XVI International Botanical Congess

We are evaluating the suitability of a wide range of native grasses and herbaceous perennials for use in restoring natural meadow grasslands in South Carolina. Species were found along woodland edges, in meadows, less-disturbed roadsides, minimally weedy old fields, along unsprayed power- and telephone-line right-of-ways, in remnant piedmont prairies, in recently logged areas supporting native understory, and in areas with abundant native. Many of these species have associations with tall-grass prairie ecosystems, for example, the primary native grass species that dominate prairies also occur throughout South Carolina. Therefore, we are using a tall-grass prairie ecosystem model as a guide to our Piedmont prairie restoration and to restoring ecologically sound native grassland communities.