Big Bone Lick

Big Bone Lick State Park is one of the few places in the world where one can find the federally endangered plant, Running Buffalo Clover.  The clover appears to depend on woodland disturbance created by large animals, especially the bison.  Unfortunately, the loss of wild roaming bison, increase of invasive species and agricultural practices have pushed this plant to the verge of extinction. 

Running Buffalo Clover (Trifolium stoloniferum) is a perennial clover native to the eastern and midwestern United States.  This plant has upright, unbranched flowering stems, typically 4-20 inches tall.  The stem is topped by a round flower head, subtended by two leaves.  The flower heads are white, sometimes tinged with purple, and about an inch in diameter.  It flowers from mid-May to June and fruits in July.

You are invited to join the naturalist staff at Big Bone Lick State Park on Sunday, July 5 to help save this endangered species.  There will be a short presentation, followed by onsite habitat restoration for the Running Buffalo Clover.

Phone (859) 384-3522 or email todd.young@ky.gov for more information.

Related posts:

1. Endangered Species Day
2. 2009 Events at Big Bone Lick State Park
3. 2011 Events at Big Bone Lick State Park
4. What Brought Bison Back from the Brink of Extinction?
5. The Bison Bunch

This entry was posted on Thursday, July 2nd, 2009 at 8:01 am and is filed under Activities, Flora. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.