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CEGL001594 Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula Western Great Plains Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama Western Great Plains Grassland
Colloquial Name: Western Great Plains Little Bluestem Mixedgrass Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This little bluestem grassland community is found in the southwestern Great Plains of the United States. Stands occur on shallow sandy or rocky soil, usually on level or gently sloping terrain, although it may also occur on moderate slopes. The vegetation of this community is dominated by mid grasses with tall and short grasses present to abundant. The vegetation cover is moderate to dense. Schizachyrium scoparium and Bouteloua curtipendula are the dominant species. Andropogon hallii, Bouteloua gracilis, Bouteloua hirsuta, Koeleria macrantha, Panicum virgatum, Sorghastrum nutans, Hesperostipa neomexicana, Sporobolus compositus var. compositus, and Sporobolus cryptandrus are common grasses of this community. Forbs do not make up a large amount of the canopy, but Eriogonum spp. and Dalea purpurea are typically in stands of this community. Woody plants, such as the short shrubs Gutierrezia sarothrae and Yucca glauca, are uncommon but usually present.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type appears to be similar to ~Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula - Bouteloua gracilis Central Plains Grassland (CEGL002246)$$ and should perhaps be combined with it.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The vegetation of this community is dominated by mid grasses, with tall and short grasses present to abundant. The vegetation cover is moderate to dense. Most of the plants in this community are 0.5 m or less, but the tallest species grow to approximately 1 m (Weaver and Albertson 1956). Schizachyrium scoparium and Bouteloua curtipendula are the dominant species. Andropogon hallii, Bouteloua gracilis, Bouteloua hirsuta, Koeleria macrantha, Panicum virgatum, Sorghastrum nutans, Hesperostipa neomexicana (= Stipa neomexicana), Sporobolus compositus var. compositus, and Sporobolus cryptandrus are also common grasses. Forbs do not make up a large portion of the canopy, but Eriogonum spp. and Dalea purpurea are typically present. Woody plants, such as the short shrubs Gutierrezia sarothrae and Yucca glauca, are uncommon but usually present.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This community is found on shallow sandy or rocky soil. In Kansas and Oklahoma it is often over limestone or other calcareous material (Johnston 1987). This community is usually on level or gently sloping terrain, although it may also occur on moderate slopes (Weaver and Albertson 1956).
Geographic Range: This little bluestem grassland community is found in the southwestern Great Plains of the United States, ranging from Kansas and Colorado south to Oklahoma and possibly New Mexico.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, KS, NM?, OK, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687035
Confidence Level: Low
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.2 Needle-and-Thread - Western Wheatgrass - Plains Rough Fescue Grassland Macrogroup | M051 | 2.B.2.Nb.2 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nb.2.a Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama - Western Wheatgrass Mixedgrass Prairie Group | G133 | 2.B.2.Nb.2.a |
| Alliance | A4042 Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama Central Plains Grassland Alliance | A4042 | 2.B.2.Nb.2.a |
| Association | CEGL001594 Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama Western Great Plains Grassland | CEGL001594 | 2.B.2.Nb.2.a |
Concept Lineage: merged
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Bouteloua curtipendula / Schizachyrium scoparium Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula Western Great Plains Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Mesa and Piedmonts, Bunch-grass Community, Colorado (Weaver and Albertson 1956) [uncertain if equivalent]
< Postclimax Plant Communities, Deep Sands, New Mexico (Weaver and Albertson 1956)
= Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula Western Great Plains Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Mesa and Piedmonts, Bunch-grass Community, Colorado (Weaver and Albertson 1956) [uncertain if equivalent]
< Postclimax Plant Communities, Deep Sands, New Mexico (Weaver and Albertson 1956)
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