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Presettlement explorers described the region’s landscape as a “sea of grass.” Yet, this “sea” was quite varied, and included a wealth of less obvious forested communities. Both physiographic and climatic gradients across the state of South Dakota contributed to the development of variable vegetation types of South Dakota. The diverse flora truly identifies the state as a “Land of Infinite Variety.” Variations in climate, soils, and topography help to accentuate this label. Large herbivores such as bison and periodic fires ignited by lightning and American Indians also contributed to the formation of the pre-settlement landscape.