Print Report
CEGL002211 Schizachyrium scoparium - Sorghastrum nutans - Danthonia spicata - Silene regia Chert Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Poverty Oatgrass - Royal Catchfly Chert Grassland
Colloquial Name: Midwest Chert Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This bluestem chert prairie community is found in the United States in central and southwestern Missouri, as well as the Ozark Ecoregion of Arkansas. Stands occur on hills and plains on gentle to steep slopes and ridges. The soil is well-drained to somewhat rapidly drained and very shallow to shallow (0-40 cm). The parent material is chert or chert residuum. Chert fragments are common on the surface. The vegetation structure is a midgrass prairie composed of a single layer of dominant graminoids intermixed with abundant forbs. The dominant grasses are Andropogon virginicus, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Sorghastrum nutans. Other typical plants found in this community are Callirhoe digitata, Danthonia spicata, Helianthus occidentalis, Monarda russeliana, Silene regia, Isolepis carinata, and Vernonia arkansana.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Concept of this type is taken from Missouri state types Dry chert prairie and Dry-mesic chert prairie (Nelson 1985). Silene regia is characteristic. Most of the original area of this community has been converted to cropland or pasture. This grassland is influenced by drought stress and is maintained by fire. The average burn frequency is one to five years. It is possible that similar sites may occur in Kansas and Oklahoma, but further review is needed. This type represents what is found at Baker Prairie Natural Area, Arkansas (Ozark Ecoregion) (D. Zollner pers. comm. 1999).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This community is a midgrass prairie. The vegetative structure is composed of a single layer of dominant graminoids intermixed with abundant forbs. The dominant grasses are Andropogon virginicus, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Sorghastrum nutans. Other typical plants found in this community are Callirhoe digitata, Danthonia spicata, Helianthus occidentalis, Monarda russeliana, Silene regia, Isolepis carinata (= Scirpus koilolepis), and Vernonia arkansana (Nelson 1985).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This community occurs on hills and plains on gentle to steep slopes and ridges of all aspects, including neutral. The soil is well-drained to somewhat rapidly drained and very shallow to shallow (0-40 cm). The parent material is chert or chert residuum. Chert fragments are common on the surface (Nelson 1985).
Geographic Range: This bluestem chert prairie community is found in central and southwestern Missouri, as well as the Ozarks of Arkansas.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AR, MO
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684888
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 | A4046 Little Bluestem - Pale Purple Coneflower Southern Grassland Alliance | A4046 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.b |
| Association | CEGL002211 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Poverty Oatgrass - Royal Catchfly Chert Grassland | CEGL002211 | 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: = Schizachyrium scoparium - Sorghastrum nutans - Danthonia spicata - Silene regia Chert Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
> Dry chert prairie (Nelson 1985)
> Dry-mesic chert prairie (Nelson 1985)
> Dry chert prairie (Nelson 1985)
> Dry-mesic chert prairie (Nelson 1985)
- 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.).
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- Nelson, P. 2010. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Revised edition. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.
- Nelson, P. W. 1985. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Jefferson City. 197 pp. Revised edition, 1987.
- Zollner, Douglas. Personal communication. Ecologist, The Nature Conservancy, Arkansas Field Office, Little Rock.