Print Report

CEGL002376 Andropogon gerardii - Sporobolus heterolepis - Schizachyrium scoparium - Pascopyrum smithii Grassland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

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

Colloquial Name: North-Central Plains Bluestem Prairie

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This bluestem tallgrass prairie community is found in the glaciated regions of the north-central Great Plains of the United States and possibly adjacent Canada. Stands occur on the crests and upper slopes of knolls in areas of gently rolling topography. It can also occur on north- and south-facing slopes with inclinations ranging from 10-20°. Soils are deep, well-drained loams. This community is a grassland dominated by mid and tall grasses. Abundant species include Andropogon gerardii, Poa pratensis, Carex duriuscula, Lactuca tatarica var. pulchella, Bouteloua curtipendula, and Schizachyrium scoparium.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This type represents glaciated tallgrass stands in the mixedgrass prairie region, whereas ~Andropogon gerardii - Schizachyrium scoparium Northern Plains Grassland (CEGL002205)$$ and ~Andropogon gerardii - Sorghastrum nutans Western Great Plains Grassland (CEGL001464)$$ are unglaciated types. Eastward this type extends somewhat into the northern tallgrass prairie region in the Dakotas only, but ~Andropogon gerardii - Hesperostipa spartea - Sporobolus heterolepis Grassland (CEGL002202)$$ is the more common type in that region. Darla Lenz (pers. comm. 1996) said that this type is somewhat of a catch-all for the central two-thirds of North Dakota. Element Occurrences from this region that contain significant Andropogon gerardii, Schizachyrium scoparium, and sometimes Panicum virgatum are often lumped into this community.

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

Floristics: This community is a grassland dominated by mid and tall grasses. Abundant species include Andropogon gerardii, Poa pratensis, Carex duriuscula (= Carex eleocharis), Lactuca tatarica, Bouteloua curtipendula, and Schizachyrium scoparium.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This community occurs in glaciated terrain on the crests and upper slopes of knolls in areas of gently rolling topography. It can also occur on north-facing and south-facing slopes with inclinations ranging from 10-20°. Soils are deep, well-drained loams derived from glacial drift. They are slightly acidic (pH 5.6-6.6) and low in clay (8.5-8.9%). Soil moisture is about 28%.
Geographic Range: This bluestem tallgrass prairie community is found in glaciated terrain of the north-central Great Plains of the United States and possibly adjacent Canada, extending from the Dakotas into Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  MB, ND, SD, SK


Confidence Level: Low

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.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 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: = Andropogon gerardii - Sporobolus heterolepis - Schizachyrium scoparium - Pascopyrum smithii Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
> Crests (Tatina 1987)
> Slopes (Tatina 1987)
Concept Author(s): D. Faber-Langendoen (2001)

Author of Description: D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 06-20-95
  • 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.).
  • Greenall, J. A. 1996. Manitoba''s terrestrial plant communities. MS Report 96-02. Manitoba Conservation Data Centre, Winnipeg.
  • Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
  • NDNHI [North Dakota Natural Heritage Inventory]. 2018. Unpublished data. Vegetation classification of North Dakota. North Dakota Natural Heritage Inventory, North Dakota Parks & Recreation Department, Bismarck.
  • SDNHP [South Dakota Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data. South Dakota Natural Heritage Program, Pierre, SD.
  • Tatina, R. 1987. Gradient analysis and description of a transition zone prairie in eastern South Dakota. Proceedings of the South Dakota Academy of Science 66:51-64.
  • USACE [U.S. Army Corps of Engineers]. 1979. A cultural resources reconnaissance of the federal lands on the east bank of Lake Francis Case, South Dakota. U.S. Army Engineer District, Corps of Engineers, Omaha, NE.