Print Report
CEGL002204 Andropogon gerardii - Sorghastrum nutans Unglaciated Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Big Bluestem - Indiangrass Unglaciated Grassland
Colloquial Name: Mesic Tallgrass Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This mesic big bluestem prairie community is found in the unglaciated southern midwestern United States. It occurs on plains and the lower slopes of draws, terraces, slopes, and upland depressions. Soils are moderately well-drained, deep (100 cm or more), and fine-textured, usually silt loam or clay loam. They commonly have a slowly permeable layer beneath the solum, a relatively high water table, additions of water through seepage, or some combination of these conditions. The parent material is loess, glacial till, or rarely alluvium. The community is dominated by grasses (some as tall as 2 m) or, locally, by shrubs. Trees may be present, but their canopy covers less than 10% of the area. Dominant species of this vegetation type include Andropogon gerardii, Sorghastrum nutans, Baptisia alba var. macrophylla, Liatris pycnostachya, and Vernonia missurica. Other herbaceous species include Andropogon virginicus, Dalea candida, Dalea purpurea, Eryngium yuccifolium, Eupatorium altissimum, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Euphorbia corollata, Stenaria nigricans, Helianthus angustifolius, Helianthus mollis, Liatris aspera, Mimosa nuttallii, Panicum anceps, Panicum virgatum, Psoralidium tenuiflorum, Pycnanthemum tenuifolium, Rudbeckia hirta, Ruellia humilis, Schizachyrium scoparium, Silphium laciniatum, Sporobolus compositus, Tephrosia virginiana, Tridens flavus, Tripsacum dactyloides, and Verbesina alternifolia. Examples at the southern limit of this association''s range (e.g., the Cherokee Prairies of the Arkansas River Valley) additionally include Baptisia sphaerocarpa, Dichanthelium scoparium, Euthamia leptocephala, Helianthus angustifolius, Rudbeckia grandiflora, and Tephrosia onobrychoides. Currently, management is required to limit the coverage of woody species. Fire and edaphic factors (drought) play a role in limiting woody vegetation distribution in this community. Without management, woody vegetation could become dense and shade out herbaceous prairie species.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type currently includes eastern Oklahoma, Arkansas''s Grand Prairie and Cherokee Prairie, but further review is needed. Possible indicator species need to be identified to better name this community.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This community is dominated by grasses or, locally, by shrubs. The dominant grasses can grow as tall as 2 m. Trees may be present, but their canopy covers less than 10% of the area. Dominant species of this vegetation type include Andropogon gerardii, Sorghastrum nutans, Baptisia alba var. macrophylla, Liatris pycnostachya, and Vernonia missurica. Other herbaceous species include Andropogon virginicus, Dalea candida, Dalea purpurea, Eryngium yuccifolium, Eupatorium altissimum, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Euphorbia corollata, Stenaria nigricans (= Hedyotis nigricans), Helianthus angustifolius, Helianthus mollis, Liatris aspera, Mimosa nuttallii (= Mimosa quadrivalvis var. nuttallii), Panicum anceps, Panicum virgatum, Psoralidium tenuiflorum, Pycnanthemum tenuifolium, Rudbeckia hirta, Ruellia humilis, Schizachyrium scoparium, Silphium laciniatum, Sporobolus compositus (= Sporobolus asper), Tephrosia virginiana, Tridens flavus, Tripsacum dactyloides, and Verbesina alternifolia. Examples at the southern limit of this association''s range (e.g., the Cherokee Prairies of the Arkansas River Valley) additionally include Baptisia sphaerocarpa, Dichanthelium scoparium, Euthamia leptocephala, Helianthus angustifolius, Rudbeckia grandiflora, and Tephrosia onobrychoides.
Dynamics: Fire and edaphic factors (drought) play a role in limiting woody vegetation distribution in this community. Without management, woody vegetation could become dense and shade out herbaceous prairie species. The average fire frequency is 1-3 years. Currently, management is required to limit the coverage of woody species. Woody species include Cercis canadensis var. canadensis, Cornus florida, Diospyros virginiana, Fraxinus americana, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Quercus muehlenbergii, Rhus copallinum, Sassafras albidum, Sideroxylon lanuginosum, Smilax rotundifolia, and Berchemia scandens (in Arkansas), which could occur locally during periods of fire suppression.
Environmental Description: This community occurs on plains and the lower slopes of draws, terraces, slopes, and upland depressions. Soils are moderately well-drained, deep (100 cm or more), and fine-textured, usually silt loam or clay loam. They commonly have a slowly permeable layer beneath the solum, a relatively high water table, additions of water through seepage, or some combination of these conditions. The parent material is loess, glacial till, or, rarely, alluvium.
Geographic Range: This mesic big bluestem prairie community is found in the unglaciated southern midwestern United States, extending from southwest Missouri and southeastern Kansas to northern Arkansas and Oklahoma.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AR, KS, MO, OK
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684694
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3
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.b Big Bluestem - Indiangrass - Little Bluestem Tallgrass Prairie Group | G334 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.b |
| Alliance | A4045 Big Bluestem - Indiangrass - Sunflower species Southern Grassland Alliance | A4045 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.b |
| Association | CEGL002204 Big Bluestem - Indiangrass Unglaciated Grassland | CEGL002204 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Andropogon gerardii - Sorghastrum nutans Unglaciated Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
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- Osborn, B., and W. H. Kellogg. 1943. Wildlife occurrence and habitat conditions in Roger Mills and Custer counties, Oklahoma. Proceedings of the Oklahoma Academy of Science 23:41-43.
- Rice, E. L. 1952. Phytosociological analysis of a tall-grass prairie in Marshall County, Oklahoma. Ecology 33(1):112-116.