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CEGL005176 Schizachyrium scoparium - Sorghastrum nutans - Bouteloua curtipendula Gravel Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Sideoats Grama Gravel Grassland
Colloquial Name: Midwest Dry-Mesic Gravel Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community type is found in the central tallgrass prairie region of the midwestern United States, in Illinois. Stands occur on moderate to gentle lower slopes. The soils are coarse and well-drained but sites usually have adequate soil moisture due to runoff from upslope. Many sites have alkaline soils derived from calcareous gravel. The vegetation of this community is medium-tall (1 m) and moderately open to moderately dense. Graminoids are dominant, but forb diversity is moderate to high. Woody species are rare. The most abundant species are Bouteloua curtipendula, Schizachyrium scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans, and Sporobolus heterolepis. Other common species include Andropogon gerardii, Oligoneuron album, and Hesperostipa spartea.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Type concept is taken from the Illinois state types Dry-Mesic Gravel Prairie and Mesic Gravel Prairie (White and Madany 1978); thus the type includes both dry-mesic and mesic gravel prairie, though it is possible that mesic gravel prairies may actually be more similar to mesic loam prairies, ~Andropogon gerardii - Sorghastrum nutans - (Sporobolus heterolepis) - Liatris spp. - Ratibida pinnata Grassland (CEGL002203)$$. Stands may occur in Wisconsin and Iowa. Indicator species have not been identified that would help distinguish this community from other dry-mesic prairie types.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The vegetation of this community is medium-tall (1 m) and moderately open to moderately dense. Graminoids are dominant, but forb diversity is moderate to high. Woody species are rare. The most abundant species are Bouteloua curtipendula, Schizachyrium scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans, and Sporobolus heterolepis. Other common species include Andropogon gerardii, Oligoneuron album (= Solidago ptarmicoides), and Hesperostipa spartea (= Stipa spartea).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This community is found on moderate to gentle lower slopes. The soils are coarse and well-drained, but sites usually have adequate soil moisture due to runoff from upslope. Many sites have alkaline soils derived from calcareous gravel (White and Madany 1978).
Geographic Range: This community type is found in the central tallgrass prairie region of the midwestern United States, in Illinois.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: IL
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685095
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.1 Big Bluestem - Indiangrass - Dense Blazingstar Tallgrass Prairie Macrogroup | M054 | 2.B.2.Nb.1 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nb.1.c Big Bluestem - Indiangrass - Porcupine Grass Tallgrass Prairie Group | G333 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.c |
| Alliance | A4047 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass Central Sand & Gravel Grassland Alliance | A4047 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.c |
| Association | CEGL005176 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Sideoats Grama Gravel Grassland | CEGL005176 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Schizachyrium scoparium - Sorghastrum nutans - Bouteloua curtipendula Gravel Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
> Dry-Mesic Gravel Prairie (White and Madany 1978)
> Mesic Gravel Prairie (White and Madany 1978)
> Dry-Mesic Gravel Prairie (White and Madany 1978)
> Mesic Gravel Prairie (White and Madany 1978)
- 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.
- White, J., and M. Madany. 1978. Classification of natural communities in Illinois. Pages 311-405 in: Natural Areas Inventory technical report: Volume I, survey methods and results. Illinois Natural Areas Inventory, Urbana, IL.