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CEGL002403 Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula - Muhlenbergia cuspidata - Symphyotrichum sericeum Alkaline Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama - Plains Muhly - Western Silver Aster Alkaline Grassland
Colloquial Name: North-Central Dry Limestone - Dolomite Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This calcareous grassland community is found in parts of the northern prairie-forest border in the midwestern United States, particularly in Illinois. Stands occur on upper slopes of hills, primarily on southern and western aspects. Soils are very shallow to moderately deep (0-40 cm) and well-drained to somewhat rapidly drained. The soil pH is high due to the calcareous bedrock at or near the surface, which is either limestone or dolomite. Dominant grasses include Schizachyrium scoparium and Bouteloua curtipendula. Some forbs that are typical of these calcareous grasslands include Symphyotrichum sericeum, Blephilia ciliata, Brickellia eupatorioides, Desmanthus illinoensis, Lithospermum canescens, Eleocharis compressa, Clinopodium arkansanum, Muhlenbergia cuspidata, Penstemon hirsutus, and Scutellaria parvula.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The concept of the type is derived from the Illinois type Dry (limestone/) dolomite prairie (White and Madany 1978). This type needs to be compared with bedrock bluff prairies ~Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula Alkaline Bluff Grassland (CEGL002245)$$, which is primarily found in the "Driftless Area" or "Paleozoic Plateau" region of Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and Illinois, and which in Illinois is restricted to the northwest corner of the state (222Lc, 222Le) (Keys et al. 1995). But, as this type occurs in Illinois primarily in 222K, it may be that this type is essentially synonymous with CEGL002245. Reports of the type in Madison County, Iowa (251Cc), need further documentation.
A possible western subtype in Missouri contains Androsace occidentalis, Bouteloua gracilis, Echinacea pallida, Heliotropium tenellum, Liatris punctata, Ophioglossum engelmannii, Parthenium hispidum, Portulaca oleracea, Pediomelum esculentum, and Rudbeckia missouriensis. A possible eastern subtype in Illinois contains Blephilia ciliata, Brickellia eupatorioides, Muhlenbergia cuspidata, and Penstemon hirsutus (White and Madany 1978, Nelson 1985). Northeastern Missouri stands may fit better in the eastern subtype.
A possible western subtype in Missouri contains Androsace occidentalis, Bouteloua gracilis, Echinacea pallida, Heliotropium tenellum, Liatris punctata, Ophioglossum engelmannii, Parthenium hispidum, Portulaca oleracea, Pediomelum esculentum, and Rudbeckia missouriensis. A possible eastern subtype in Illinois contains Blephilia ciliata, Brickellia eupatorioides, Muhlenbergia cuspidata, and Penstemon hirsutus (White and Madany 1978, Nelson 1985). Northeastern Missouri stands may fit better in the eastern subtype.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: These medium-tall grasslands are composed of a dominant graminoid layer intermixed with abundant forbs. Dominant grasses include Schizachyrium scoparium and Bouteloua curtipendula. Some forbs that are typical of these calcareous grasslands include Symphyotrichum sericeum (= Aster sericeus), Blephilia ciliata, Brickellia eupatorioides (= Kuhnia eupatorioides), Desmanthus illinoensis, Lithospermum canescens, Eleocharis compressa, Clinopodium arkansanum (= Satureja arkansana), Muhlenbergia cuspidata, Penstemon hirsutus, and Scutellaria parvula (White and Madany 1978).
Dynamics: This community is influenced by drought stress and fire. The average burn frequency varies between 3 and 5 years.
Environmental Description: This calcareous grassland community occurs on mid and upper slopes of rolling hills. It occupies primarily southern and western aspects, on soils that are very shallow to moderately deep (0-40 cm) and well-drained to somewhat rapidly drained. The soil pH is high due to the calcareous bedrock at or near the surface, which is either limestone, dolomite, or shaly limestone (White and Madany 1978).
Geographic Range: This calcareous grassland community is found in parts of the northern prairie-forest border in the midwestern United States, particularly in Illinois.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: IL
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.683073
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2
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.1 Big Bluestem - Indiangrass - Dense Blazingstar Tallgrass Prairie Macrogroup | M054 | 2.B.2.Nb.1 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nb.1.c Big Bluestem - Indiangrass - Porcupine Grass Tallgrass Prairie Group | G333 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.c |
| Alliance | A4058 Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama Central Loamy Grassland Alliance | A4058 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.c |
| Association | CEGL002403 Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama - Plains Muhly - Western Silver Aster Alkaline Grassland | CEGL002403 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula - Muhlenbergia cuspidata - Symphyotrichum sericeum Alkaline Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Dry (limestone/) dolomite prairie (White and Madany 1978)
= Dry (limestone/) dolomite prairie (White and Madany 1978)
- Faber-Langendoen, D., editor. 2001. Plant communities of the Midwest: Classification in an ecological context. Association for Biodiversity Information, Arlington, VA. 61 pp. plus appendix (705 pp.).
- Keys, J. E., Jr., C. A. Carpenter, S. L. Hooks, F. G. Koenig, W. H. McNab, W. E. Russell, and M-L. Smith. 1995. Ecological units of the eastern United States - first approximation (map and booklet of map unit tables). Presentation scale 1:3,500,000, colored. USDA Forest Service, Atlanta, GA.
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- White, J., and M. Madany. 1978. Classification of natural communities in Illinois. Pages 311-405 in: Natural Areas Inventory technical report: Volume I, survey methods and results. Illinois Natural Areas Inventory, Urbana, IL.