NPS photo

The rich environment of Spring Canyon

The Niobrara River valley has unusually diverse plant groups and ecosystems. The area is noted in scientific literature for the many plants that exist here beyond their normal geographic limits. Plants of eastern, western, and northern forest ecosystems and three Great Plains prairie ecosystems converge here. Approximately 160 plant species are at the edge of their natural range in the river valley. Several factors cause this unusual biological diversity. The river valley provides an unbroken east-west riparain corridor connecting the dryer western landscape with the more humid midwestern prairie and eastern forest. Plants typical of each condition intermingle in the transition zone. The river valley also provides a variety of habitats due to differing slope, moisture, and soil conditions. Also, as climate conditions changed over geologic time, plants typical of past colder conditions survived due to the cool, wet, north-facing branch canyons.

For more information on native plants of Nebraska and their distribution, follow the links below.

Native vegetation map - Univ of Nebraska State Museum
 http://www-museum.unl.edu/research/botany/nebraska_vegetation.html

Index of native plant species – University of Nebraska State Museum
http://www-museum.unl.edu/research/botany/atlas/nebraska_family.html