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A4382 Andropogon gerardii - Sorghastrum nutans Northern Mixedgrass Grassland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance contains moist to bottomland stands in the northern Great Plains that are dominated by Andropogon gerardii, Sorghastrum nutans, and several other tall grasses.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Big Bluestem - Indiangrass Northern Mixedgrass Grassland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Northern Plains Big Bluestem Grassland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance contains moist to bottomland stands in the northern Great Plains that are dominated by Andropogon gerardii, Sorghastrum nutans, and several other tall grasses. Despite the dominance of several grasses typical of tallgrass prairie, these stands lack most diagnostics of the tallgrass prairie region, especially forbs, and more typically share mixedgrass species. Stands occur in valley bottoms and terraces along larger streams and rivers.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Despite the dominance of several grasses typical of tallgrass prairie, these stands lack most diagnostics of the tallgrass prairie region, especially forbs, and more typically share mixedgrass species.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: No Data Available

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  No Data Available
Geographic Range: This type is found in moist bottomlands of the northwestern Great Plains mixedgrass prairie region, from Wyoming and South Dakota north to Montana and North Dakota.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  MT, ND, SD, WY


Confidence Level: Proposed (Submitted)

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass S18 2.B
Formation 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation F012 2.B.2
Division 2.B.2.Nb Central North American Grassland & Shrubland Division D023 2.B.2.Nb
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Nb.2 Needle-and-Thread - Western Wheatgrass - Plains Rough Fescue Grassland Macrogroup M051 2.B.2.Nb.2
Group 2.B.2.Nb.2.c Western Wheatgrass - Needle-and-Thread - Little Bluestem Mixedgrass Prairie Group G141 2.B.2.Nb.2.c
Alliance A4382 Big Bluestem - Indiangrass Northern Mixedgrass Grassland Alliance A4382 2.B.2.Nb.2.c
Association CEGL001463 Big Bluestem - Little Bluestem Northwestern Plains Grassland CEGL001463 2.B.2.Nb.2.c
Association CEGL002023 Big Bluestem - Switchgrass Sandhills Grassland CEGL002023 2.B.2.Nb.2.c
Association CEGL002205 Big Bluestem - Little Bluestem Northern Plains Grassland CEGL002205 2.B.2.Nb.2.c
Association CEGL002376 Big Bluestem - Prairie Dropseed - Little Bluestem - Western Wheatgrass Grassland CEGL002376 2.B.2.Nb.2.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
Concept Author(s): No Data Available

Author of Description: No Data Available

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: No Data Available
  • Hoagland, B. and D. Faber-Langendoen. 2020. Revisions to Great Plains grassland, shrubland, and woodland vegetation types. Proceedings of the U.S. National Vegetation Classification. USNVC-Proc-XX. February 2020. Ecological Society of America, Washington, DC., USA. xx pp.
  • Mueggler, W. F., and W. L. Stewart. 1980. Grassland and shrubland habitat types of western Montana. General Technical Report INT-66. USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Ogden, UT. 154 pp.
  • Pase, C. P., and J. F. Thilenius. 1968. Composition, production and site factors of some grasslands in the Black Hills of South Dakota. Research Note RM-103. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 8 pp.