How does mixed-grass prairie differ from tallgrass and shortgrass prairie?

The primary differences between prairie subtypes are determined by decreasing rainfall as one moves from the humid eastern regions toward the arid west.1

Prairie Subtypes

• Tallgrass Prairie: Located in the humid eastern region, this subtype features dense, tall sod-forming grasses like big bluestem and prairie cordgrass. It thrives in areas with higher precipitation, bordering deciduous forests.12
• Mixed-Grass (Midgrass) Prairie: Occupying the central region, this is the most extensive subtype. It is characterized by a combination of both bunchgrasses and sod-forming grasses, including species such as porcupine grass, grama grass, wheatgrass, and buffalo grass.1
• Shortgrass Prairie: Found in the driest western portions of the plains, this vegetation is primarily composed of shorter species like buffalo grass and grama grass. In the westernmost areas, grasses grow in bunches with patches of bare ground, often accompanied by cacti and sagebrush.12

While these regions were once vast, most native prairie has been replaced by intense cultivation or grazing.1