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CEGL002231 Spartina spartinae - Schizachyrium scoparium Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Gulf Cordgrass - Little Bluestem Grassland
Colloquial Name: Gulf Cordgrass - Little Bluestem Wet Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community occurs on uplands near tidal marshes. It receives only extreme storm (hurricane) tides. Schizachyrium scoparium or Schizachyrium littorale and Spartina spartinae usually codominate, though either may be locally more abundant. Other species include Eupatorium serotinum, Paspalum vaginatum, Palafoxia texana var. ambigua, and a diverse assemblage of others. Scattered shrubs, such as Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa and Baccharis halimifolia, can occur, especially as invaders as the result of grazing and/or fire suppression.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This community occurs in both the Hypersaline and Texas Bays portions of the West Gulf Prairies and Marshes Ecoregion. It occurs adjacent to and on slightly higher ground than the ~Spartina spartinae Grassland (CEGL004608)$$ and grades into nonsaline coastal prairie associations.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Schizachyrium littorale (= Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale) or Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium and Spartina spartinae usually codominate, though either may be locally more abundant. Other species include Eupatorium serotinum, Paspalum vaginatum, Palafoxia texana var. ambigua, and a diverse assemblage of others. Scattered shrubs, such as Prosopis glandulosa var. glandulosa and Baccharis halimifolia, can occur, especially as invaders as the result of grazing and/or fire suppression. Sparsely vegetated areas or "slicks" may occur, apparently in slightly lower areas, within this grassland matrix. Bare soil may comprise up to 75% of these areas. Characteristic vegetation in slicks may include Sporobolus pyramidatus, Iva angustifolia, Borrichia frutescens, and Thurovia triflora, a rare plant and Texas endemic.
Dynamics: This association is maintained by periodic fires. In the absence of fire, it is susceptible to invasion by Baccharis halimifolia.
Environmental Description: This community occupies a transition zone between various nonsaline coastal prairies and tidally influenced communities closer to the shoreline. It is inundated by saltwater during extreme storm events such as tropical depressions and hurricanes. Soils are saline clays.
Geographic Range: This association occurs in near-coastal areas along the Gulf Coast of Texas and possibly Louisiana and the Mexican state of Tamaulipas.
Nations: MX?,US
States/Provinces: LA?, MXTAM?, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686570
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.4 Temperate to Polar Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Formation | F005 | 2.B.4 |
| Division | 2.B.4.Na Eastern North American Coastal Scrub & Herb Vegetation Division | D026 | 2.B.4.Na |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.4.Na.2 American Beachgrass - Sea-oats - Seaside Goldenrod Dune & Grassland Macrogroup | M057 | 2.B.4.Na.2 |
| Group | 2.B.4.Na.2.a Wax-myrtle - Sea-oats - Shore Little Bluestem Dune & Grassland Group | G494 | 2.B.4.Na.2.a |
| Alliance | A4061 Gulf Cordgrass - Little Bluestem - Bracted Blazingstar Saline Coastal Prairie Alliance | A4061 | 2.B.4.Na.2.a |
| Association | CEGL002231 Gulf Cordgrass - Little Bluestem Grassland | CEGL002231 | 2.B.4.Na.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.