The probability of fire may be greater because the vegetation dries more rapidly, but on the other hand there is less fuel to feed a fire. This type is the most widespread in Illinois. It has deep, fine-textured soils formed in silt and clay, ranging from dry to wet. The kinds of plants vary based on the amount of moisture. Midewin NTP a. Dry Prairie.
Grasses are usually less than a meter tall.
These prairies contain surface water in winter and spring, and are used by a variety of migrating waterfowl and wading birds. Soils are coarse-textured sands or sandy loam and range from dry to wet. Wet sand prairie is similar to wet prairie in the kinds of plants that are present. Some characteristic plants are little bluestem and prairie dropseed. This type is the most restricted in Illinois.