Northwestern Illinois

Wisconsin Driftless Area

The massive glaciers that bulldozed through the state thousands of years ago missed this area in the northwest corner of the state. As a result, the land is to a large extent hilly, and there are deep river canyons and cliffs bordering the Mississippi River.

Due to the fact that the glacers missed this area, some of the plants and animals are relicts of the time before the glaciers covered the rest of the state. Several rare wildflowers growing in this area include the French's Shooting Star, Birds Eye Primrose, and Filmy Fern. Other unique plant species that are normally found in the northern areas of the midwest, like Club Mosses and Sphagnun, grow in the steep moist ravines and ledges along streams.

Wild flowers found in this natural division include several northern great plains species such as the low-growing Pasque Flower, the dainty Praire Buttercup and the colorful Indian Paint Brush.

Rock River Hill Country

The glaciers that missed the Wisconsin Driftless Division, barely scraped through the Rock River Hill Country Division, so rolling hills cover most of this natural division, asional dolomite or limestone bedrock outcrops. In some areas the bedrock is composed of sandstone. Because there are different types of soils associated with these bedrock, there are a wide range of plant habitats.

The types of natural areas in this natural division include dry sand prairies, moist sedge meadows, and wet flood plain swamps. In this area, several species of rare plants are found growing on the shaded sandstone outcrops, including Ground Pine, Rusty Woodsia, and Oak Fern.

Wildflowers that grace these prairies include the brightly colored Fringed Puccoon and the Sky-Blue Aster. The wildflower Hepatica, a harbinger of spring, is found in the deep moist woodlands.

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