Print Report
CEGL004999 Schizachyrium scoparium - Sorghastrum nutans - Aletris farinosa - Packera paupercula Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - White Colicroot - Balsam Groundsel Grassland
Colloquial Name: Southern Appalachian Ultramafic Barrens
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association includes prairie-like vegetation occupying mafic substrates of the Southern Blue Ridge plateau. The habitat supporting this vegetation is rare and unusual, with seasonal wetness and strongly mafic conditions combining to form a very harsh environment for plant growth. Large areas of the ground surface are occupied by pebbles and abundant growths of Cladina spp. Schizachyrium scoparium and Sorghastrum nutans are abundant grasses, while additional graminoids include Agrostis scabra, Danthonia spicata, Dichanthelium spp., Juncus marginatus, and Rhynchospora capitellata. Characteristic forbs include Aletris farinosa, Rubus hispidus, Symphyotrichum cf. dumosum, Solidago nemoralis, Sericocarpus linifolius, Pycnanthemum tenuifolium, and Packera paupercula. Annuals and Coastal Plain/mountain disjuncts are numerous, especially in the seasonally wet gravels. These include Polygala cruciata, Polygala sanguinea, Xyris torta, Scleria muehlenbergii, Lobelia nuttallii, Sabatia campanulata, Fimbristylis autumnalis, Hypericum gentianoides, Bartonia virginica, Hypericum virgatum, Rhexia virginica, and Houstonia caerulea. Stunted shrubs such as Spiraea tomentosa, Spiraea alba var. latifolia, and Vaccinium corymbosum also occur in small numbers.
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: Schizachyrium scoparium and Sorghastrum nutans are abundant grasses, while additional graminoids include Agrostis scabra, Danthonia spicata, Dichanthelium spp., Juncus marginatus, and Rhynchospora capitellata. Characteristic forbs include Aletris farinosa, Rubus hispidus, Symphyotrichum cf. dumosum (= Aster cf. dumosus), Solidago nemoralis, Sericocarpus linifolius (= Aster solidagineus), Pycnanthemum tenuifolium, and Packera paupercula (= Senecio pauperculus). Annuals and Coastal Plain/mountain disjuncts are numerous, especially in the seasonally wet gravels. These include Polygala cruciata, Polygala sanguinea, Xyris torta, Scleria muehlenbergii, Lobelia nuttallii, Sabatia campanulata, Fimbristylis autumnalis, Hypericum gentianoides, Bartonia virginica, Hypericum virgatum (= Hypericum denticulatum var. acutifolium), Rhexia virginica, and Houstonia caerulea. Stunted shrubs such as Spiraea tomentosa, Spiraea alba var. latifolia, and Vaccinium corymbosum also occur in small numbers.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This prairie-like vegetation occupies mafic substrates of the Southern Blue Ridge plateau. The habitat supporting this vegetation is rare and unusual, with seasonal wetness and strongly mafic conditions combining to form a very harsh environment for plant growth. Large areas of the ground surface are occupied by pebbles and abundant growths of Cladina spp.
Geographic Range: This association is found on the Southern Blue Ridge plateau of Virginia.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: VA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685174
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
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.1 Catawba Rosebay / Michaux''s Saxifrage - Flattened Oatgrass Felsic & Mafic Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup | M506 | 2.B.2.Nc.1 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nc.1.c Little Bluestem - Balsam Groundsel - Prairie Groundsel Appalachian Mafic Glade Group | G180 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.c |
| Alliance | A3468 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Serpentine American-aster Serpentine Grassland Alliance | A3468 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.c |
| Association | CEGL004999 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - White Colicroot - Balsam Groundsel Grassland | CEGL004999 | 2.B.2.Nc.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Fleming, G. P., K. D. Patterson, and K. Taverna. 2017. The natural communities of Virginia: A classification of ecological community groups and community types. Third approximation. Version 3.0. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage, Richmond, VA. [http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural-heritage/natural-communities/]
- Rawinski, T. J. 1992. A classification of Virginia''s indigenous biotic communities: Vegetated terrestrial, palustrine, and estuarine community classes. Unpublished document. Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, Division of Natural Heritage. Natural Heritage Technical Report No. 92-21. Richmond, VA. 25 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.