The Wildflower Association of Michigan began in 1986 with a great deal of enthusiasm. It has grown to provide many resources for native plant lovers from an annual conference and native seed production to providing grants to educators to teach the value of native plants. Please check their website for more information.
The Michigan Botanical Club was founded in 1941 and has five chapters. Their focus is on the conservation of native plants, education of the public on preserving and appreciating native plants, preservation and establishment of natural areas through legislation and by collaborating with other agencies to further their goals.
The Dwarf Lake Iris, Iris lacustris is found only in the northern Great Lakes Region in the sand along the shore or in thin soil over bedrock. Unlike other Michigan iris it is very small. Unfortunately it is on the endangered species list due to the destruction of its habitat.
Field Manual of Michigan Flora
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Aquatic Plants of the Upper Midwest
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The Elfin World of Mosses and Liverworts of Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Isle Royale
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Wildflowers of Michigan Field Guide
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Wild Flowers of the Dunes
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Courtesy of Wikimedia Commons/RickTheBugMan.
The Beach Pea, Lathyrus japonicus a native legume found on Michigan's shoreline. Please see the link below on more wildflowers of the Michigan dunes.
There are about 300,000 acres of sand dunes in Michigan. Lichens, fungi, mosses, grasses, wildflowers, shrubs and trees all are part of the dunescape. These plants have developed some curious adaptations to this harsh environment. The dune plants are also necessary for preservation of the dunes--without them the dunes would become unstable. Many of the fundamental concepts of plant succession and ecology were first identified as a result of studies made on Lake Michigan's coastal dunes.
Image courtesy of GoodFreePhotos/YinanChen
Whitefish Dunes is a 865 acre park that contains the most signifcant dunes on the western shore of Lake Michigan.
