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CEGL004061 Schizachyrium scoparium - Danthonia sericea - Liatris microcephala - (Eurybia surculosa) Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Silky Oatgrass - Small-head Blazingstar - (Creeping Aster) Grassland
Colloquial Name: Cumberland Plateau Clifftop Sandstone Barrens
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: These are sandstone barrens found on clifftops, exposed slopes, and other rocky areas in the Cumberland Plateau (and rarely adjacent provinces), with patches of vegetation in thin soils. Northernmost occurrences slightly outside range of Liatris microcephala are also included here. Stands are dominated by species such as Schizachyrium scoparium, Danthonia sericea, Liatris microcephala, Eurybia surculosa, Hypericum gentianoides, Minuartia glabra (in some occurrences), Allium cuthbertii (in some occurrences), Phemeranthus mengesii, Nuttallanthus canadensis, Opuntia humifusa, Sporobolus vaginiflorus, Erigeron strigosus, Grimmia spp., and fruticose lichens such as Cladonia spp. Scattered trees and shrubs, such as Pinus virginiana, Vaccinium arboreum, and Chionanthus virginicus, may occur on the margins of the community, and in patches of deeper soil.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Stands of this association typically contain patches of vegetation intermingled with rocky areas which may be bare or lichen-dominated. Patches of vascular vegetation are dominated by species such as Schizachyrium scoparium, Danthonia sericea, Liatris microcephala, Eurybia surculosa (= Aster surculosus), Hypericum gentianoides, Minuartia glabra (in some occurrences), Allium cuthbertii (in some occurrences), Phemeranthus mengesii (= Talinum mengesii), Nuttallanthus canadensis (= Linaria canadensis), Opuntia humifusa (= var. humifusa), Sporobolus vaginiflorus, and Erigeron strigosus. In Bankhead National Forest examples of this association, the ground layer is dominated by Cladonia spp. (= Cladina spp.). Other herbaceous components include Liatris microcephala, Croton michauxii var. ellipticus (= Croton willdenowii), and Hypericum gentianoides. Scattered shrubs and vines include Juniperus virginiana, Vaccinium arboreum, Amelanchier arborea, and Gelsemium sempervirens. Scattered, drought-stressed specimens of Pinus virginiana and Pinus taeda are also present. Liatris microcephala appears to be characteristic of this association.
Dynamics: It is likely that the extreme edaphic conditions are the primary environmental factor controlling the vegetation. The role of fire in this community is currently unknown. Some examples appear fire-suppressed, but the natural fire-return time is unknown.
Environmental Description: These are sandstone barrens found on clifftops, exposed slopes, and other rocky areas in the Cumberland Plateau (and rarely adjacent provinces), with patches of vegetation in thin soils. This community may occur on both vertical and horizontal rock exposures in Alabama, generally at the top of sandstone cliffs (A. Schotz pers. comm.). Conditions are extremely xeric, due to thin soils over sandstone outcrops. These occur in areas exposed to harsh effects of wind and sun.
Geographic Range: As currently defined, this community is restricted to sandstone substrates of the Cumberland Plateau and possibly adjacent provinces from Kentucky to Alabama. Range extent is at minimum about 180 square km, based on scattered localities in a very narrow band along about 180 km (300 miles) of the western escarpment of the Cumberland Plateau from Kentucky to Alabama, but other scattered localities could extend this range.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AL, KY, TN
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685076
Confidence Level: Low
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.Nc Eastern North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D024 | 2.B.2.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nc.2 Little Bluestem - Silky Oatgrass Acidic Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup | M509 | 2.B.2.Nc.2 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nc.2.b Little Bluestem - Silky Oatgrass Acidic Glade & Barrens Group | G178 | 2.B.2.Nc.2.b |
| Alliance | A3474 Little Bluestem - Silky Oatgrass - Nuttall''s Rayless-goldenrod Cumberland Sandstone Grassland Alliance | A3474 | 2.B.2.Nc.2.b |
| Association | CEGL004061 Little Bluestem - Silky Oatgrass - Small-head Blazingstar - (Creeping Aster) Grassland | CEGL004061 | 2.B.2.Nc.2.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Aster surculosus - Liatris microcephala Community, Grass-Forb Community (Perkins 1981)
? ID4g. Sandstone Prairie (Allard 1990)
< Sandstone Rock Outcrop (Schmalzer and DeSelm 1982)
? ID4g. Sandstone Prairie (Allard 1990)
< Sandstone Rock Outcrop (Schmalzer and DeSelm 1982)
- ALNHP [Alabama Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data on file. Alabama Natural Heritage Program, Auburn University.
- Allard, D. J. 1990. Southeastern United States ecological community classification. Interim report, Version 1.2. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Chapel Hill, NC. 96 pp.
- Evans, M., B. Yahn, and M. Hines. 2009. Natural communities of Kentucky 2009. Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission, Frankfort, KY. 22 pp.
- Perkins, B. E. 1981. Vegetation of sandstone outcrops of the Cumberland Plateau. M.S. thesis, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. xi plus 121 pp.
- Schmalzer, P. A., and H. R. DeSelm. 1982. Vegetation, endangered and threatened plants, critical plant habitats and vascular flora of the Obed Wild and Scenic River. Unpublished report. USDI National Park Service, Obed Wild and Scenic River. 2 volumes. 369 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- TDNH [Tennessee Division of Natural Heritage]. 2018. Unpublished data. Tennessee Division of Natural Heritage, Nashville, TN.