Protected area of tallgrass prairie in Missouri
Tucker Prairie is a 146-acre (590,000 m2) tallgrass prairie in the U.S. state of Missouri. Never plowed by farmers,[2] the prairie patch is operated as a National Natural Landmark by the Division of Biological sciences of the University of Missouri, which is headquartered relatively close to the prairie.[1]
Ecology
Although located well within the North American climate zone where prairie grasses and forbs grow, Tucker Prairie is a non-standard prairie patch. It contains hardpan soil types, rich in clay and restricted in its drainage.[2] This means that Tucker Prairie is, at random intervals of time after rainstorms, a wet-footed ecosystem and welcomes plants accordingly. The U.S. National Park Service characterizes Tucker Prairie as "a virgin tall grass prairie occurring within the transition zone between the oak-hickory forest and typical tall grass prairie."[3] The 250-plus native plant species[2] logged at Tucker Prairie include many grasses and forbs that thrive in intermittent-wetland conditions.[1] Grasses reported here include big bluestem, little bluestem, Indian grass, and prairie dropseed.[2]
Owned and unplowed by the William C. Tucker family for 125 years, Tucker Prairie was acquired by the University of Missouri in 1957. It became a National Natural Landmark in 1978.[2] Located on a rural road, it opened to the public in 1999.[1][2]
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