Living Landscape
The dramatic differences in the abiotic characteristics of the land on the two sides of the Balcones Escarpment in the San Antonio area is clearly reflected in the native plant communities and wildlife which are associated with them.
Prior to the 1840s, the vegetation on the upper, rolling portions of the Edwards Plateau would have been characterized as an open savanna of mixed grass cover punctuated by irregular clusters of trees and shrubs (mottes).
Relatively dense, diverse woodland vegetation would have characterized the upper drainages of the rugged Balcones Canyonlands along the escarpment.
