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CEGL002212 Schizachyrium scoparium - Sorghastrum nutans - Andropogon ternarius - Coreopsis grandiflora Sandstone - Shale Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Splitbeard Bluestem - Large-flower Tickseed Sandstone - Shale Grassland
Colloquial Name: Midwest Sandstone - Shale Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This bluestem sandstone/shale prairie community is found in the central-western tallgrass region of the midwestern United States. Stands occur on gentle to steep slopes of plains, hills, and ridges. Soils are well-drained to somewhat rapidly drained and very shallow to moderately deep (0-100 cm). The parent material is sandstone or shale. The soil is often intermixed with rock fragments or sandstone bedrock, some of which may be exposed at the surface. The vegetative structure of this midgrass prairie is composed of a single layer of dominant graminoids intermixed with abundant forbs. Shrubs may be present; mosses are often common. Schizachyrium scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans, and Sporobolus heterolepis are the dominant species. Many other species may be present, including Andropogon ternarius, Astragalus distortus, Agrostis elliottiana, Liatris pycnostachya, Sabatia campestris, Solidago speciosa, Triodanis leptocarpa, Viola sagittata, and Viola pedata.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Type concept is taken from both the Missouri states type - Dry Sandstone/Shale Prairie (Nelson 1985) and and Kansas state type - Sandstone Prairie (Lauver et al. 1999). Missouri types include both dry and dry-mesic sandstone/shale prairies, but future revisions to the Missouri state classification may combine dry sandstone/shale prairies with sandstone glades, or treat them as inclusions within dry-mesic sandstone/shale prairies. Floristic patterns that distinguish this type from other dry to dry-mesic prairie types need further investigation.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The vegetative structure of this midgrass prairie is composed of a single layer of dominant graminoids intermixed with abundant forbs. Shrubs may be present; mosses are often common. There are areas of exposed mineral soil or bedrock. Schizachyrium scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans, and Sporobolus heterolepis are the dominant species. Many other species may be present, including Andropogon ternarius, Astragalus distortus, Agrostis elliottiana, Liatris pycnostachya, Sabatia campestris, Solidago speciosa, Triodanis leptocarpa, Viola sagittata, and Viola pedata (Nelson 1985, Lauver et al. 1999).
Dynamics: This community is influenced by drought and fire. The average burn frequency is every 5 years (Nelson 1985).
Environmental Description: This community occurs on gentle to steep slopes of plains, hills, and ridges. Soils are well-drained to somewhat rapidly drained and very shallow to moderately deep (0-100 cm). The parent material is sandstone or shale. The soil is often intermixed with rock fragments or sandstone bedrock, which may be exposed at the surface. There may be an impermeable to semi-impermeable layer of clay and loam soils (Nelson 1985, Lauver et al. 1999).
Geographic Range: This bluestem sandstone/shale prairie community is found in the central-western tallgrass region of the midwestern United States, particularly in southwestern Missouri and southeastern Kansas.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AR, KS, MO
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685496
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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.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.b Big Bluestem - Indiangrass - Little Bluestem Tallgrass Prairie Group | G334 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.b |
| Alliance | A4046 Little Bluestem - Pale Purple Coneflower Southern Grassland Alliance | A4046 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.b |
| Association | CEGL002212 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Splitbeard Bluestem - Large-flower Tickseed Sandstone - Shale Grassland | CEGL002212 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Schizachyrium scoparium - Sorghastrum nutans - Andropogon ternarius - Coreopsis grandiflora Sandstone - Shale Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
> Dry Sandstone/Shale Prairie (Nelson 1985)
= Sandstone Prairie (Lauver et al. 1999)
> Dry Sandstone/Shale Prairie (Nelson 1985)
= Sandstone Prairie (Lauver et al. 1999)
- 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.).
- Lauver, C. L., K. Kindscher, D. Faber-Langendoen, and R. Schneider. 1999. A classification of the natural vegetation of Kansas. The Southwestern Naturalist 44:421-443.
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- Nelson, P. 2010. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Revised edition. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.
- Nelson, P. W. 1985. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Jefferson City. 197 pp. Revised edition, 1987.
- Nelson, P., and D. Ladd. 1983. Preliminary report on the identification, distribution and classification of Missouri glades. Pages 59-76 in: C. L. Kucera, editor. Proceedings of the Seventh North American Prairie Conference. Southwest Missouri State University, Springfield.