Ragland Hills facts for kids
The Ragland Hills are a special area of rugged hills and deep ravines in Forrest and Perry counties, Mississippi. They are mostly covered in thick forests. These hills were shaped over a very long time by water, especially the Leaf River and its smaller streams. A part of Camp Shelby, a large military training base, is also found within the Ragland Hills.
Exploring the Ragland Hills
How the Hills Were Formed
The Ragland Hills look rugged because of how they were made. Imagine thick layers of clay, gravel, and sand. Over many, many years, the Leaf River and its smaller branches flowed through this land. The moving water slowly cut deep into these layers. This process, called erosion, carved out the hills and the deep, narrow valleys (ravines) you see today. It's like water slowly sculpting the land.
Amazing Plants of Ragland Hills
The Ragland Hills are home to many different kinds of plants. One of the most interesting places is the "mesic beech-magnolia forest." "Mesic" means it's a moist area, and these forests are found in the ravines.
What makes these forests so cool is their mix of plants. You'll find subtropical species, which usually like warmer climates, growing right next to plants that are more common in northern, cooler areas.
Some of the subtropical plants you might see include:
- Magnolia grandiflora (a type of large-flowered magnolia)
- Tillandsia usneoides (the famous Spanish moss that hangs from trees)
- Sabal minor (a small palm tree)
And right alongside them, you can find northern plants like:
- Fagus grandifolia (the American beech tree)
- Arisaema dracontium and A. triphyllum (types of plants often called Jack-in-the-pulpit)
- Medeola virginiana (Indian cucumber root)
- Phryma leptostachya (lopseed)
- Sanguinaria canadensis (bloodroot)
- Trillium cuneatum (a type of trillium flower)
- Uvularia perfoliata and U. sessilifolia (types of bellwort flowers)
This unique mix of plants makes the Ragland Hills a special place for scientists and nature lovers to study.
