Plants
The rich environment of Spring Canyon NPS photo 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
Index of native plant species – University of Nebraska State Museum |
Did You Know?
Six distinct ecosystems blend along 76 miles of river: eastern deciduous forest, Rocky Mountain montane forest, northern boreal forest, eastern tall-grass prairie, Sandhills mixed-grass and western short-grass prairie. Click "More" to visit the Niobrara National Scenic River "Nature & Science" page. More...