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CEGL005221 Schizachyrium scoparium - Aristida basiramea - Sporobolus cryptandrus - Eragrostis trichodes Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: Dry sand and gravel prairie within the tallgrass region of southeast Nebraska and north Kansas.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Forked Three-awn - Sand Dropseed - Sand Lovegrass Grassland
Colloquial Name: West-Central Sand Tallgrass Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This sand and gravel prairie community is found in southeast Nebraska and northeast Kansas, in the east-central Great Plains of the United States. Stands occur on eroded slopes, rolling uplands, and in shallow draws associated with river valleys. Soils are very well-drained and vary from sandy loams to coarse sand and gravels formed in old alluvium or glacial till. Vegetation is dominated by a variety of midgrasses within a predominately tallgrass region. In southeastern Nebraska and northeast Kansas, dominants on sandy soils include Schizachyrium scoparium, Eragrostis trichodes, and Sporobolus cryptandrus. Bouteloua gracilis, Bouteloua hirsuta, and Schizachyrium scoparium dominate areas with gravelly soils. Common herbaceous species include species commonly found in mixedgrass prairies to the west. Other graminoids present include Aristida basiramea, Digitaria cognata, Carex duriuscula, Carex praegracilis, and Cyperus schweinitzii. Scattered tallgrasses such as Andropogon gerardii, Sorghastrum nutans, and Panicum virgatum may be present in areas proximate to tallgrass prairie stands. Fire and drought along with grazing and conversion agriculture impact this community.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Grassland community occurring in sand and gravel soils within the tallgrass region of Nebraska and Kansas. Diagnostic species include Aristida basiramea, Artemisia campestris ssp. caudata, Eragrostis trichodes, Froelichia gracilis, Polygonum tenue, and Sporobolus cryptandrus.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This community, according to Rolfsmeier and Steinauer (2010), is a mixedgrass community on sand and gravel soils within the tallgrass prairie region of Nebraska and Kansas.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Mixedgrass prairie with scattered tallgrasses.
Floristics: Vegetation is dominated by a variety of mid- and tallgrasses (but not Andropogon hallii or Calamovilfa longifolia). Species diversity varies based on soil texture. Areas with gravelly soils are typically dominated by Bouteloua gracilis, Bouteloua hirsuta, and Schizachyrium scoparium. In eastern Nebraska, dominants on sandy soils include Schizachyrium scoparium, Eragrostis trichodes, and Sporobolus cryptandrus. Scattered tallgrass species such as Andropogon gerardii, Sorghastrum nutans, and Panicum virgatum can occur. Common herbaceous species include species found in mixedgrass prairies to the west including Artemisia campestris ssp. caudata, Calylophus serrulatus, Heterotheca villosa, Hymenopappus tenuifolius, Opuntia humifusa, and Xanthisma spinulosum var. glaberrimum. Other graminoids present include Aristida basiramea, Digitaria cognata, Carex duriuscula, Carex praegracilis, and Cyperus schweinitzii. Froelichia gracilis and Polygonum tenue are annuals that are mostly restricted to gravelly sites. Yucca glauca can be common on some slopes. Selaginella rupestris is often a common in many gravelly sites along with numerous nonvascular cryptogams (Rolfsmeier and Steinauer 2010).
Dynamics: This community is impacted by fire and drought. Grazing and conversion to agriculture can also impact this type.
Environmental Description: This community occurs on upland terraces, rolling uplands, eroded slopes, and shallow draws associated with river valleys. Soils are very well-drained and vary from sandy loams to coarse sand and gravels formed in old alluvium or glacial till (Rolfsmeier and Steinauer 2010).
Geographic Range: This sand/gravel prairie community is found in southeast Nebraska and northeast Kansas.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: KS, NE
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685281
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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 | CEGL005221 Little Bluestem - Forked Three-awn - Sand Dropseed - Sand Lovegrass Grassland | CEGL005221 | 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 - Aristida basiramea - Sporobolus cryptandrus - Eragrostis trichodes Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
- 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.
- Rolfsmeier, S. B., and G. Steinauer. 2010. Terrestrial ecological systems and natural communities of Nebraska (Version IV - March 9, 2010). Nebraska Natural Heritage Program, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Lincoln, NE. 228 pp.
- Steinauer, G., and S. Rolfsmeier. 2000. Terrestrial natural communities of Nebraska. Unpublished report of the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Lincoln, NE. 143 pp.