Print Report

CEGL001756 Bouteloua gracilis - Bouteloua dactyloides Grassland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Blue Grama - Buffalograss Grassland

Colloquial Name: Blue Grama - Buffalograss Shortgrass Prairie

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This blue grama - buffalograss shortgrass prairie type is common across much of the central and southern Great Plains of the United States. Stands occur on flat to rolling uplands. The surface soil may be sandy loam, loam, silt loam, or loamy clay. The subsoil is often finer than the surface soil. This community is characterized by a moderate to dense sod of short grasses with scattered mid grasses and forbs. The dominant species are Bouteloua gracilis and Bouteloua dactyloides. The foliage of these species is 7-19 cm tall, while the flowering stalks of Bouteloua gracilis may reach 45 cm. The midgrasses are usually stunted by the arid conditions and often do not exceed 0.7 m. Other short graminoids found in this community are Bouteloua hirsuta, Carex duriuscula, Carex inops ssp. heliophila, and Carex filifolia (in Nebraska). Several mid grasses occur regularly, such as Aristida purpurea, Bouteloua curtipendula, Pascopyrum smithii, Schizachyrium scoparium, Elymus elymoides, Sporobolus cryptandrus, Hesperostipa comata, and Vulpia octoflora. Forbs, such as Astragalus spp., Gaura coccinea, Machaeranthera pinnatifida var. pinnatifida, Opuntia polyacantha, Plantago patagonica, Psoralidium tenuiflorum, Ratibida columnifera, and Sphaeralcea coccinea, are common throughout this community. Shrubs are very rare except in the southern part of this community''s range where scattered individuals may occur. In Oklahoma, other characteristic species include Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Aristida oligantha, Machaeranthera tanacetifolia, Melampodium leucanthum, Muhlenbergia torreyi, Sporobolus compositus, Sporobolus cryptandrus, and Zinnia grandiflora. In Texas, associated species include Prosopis glandulosa, Bouteloua curtipendula, and Sporobolus cryptandrus.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This type is the matrix shortgrass type of the central and southern Great Plains. It may occur in southeast Wyoming, but if so, it is south of the Escarpment. In Nebraska this type is very localized and not easily mapped, but in Kansas it forms a matrix grassland. Further north in the Dakotas and Montana, similar stands are treated as ~Bouteloua gracilis - Bouteloua dactyloides Xeric Soil Grassland (CEGL002270)$$, a large-patch type in a mixedgrass matrix. These associations need further comparisons to clarify their differences and similarities. In Texas, this grassland is known primarily from the central and northern High Plains, but also the Trans-Pecos and Rolling Plains.

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

Floristics: This community is characterized by a moderate to dense sod of short grasses with scattered mid grasses and forbs. The dominant species are Bouteloua gracilis and Bouteloua dactyloides (= Buchloe dactyloides). The foliage of these species is 7-19 cm tall, while the flowering stalks of Bouteloua gracilis may reach 45 cm. The mid grasses are usually stunted by the arid conditions and often do not exceed 0.7 m. Other short graminoids found in this community are Bouteloua hirsuta, Carex duriuscula (= Carex eleocharis), Carex inops ssp. heliophila, and Carex filifolia (in Nebraska). Several mid grasses occur regularly, such as Aristida purpurea, Bouteloua curtipendula, Pascopyrum smithii, Schizachyrium scoparium, Elymus elymoides, Sporobolus cryptandrus, Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata), and Vulpia octoflora. Forbs, such as Astragalus spp., Gaura coccinea, Machaeranthera pinnatifida var. pinnatifida, Opuntia polyacantha, Plantago patagonica, Psoralidium tenuiflorum, Ratibida columnifera, and Sphaeralcea coccinea, are common throughout this community. Shrubs are rare except in the southern parts of this community''s range where desert shrubs may spread from nearby desert shrub communities (Bruner 1931, Weaver and Albertson 1956, Steinauer and Rolfsmeier 2003). In Oklahoma, this association occurs on clay soils and is the most extensive shortgrass prairie type. Other characteristic species include Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Aristida oligantha, Machaeranthera tanacetifolia, Melampodium leucanthum, Muhlenbergia torreyi, Sporobolus compositus (= Sporobolus asper), Sporobolus cryptandrus, and Zinnia grandiflora. In Texas, this grassland is known primarily from the central and northern High Plains, but also the Trans-Pecos and Rolling Plains. Associated species include Prosopis glandulosa, Bouteloua curtipendula, and Sporobolus cryptandrus (Diamond 1993). Cover in this community can vary considerably over the course of several years (Albertson and Tomanek 1965). Substantial differences in precipitation can lead to expansion or retraction of the canopy.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This community is found primarily on flat to rolling uplands (Heitschmidt et al. 1970, Johnston 1987). The surface soil may be sandy loam, loam, silt loam, or loamy clay (Johnston 1987, Steinauer 1989). The subsoil is often finer than the surface soil (Weaver and Albertson 1956, Johnston 1987). The combination of the upland position and heavy soils results in much of the precipitation running off and drought conditions prevailing for much of the year. Soils tend to be finer and shallower in the northern part of this community''s range. In New Mexico, this community is found primarily where the annual precipitation is 40-45 cm and at elevations below 1700 m (5500 feet) (Weaver and Albertson 1956). In Nebraska, the soils are derived from a variety of sources, including sandstone, siltstone, limestone, loess, and alluvium (Steinauer 1989).
Geographic Range: This blue grama - buffalograss shortgrass prairie type is common across much of the central and southern Great Plains of the United States, ranging from Nebraska and Colorado, south to Texas and New Mexico.

Nations: MX?,US

States/Provinces:  CO, KS, NE, NM, OK, TX, WY?


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4

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.3 Blue Grama - Buffalograss Shortgrass Prairie Macrogroup M053 2.B.2.Nb.3
Group 2.B.2.Nb.3.a Blue Grama - Buffalograss - James'' Galleta Shortgrass Prairie Group G144 2.B.2.Nb.3.a
Alliance A4000 Blue Grama - Buffalograss Shortgrass Prairie Alliance A4000 2.B.2.Nb.3.a
Association CEGL001756 Blue Grama - Buffalograss Grassland CEGL001756 2.B.2.Nb.3.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Bouteloua gracilis - Buchloe dactyloides Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Buchloe - Bouteloua Community (Heitschmidt et al. 1970)
< Bulbilis - Bouteloua Association (Bruner 1931)
< Central and Eastern Grassland: 65: Grama-Buffalo Grass (Bouteloua-Buchloe) (Küchler 1964)
< Kansas, Short Grass Community (Weaver and Albertson 1956)
< New Mexico, Vegetation of Loamy Textured Upland Soils (Weaver and Albertson 1956)
< Northern Grama-Buffalograss Prairie (Küchler 1974)
= Short-Grass Type (Hopkins 1951)
= Shortgrass Prairie (Steinauer and Rolfsmeier 2003)
< Southern Grama-Buffalograss Prairie (Johnston 1987) [is broader]
Concept Author(s): J. Drake

Author of Description: J. Drake

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-26-96
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