Cedar glades
Encyclopedia
Flora of the cedar glades
The "cedar" in the name comes from the abundance of eastern redcedar (Juniperus virginianaJuniperus virginiana
Juniperus virginiana is a species of juniper native to eastern North America, from southeastern Canada to the Gulf of Mexico, east of the Great Plains...
) that occurs on the margins of the glades or in cracks in the bedrock where the roots can gain a foothold. Many of the characteristic plantshttp://www.nashvillefossils.com/glades/pages/fieldguide.html that grow in the cedar glades are endemics that occur nowhere else, or disjunct populations of plants that are widespread in the prairies of the central U.S. There are several endangered species that are endemic to the cedar glades, including the Tennessee coneflower (Echinacea tennesseensis
Echinacea tennesseensis
Echinacea tennesseensis, also known as the Tennessee coneflower or Tennessee purple coneflower, is a flowering plant in the family Asteraceae, endemic to the cedar glades of the central portion of the U.S. state of Tennessee.-Description:...
), Pyne's ground plum (Astragalus bibullatus
Astragalus bibullatus
Astragalus bibullatus is an endangered species of flowering plant that is endemic to the cedar glades of the central basin of Tennessee...
), leafy prairie clover (Dalea foliosa
Dalea foliosa
Dalea foliosa is a species of flowering plant in the legume family known by the common name leafy prairie clover. It is an endangered species in the United States, where it occurs in three states: Illinois, Tennessee, and Alabama. As of 1997 there were 51 occurrences, mostly within the state of...
), and lyrate bladderpod (Lesquerella lyrata
Lesquerella lyrata
Lesquerella lyrata is a rare species of flowering plant in the mustard family known by the common name lyreleaf bladderpod. It is endemic to Alabama in the United States, where it is known from only three occurrences. It is federally listed as a threatened species.This is an annual herb growing...
).
Threats to the cedar glades
The central basin (or Nashville BasinNashville Basin
The Nashville Basin, also known as the Central Basin, is a term often used to describe the area surrounding Nashville, Tennessee. The Central Basin was caused by an uplifting known as the Nashville Dome. The Nashville Dome is evidenced by the underlying rock strata that all dip downwards away from...
) of Tennessee
Tennessee
Tennessee is a U.S. state located in the Southeastern United States. It has a population of 6,346,105, making it the nation's 17th-largest state by population, and covers , making it the 36th-largest by total land area...
is one of the largest areas containing cedar glades. Because of the rapid growth of metropolitan Nashville
Nashville, Tennessee
Nashville is the capital of the U.S. state of Tennessee and the county seat of Davidson County. It is located on the Cumberland River in Davidson County, in the north-central part of the state. The city is a center for the health care, publishing, banking and transportation industries, and is home...
and the surrounding cities of Murfreesboro
Murfreesboro, Tennessee
Murfreesboro is a city in and the county seat of Rutherford County, Tennessee, United States. The population was 108,755 according to the United States Census Bureau's 2010 U.S. Census, up from 68,816 residents certified during the 2000 census. The center of population of Tennessee is located in...
and Lebanon
Lebanon, Tennessee
Lebanon is a city in Wilson County, Tennessee, in the United States. The population was 20,235 at the 2000 census. It serves as the county seat of Wilson County. Lebanon is located in middle Tennessee, approximately 25 miles east of downtown Nashville. Local residents have also called it...
, many of the cedar glades have been destroyed by development. The State of Tennessee and the Nature Conservancy have established a number of parks and preserves to protect important plant populations. Cedars of Lebanon State Park
Cedars of Lebanon State Park
Cedars of Lebanon State Park is a state park in Wilson County, Tennessee, in the southeastern United States. It consists of situated amidst the Cedars of Lebanon State Forest...
in Wilson County and Long Hunter State Park
Long Hunter State Park
Long Hunter State Park is a state park in Davidson County and Rutherford County, Tennessee, located in the southeastern United States. The park is mostly situated along the eastern shores of Percy Priest Lake, an artificial lake created by an impoundment of the Stones River.Long Hunter State Park...
in Davidson County
Davidson County, Tennessee
Davidson County is a county located in the U.S. state of Tennessee. As of 2010, the population was 626,681. Its county seat is Nashville.In 1963, the City of Nashville and the Davidson County government merged, so the county government is now known as the "Metropolitan Government of Nashville and...
both protect substantial cedar glade ecosystems.