Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Muhlenberg''s Sedge - Carolina Puccoon - Eastern Prickly-pear Sand Grassland

Colloquial Name: Midwest Sand Barrens

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This community is widespread throughout the midwestern region of the United States, where it is found on a variety of sandy soils. Stands can occur on steep slopes on sandy outwash, sandy lakeplains, and alluvial deposits along rivers and streams. They may occur on sand ridges (including inland dunes and sandy areas of coarse-textured end moraines), particularly on blowouts. Soils are well-drained to excessively drained, coarse-textured sands, loamy sands, and sandy loams. Gravels are very minor. Soils generally lack a dark A horizon, and the upper horizons can be somewhat acidic. Graminoids dominate the herbaceous layer, which is often very open. Dominant and characteristic graminoids include Carex siccata, Carex muehlenbergii, Carex tonsa var. rugosperma, Cyperus lupulinus, Cyperus schweinitzii, Aristida basiramea, Aristida tuberculosa, Dichanthelium ovale var. addisonii, Koeleria macrantha, Schizachyrium scoparium, Sporobolus cryptandrus, and Hesperostipa spartea. Calamovilfa longifolia may be prominent in more open dune ridges. Characteristic forbs include Antennaria plantaginifolia, Lithospermum caroliniense, Penstemon grandiflorus, and Solidago nemoralis. Other associated herbs include Asclepias tuberosa, Dalea villosa, Euphorbia corollata, Krigia virginica, and Lupinus perennis. Hudsonia tomentosa is more often restricted to local disturbances such as blowouts or slipfaces. Shrubs or shrub-like species include Salix humilis and Opuntia humifusa.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: In Minnesota, relation to the Minnesota Dry Prairie, barrens subtype in southeastern and central Minnesota needs clarification. The Minnesota type is currently crosswalked to ~Schizachyrium scoparium - Danthonia spicata - Carex pensylvanica - (Viola pedata) Sand Grassland (CEGL002318)$$, but appears to be more like a sand barrens type. Separation of this type from sand prairie (CEGL002318) or even sand-gravel prairie, ~Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula Gravel Grassland (CEGL002215)$$, may be difficult. They may represent a later successional stage, with the sand barrens originating when exposed areas of sandy or sandy/gravelly substrates are created, either by wind or human clearing, and the sand prairies and gravel prairies succeeding them (Curtis 1959, Anderson 1996). Thus, it''s possible that the sand barrens type can be combined into those two types. In general sand barrens occur on more dune-like habitats, coarse floodplain outwash, or on formerly plowed sand prairies, and sands may still move. Sand prairies occur on more stable sandy soils. Potential diagnostic species for sand prairies may be Lithospermum canescens and Viola pedata. Potential diagnostic species for sand barrens are Cyperus lupulinus ssp. lupulinus (= Cyperus filiculmis), Cyperus schweinitzii, Carex muehlenbergii, Lithospermum caroliniense, Opuntia humifusa, and Sporobolus cryptandrus. Solidago nemoralis is common, as are lichens.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available

note: No Data Available