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CEGL007805 Schizachyrium scoparium - (Helianthus mollis, Helianthus occidentalis, Silphium trifoliatum) Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - (Ashy Sunflower, Fewleaf Sunflower, Whorled Rosinweed) Grassland
Colloquial Name: Kentucky-Tennessee Big Barrens
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This open, prairie-like community of the northern Highland Rim of Tennessee and adjacent Kentucky is dominated by grasses and forbs with scattered shrubby vegetation and, occasionally, trees. Schizachyrium scoparium is a strong dominant, with some Sorghastrum nutans present. Other more mesic grasses (Andropogon gerardii, Tripsacum dactyloides) are restricted to ditches. Other herbaceous components may include Andropogon gyrans, Andropogon ternarius, Lespedeza capitata, Lespedeza virginica, Symphyotrichum novae-angliae, Sericocarpus linifolius, Coreopsis major, Coreopsis tripteris, Helianthus angustifolius, Helianthus hirsutus, Solidago juncea, Pycnanthemum tenuifolium, Pycnanthemum verticillatum var. pilosum, and Lobelia puberula. Rudbeckia subtomentosa, Prenanthes barbata, and Agalinis auriculata are rare plants found in some examples. Typical woody species include Quercus falcata, Quercus imbricaria, Cornus florida, Cercis canadensis, Prunus angustifolia, Ilex decidua, Rhus copallinum, Rosa carolina, and Symphoricarpos orbiculatus. This community occurs on the northwestern Highland Rim / Pennyroyal Karst Plain of Tennessee and Kentucky, but scattered occurrences outside this core region in other sections of the Interior Low Plateau of Kentucky are also included here. The largest extant examples are presently found on Fort Campbell military base, where ecological burning and fires from live-fire munitions use result in open herbaceous-dominated landscapes. This vegetation was the predominant type here in the early 1800s, and probably originated from burning of forests by Native Americans. Smaller examples of related vegetation farther north in Kentucky (e.g. portions of Athey Barrens KSNPC Preserve) are included here as well.
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 is a strong dominant, with some Sorghastrum nutans present. Other more mesic grasses (Andropogon gerardii, Tripsacum dactyloides) are restricted to ditches. Other herbaceous components may include Andropogon gyrans, Andropogon ternarius, Lespedeza capitata, Lespedeza virginica, Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (= Aster novae-angliae), Sericocarpus linifolius (= Aster solidagineus), Coreopsis major, Coreopsis tripteris, Helianthus angustifolius, Helianthus hirsutus, Solidago juncea, Pycnanthemum tenuifolium, Pycnanthemum verticillatum var. pilosum (= Pycnanthemum pilosum), and Lobelia puberula. Rudbeckia subtomentosa, Prenanthes barbata, and Agalinis auriculata (= Tomanthera auriculata) are state-rare plants found in some examples. Typical woody species include Quercus falcata, Quercus imbricaria, Cornus florida, Cercis canadensis, Prunus angustifolia, Ilex decidua, Rhus copallinum, Rosa carolina, and Symphoricarpos orbiculatus.
Dynamics: The largest extant examples are presently found on Fort Campbell military base, where ecological burning and fires from live-fire munitions use result in open herbaceous-dominated landscapes. This vegetation was the predominant type here in the early 1800s, and probably originated from burning of forests by Native Americans.
Environmental Description: No Data Available
Geographic Range: This prairie-like association is is best developed on the flat landforms of the "Kentucky Barrens" of the northern Highland Rim of Tennessee and adjacent Kentucky.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: KY, TN
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686517
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.Nc Eastern North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D024 | 2.B.2.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nc.3 Little Bluestem - Dropseed species Central Interior Calcareous Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup | M508 | 2.B.2.Nc.3 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nc.3.a Big Bluestem - Little Bluestem - Ashy Sunflower Patch Prairie Group | G174 | 2.B.2.Nc.3.a |
| Alliance | A3890 Little Bluestem - Splitbeard Bluestem - Sideoats Grama Patch Prairie Alliance | A3890 | 2.B.2.Nc.3.a |
| Association | CEGL007805 Little Bluestem - (Ashy Sunflower, Fewleaf Sunflower, Whorled Rosinweed) Grassland | CEGL007805 | 2.B.2.Nc.3.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = KKP Deep Soil Barrens (Baskin et al. 1999)
- Baskin, J. M., C. C. Baskin, and E. W. Chester. 1999. The Big Barrens Region of Kentucky and Tennessee. Pages 190-205 in: R. C. Anderson, et al., editors. 1999. Savanna, Barren, and Rock Outcrops Plant Communities of North America. Cambridge University Press, Cambridge. 470 plus ix pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- TDNH [Tennessee Division of Natural Heritage]. 2018. Unpublished data. Tennessee Division of Natural Heritage, Nashville, TN.