium aparine (cleavers)

Galium boreale (northern bedstraw)

Gentiana andrewsii (bottle gentian)

Glechoma hederacea (ground ivy)

Helianthus giganteus (giant sunflower)

Helianthus grosseserratus (sawtooth sunflower)

Helianthus hirsutus (hairy sunflower)

Helianthus pauciflorus ssp. subrhomboideus (stiff sunflower)

Hypericum perforatum (common St. Johnswort)

Koeleria macrantha (June grass)

Lactuca biennis (tall blue lettuce)

Lactuca serriola (prickly lettuce)

Leonurus cardiaca ssp. cardiaca (common motherwort)

Lespedeza capitata (round-headed bush clover)

Liatris aspera (rough blazing star)

Liatris pycnostachya var. pycnostachya (prairie blazing star)

Lonicera tatarica (Tatarian honeysuckle)

Lythrum alatum var. alatum (winged loosestrife)

Maianthemum canadense (Canada mayflower)

Medicago lupulina (black medick)

Melilotus albus (white sweet clover)

Mirabilis albida (hairy four o’clock)

Monarda fistulosa (wild bergamot)

Nabalus racemosus (purple rattlesnake root)

Oenothera biennis (common evening primrose)

Parthenium integrifolium (wild quinine)

Parthenocissus vitacea (woodbine)

Pastinaca sativa (wild parsnip)

Phleum pratense ssp. pratense (timothy)

Physalis heterophylla (clammy groundcherry)

Plantago rugelii var. rugelii (black-seeded plantain)

Populus deltoides ssp. molinifera (plains cottonwood)

Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen)

Prunella vulgaris (common self-heal)

Prunus americana (American plum)

Prunus virginiana var. virginiana (chokecherry)

Ratibida pinnata (gray-headed coneflower)

Rhus glabra (smooth sumac)

Rhus typhina (staghorn sumac)

Rubus idaeus ssp. strigosus (American red raspberry)

Rubus occidentalis (black raspberry)

Rudbeckia laciniata var. laciniata (cut-leaved coneflower)

Rumex crispus (curly dock)

Sambucus canadensis (American elderberry)

Saponaria officinalis (bouncing bet)

Scrophularia lanceolata (early figwort)

Setaria faberi (giant foxtail)

Setaria pumila ssp. pumila (yellow foxtail)

Silene latifolia ssp. alba (white campion)

Silene stellata (starry campion)

Silphium laciniatum (compass plant)

Silphium perfoliatum var. perfoliatum (cup plant)

Solidago altissima (late goldenrod)

Solidago rigida (stiff goldenrod)

Sorghastrum nutans (Indiangrass)

Sporobolus heterolepis (prairie dropseed)

Sporobolus michauxianus (prairie cordgrass)

Symphoricarpos occidentalis (wolfberry)

Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (New England aster)

Taraxacum officinale ssp. officinale (common dandelion)

Tilia americana var. americana (American basswood)

Toxicodendron rydbergii (western poison ivy)

Tragopogon dubius (yellow goat’s beard)

Trifolium hybridum (alsike clover)

Trifolium pratense (red clover)

Trifolium repens ssp. repens (white clover)

Turritis glabra (tower mustard)

Typha angustifolia (narrow-leaved cattail)

Ulmus thomasii (rock elm)

Urtica gracilis ssp. gracilis (American stinging nettle)

Vitis riparia (wild grape)

Zizia aurea (golden alexanders)

 

American elderberry

American plum

black raspberry

blue grama

bottle gentian

Canadian tick-trefoil

chokecherry

common evening primrose

common St. Johnswort

compass plant

cut-leaved coneflower

giant ragweed

gray-headed coneflower

common self-heal (ssp. vulgaris)

New England aster

northern bedstraw

prairie cordgrass

rattlesnake master

rough blazing star

sawtooth sunflower

staghorn sumac

Tatarian honeysuckle

American elderberry

western poison ivy

wild cucumber

wild parsnip

winged loosestrife

 
 

Reptiles

 
 

One reptile species with conservation status in Minnesota has been seen here:

Threatened

Blanding’s turtle (Emydoidea blandingii)

 
 

Minnesota Biodiversity Atlas Amphibians and Reptiles List

 
         

 

 

Binoculars

 

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