The Clay Prairie Preserve is a 2.64 acre tract approximately 15 miles north of Parkersburg, IA at the historic town of Butler Center. The prairie preserve is an unused portion of the town's cemetery which was purchased by the University of Northern Iowa with a gift from Joseph B. Clay, an alumnus. The tract is dedicated as a State of Iowa Preserve to insure its present status for future generations. Prairie Composition The vegetation is comprised of several grasses, a variety of herbaceous forbs and a few woody shrubs. A total of 98 plant species was compiled in 1970 by the late UNI Emeritus Professor, C.W. Lantz. The dominant grasses are big bluestem, Indiangrass, and little bluestem. A few characteristic blackland prairie forbs inclued shooting star, downy gentian, prairie violet, and rattle snake master. Two common woody shrubs are New Jersey tea and prairie willow. The Dominant animals are the numerous insects that appear and disappear during the seasons. Several birds, mostly grass-tuft or shrub nesting, are common. More difficult to observe are the small mammals such as the prairie vole, short-tailed shrew and white-footed mouse. No longer do the once large herds of buffalo, fleet-footed antelope or their predators frequent the prairie. Prairie Dynamics The prairie-year is a dramatic series of contrasts. A thick blanket of winter snow allows only the the stoutest stems to stand against the harsh, dry winds. In sharp contrast are the tall, erect grasses with their reddish-golden hues of autumn, intermixed by a myriad of yellow sunflowers and goldenrods. Again, the lush greens of spring's new foliage, vibrantly sprinkled by the rainbow-rich hues from the multitude of prairie forb flowers, offer still more contrast. Or, the dew-beaded web of a garden spider in the early morning light, the slithering motions of a garter snake and the soft buzz of a foraging honey-bee are splendid summer delights. The prairie is a community where changes with season and location are most evident. Here we have portraits of the common prairie plants which flower during early spring. Climatic variation may not allow all plants to be seen on a particular spring day. Also, the near-annual controlled burns on some portions of the preserve may influence the blooming sequence. Burning may advance or delay flowering in an unpredictable manner, but the nutrients released from the ash rather predictively enhance the flower show. Particular insects may only appear during the short interval flowering to serve as pollinators to perpetuate the plants and perhaps even themselves.			Wood Lily Lillium philadelphicum L. color: orangish red height: 5-6 in. blossoms in: July and August          Creamy Indigo Baptisia leucophaea Nutt. color: creamy yellow height: 1-2 ft. blossoms in: Late May to June
Golden Alexanders Zizia aurea (L.) Koch. color: yellow height: 1-3 ft. blossoms in: May to July	Blue-eyed grass Sisyrinchium campestre color: deep blue and white height: 8-10 in. blossoms in: May to June	Alumroot Heuchera richardsonii R. Br. color: greenish white height: 1-2 ft. blossoms in: May to June	Wild Strawberry Fragaria virginiana Duchn. color: white height: 2-5 in. blossoms in: June and July
Birdfoot Violet Viola pedata "note-- relative of Prairie Violet" differs in leaf characteristics and flower color	Prairie Willow Salix humilis Marsh. color: yellow and brown height:4-12 in. blossoms in: May	Pussy-toes Antennaria plantaginifolia Hook. color: creamy white height: 1-12 in. blossoms in: May	Prairie Rose Rosa arkansana Porter. color: crimson, pink and white height:1-3 ft. blossoms in: Late May to July
New Jersey Tea Ceanothus americanus L. color: white height: 1-3 ft. blossoms in: late June to August	Shooting Star Dodecatheon meadia L. color: White, pale pink height: 1-2 ft. blossoms in: May to early June	Prairie Smoke Geum triflorum Pursh. color: yellow height: 8-16 in blossoms in: Late April to June	Prairie Violet Viola peditifida G. Don. color: pale violet (sometimes with purple) height:2-5 in. blossoms in: May to June
			Other Forbs Indian paint brush Castilleja coccinea (L.) Spreng color: red and greenish yellow height: 1-2 ft.
Prairie Phlox Phlox pilosa L. color: purplish rose or white height:1-2 ft. blossoms in: May to June	Quince, Feverfew Parthenium integrifolium L. color: white height: 2-3 ft. blossoms in: June to September	Yellow Stargrass Hypoxis hirsuta (L.) Cov. color: yellow height:3-5 in. blossoms in: Spring	Purple oxalis Oxalis violacea L. color: white and purple height: 4-8 in. Ragwort Senecio aureus L. color: orange-yellow height: 10-14 in.