Introduction
Soils that support alkali (or saline) prairie typically occur on sites where lakes existed during the Pleistocene, which was the period of continental glaciation. These ancient lakebeds have high salt levels in the soil due to repeated drying and reflooding of the lakes. Where the salts occur near the surface, it is common to find a hard white or gray surface, termed a "slick spot." These areas may have salt crystals visible on the surface during dry periods, and they are largely devoid of vegetation. The perimeter of the slick spot often supports a crust of lichens, mosses and liverworts. In Arkansas, the endangered plant species Geocarpon minimum is almost entirely restricted to this slick spot perimeter zone. Beyond the slick spot edge, prairie species are able to colonize as the depth to the zone of concentrated salts increases, and stunted trees (commonly post oak and shortleaf or loblolly pines) and shrubs occur on still deeper soils.
Most alkali wet prairies occur in the Coastal Plain and Delta regions. Some of the best examples of this wetland type are protected by the State, under programs operated by the Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission. These include the most extensive remaining examples of alkali wet prairie, in the Warren Prairie region in Bradley and Drew Counties in the Coastal Plain Region.
For more details on the Alkali Wet Prairie, click here.
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