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CEGL002214 Schizachyrium scoparium - Sorghastrum nutans - Bouteloua curtipendula Dry-Mesic Grassland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Sideoats Grama Dry-Mesic Grassland

Colloquial Name: Midwest Dry-Mesic Prairie

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This dry-mesic prairie community type is found in the central midwestern United States. Stands occur on upper slopes and hillcrests with moderate to steep slopes. Rarely, it can be found on level plains, especially in the southern parts of its range. The aspect is most often southern or western, but others are possible. Soils are shallow (40-100 cm), well-drained to excessively well-drained, and clay loam, sandy loam, or loamy sand. The sites typically occur over loess, glacial outwash, or glacial till. The dominant vegetation of this community is mid- and tallgrasses, 1-2 m tall. Total plant cover is moderate to dense. The most abundant species are Schizachyrium scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans, and Hesperostipa spartea. Other common herbaceous species include Andropogon gerardii, Bouteloua curtipendula, Echinacea pallida, Potentilla arguta, and Sporobolus heterolepis. Amorpha canescens is a common subshrub species. Woody species occur but are not common in high-quality examples of this community.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This type is currently reported from subsections 251Bd and 251Be (and subsections east) (Keys et al. 1995), but these two subsections could also go with ~Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula - Hesperostipa spartea - (Pascopyrum smithii) Grassland (CEGL002377)$$, which occurs primarily in 251A. In Ohio, this type is probably extirpated, except perhaps Buffalo Beats (on clay dome). However, those stands are far east of much of the range of this type, and they should be compared to other eastern prairie openings. Type may closely resemble ~Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula Gravel Grassland (CEGL002215)$$.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: The dominant vegetation of this community is mid- and tallgrasses, 1-2 m tall. Total plant cover is moderate to dense. The most abundant species are Schizachyrium scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans, and Hesperostipa spartea (= Stipa spartea). Other common herbaceous species include Andropogon gerardii, Bouteloua curtipendula, Echinacea pallida, Potentilla arguta, and Sporobolus heterolepis. Amorpha canescens is a common subshrubby species. Woody species occur but are not common in high-quality examples of this community (Curtis 1959, Nelson 1985, MNNHP 1993).

Dynamics:  This community is invaded by woody species in the prolonged absence of fires (Curtis 1959, Nelson 1985).
Environmental Description:  This community is found on upper slopes and hillcrests with moderate to steep slopes. Rarely, it can be found on level plains, especially in the southern parts of its range (Nelson 1985). The aspect is most often southern or western, but others are possible (Curtis 1959, Chapman 1984). Soils are 40-100 cm deep (Nelson 1985), well-drained to excessively well-drained, and clay loam, sandy loam, or loamy sand (MNNHP 1993). The sites typically occur over loess, glacial outwash, or glacial till.
Geographic Range: This dry-mesic prairie community type is found in the central midwestern United States, ranging from outliers in Ohio west to east-central Minnesota, south to Missouri and possibly Oklahoma.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  IA, IL, IN, MI, MN, MO, OH, WI


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3

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 A4058 Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama Central Loamy Grassland Alliance A4058 2.B.2.Nb.1.c
Association CEGL002214 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Sideoats Grama Dry-Mesic Grassland CEGL002214 2.B.2.Nb.1.c
Concept Lineage: CEGL004029 merged into CEGL002213 which was subsequently merged into CEGL002214.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Schizachyrium scoparium - Sorghastrum nutans - Bouteloua curtipendula Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001) [Dry-Mesic Prairie]
= Dry-mesic Prairie (Curtis 1959)
= Hilltop Prairie (Chapman 1984)
Concept Author(s): D. Faber-Langendoen (2001)

Author of Description: J. Drake

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 10-28-96
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