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The word "prairie" derives from the French word for "meadow". French explorers used the word to describe areas of grassland in North America. These areas are dominated by herbaceous plants and grasses. Very few trees grow on the prairies.
Fire is an important part of prairie ecology. Prairie plants have adapted to the fires by having significant underground root systems and having their growth points slightly below the surface. Grazing by animals such as the American Bison and Prairie Dogs also helps maintain the ecology.
Today, very little of the original prairies still exists. Much of the land has been used for agriculture and some has been incorporated into urban areas. Fires are often suppressed and many species of plants and animals are disappearing.
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