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Palouse

In the southeastern portion of the state are the rolling hills of the Palouse. The deep, wind-deposited soils are rich and fertile, and proved to be well suited for growing a variety of agricultural crops, most notably grasses and legumes. Approximately 95% of the Palouse grasslands have been converted. The remaining native grasslands are often in small north-facing slopes that are too steep to plow. Unfortunately, these ‘eyebrows’ are subject to gradual weed encroachment, loss of pollinators for native plants, and a general degradation over time.

Additional Resources About the Palouse

Columbia Basin Palouse Prairie Ecological Systems

Marion Ownbey Herbarium

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