Print Report

CEGL001465 Andropogon gerardii - Sporobolus heterolepis Western Foothills Grassland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Big Bluestem - Prairie Dropseed Western Foothills Grassland

Colloquial Name: Western Foothills Big Bluestem - Prairie Dropseed Prairie

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This big bluestem prairie grassland is found primarily in mesic habitats of the Rocky Mountain foothills of the western United States, and possibly some locations eastward. Stands occur in mesic habitats of foothills and riverine habitats. The vegetation is dominated by medium-tall to tall grasses. Andropogon gerardii and Sporobolus heterolepis are major dominants. Stand descriptions are available from the Colorado Heritage Program.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Compare this association with ~Andropogon gerardii - Schizachyrium scoparium Western Great Plains Grassland (CEGL001463)$$ and ~Andropogon gerardii - Sorghastrum nutans Western Great Plains Grassland (CEGL001464)$$. However, neither of those types have Sporobolus heterolepis in them, and this type rarely has Schizachyrium scoparium in it (S. Kettler pers. comm. 2000). It is possible that Oklahoma stands should go with CEGL001464 rather than this type.

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

Floristics: The vegetation is dominated by medium-tall to tall grasses. Andropogon gerardii and Sporobolus heterolepis are major dominants (S. Kettler pers. comm. 1999).

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  Stands are reported to occur in the Black Forest (S. Platte and Arkansas river divide) and into the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in Colorado.
Geographic Range: This big bluestem prairie grassland is found primarily in mesic habitats of the Rocky Mountain foothills of the western United States, and possibly some locations eastward, particularly in Colorado and possibly adjacent states eastward.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, OK?


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.2 Needle-and-Thread - Western Wheatgrass - Plains Rough Fescue Grassland Macrogroup M051 2.B.2.Nb.2
Group 2.B.2.Nb.2.a Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama - Western Wheatgrass Mixedgrass Prairie Group G133 2.B.2.Nb.2.a
Alliance A4677 Big Bluestem Central Mixedgrass Grassland Alliance A4677 2.B.2.Nb.2.a
Association CEGL001465 Big Bluestem - Prairie Dropseed Western Foothills Grassland CEGL001465 2.B.2.Nb.2.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Andropogon gerardii / Sporobolus heterolepis Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
Concept Author(s): D. Clark

Author of Description: D. Clark

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 11-26-97
  • Bichel, M. A. 1959. Investigations of a Nebraska and a Colorado prairie and their impact on the relict concept. Unpublished dissertation, University of Nebraska, Lincoln. 180 pp.
  • Bourgeron, P. S., and L. D. Engelking, editors. 1994. A preliminary vegetation classification of the western United States. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. 175 pp. plus appendix.
  • Branson, F. A., R. F. Miller, and I. S. McQueen. 1961. Soil-water availability and use by grasslands on adjacent stony and shale-derived soils in Colorado. Short papers in geologic and hydrologic sciences. U.S. Geological Survey Professional Paper 424C:251-253.
  • Branson, F. A., R. F. Miller, and I. S. McQueen. 1964. Effects of two kinds of geologic materials on plant communities and soil moisture. American Society of Agronomy Special Publication 5:165-175.
  • Branson, F. A., R. F. Miller, and I. S. McQueen. 1965. Plant communities and soil moisture relationships near Denver, Colorado. Ecology 46(3):311-319.
  • CNHP Ecology Team [Colorado Natural Heritage Program Ecology Team]. 2001. A classification of the native vegetation of Colorado. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
  • CNHP [Colorado Natural Heritage Program]. 2006-2017. Tracked natural plant communities. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. [https://cnhp.colostate.edu/ourdata/trackinglist/plant_communities/]
  • Hadley, R. F., and F. A. Branson. 1965. Surficial geology and microclimatic effects on vegetation, soils and geomorphology in the Denver, Colorado, area. Pages 56-63 in: Guidebook for 1-day field conferences-Boulder area, CO. 7th International Association for Quaternary Research Congress. Nebraska Academy of Science.
  • Johnston, B. C. 1987. Plant associations of Region Two: Potential plant communities of Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas. R2-ECOL-87-2. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Lakewood, CO. 429 pp.
  • Kettler, S. Personal communication. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins.
  • Livingston, R. B. 1947. An ecological study of the Black Forest region and adjacent plains. Unpublished dissertation, Duke University, Durham, NC. 134 pp.
  • Livingston, R. B. 1952. Relict true prairie communities in central Colorado. Ecology 33:72-86.
  • Soil Conservation Service. 1978. Range site descriptions for Colorado. Technical Guide, Section II-E. USDA Soil Conservation Service, Colorado State Office, Denver.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.