There are many types of grasslands, from the great savannas of the African continent to the short grass prairies of western North America.

In southern Ontario, two types of grasslands predominate: tall grass prairie and oak savanna, which are both tallgrass communities. Meadows are not true grasslands because they are not grass dominated and are not long-lived ecosystems like prairie and savanna. They are described in this section because they superficially resemble grasslands and so this is a good place to describe and compare them.

Tall Grass Prairie

Tall grass prairies are named for the very tall grasses that grow there, some of which are over two metres high, such as Big Bluestem (Andropogon gerardii). Tall grass prairie occurs where there is more rainfall than other prairie types allowing the plants that grow there to get taller than in drier areas.

Prairie. Photo from Konza Prairie Biological Station, Kansas State University.

Oak Savanna

Savannas are grasslands which feature scattered trees that are few enough in number not to affect light penetration to the ground. In the case of the oak savannas, the main tree present is oak, typically Quercus alba (White Oak), Q. velutina (Black Oak) and Q. macrocarpa (Bur Oak).


Meadow

Meadows are ecosystems in transition from an open, disturbed condition to a forested state. Typically meadows are present on roadsides, abandoned agricultural fields and in other areas where land has been cleared and is regenerating. The mix of plant species found there is more varied than in true grasslands, having some grasses, but not being dominated by them. Instead there is a variable mixture of grasses and herbaceous plants.

Meadow. Photo from Konza Prairie Biological Station, Kansas State University.