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CEGL004118 Spartina pectinata Western Kentucky Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Prairie Cordgrass Western Kentucky Grassland
Colloquial Name: Western Kentucky Prairie Cordgrass Grassland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This wet prairie is known from the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain of Kentucky, possibly extending a short distance into adjacent Tennessee. At present the community is probably seasonally saturated, but it was presumably seasonally flooded in the past. The vegetation is dominated by Spartina pectinata, but Helianthus angustifolius and Viola sagittata are also abundant. Also present are Cephalanthus occidentalis, Andropogon gerardii, Dichanthelium scoparium, Schizachyrium scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans, Tripsacum dactyloides, Asclepias tuberosa, Baptisia alba var. macrophylla, Crotalaria sagittalis, Dichanthelium clandestinum, Agalinis fasciculata, Helianthus grosseserratus, Helianthus mollis, Heterotheca villosa, Spiranthes cernua, Rhexia mariana, Rudbeckia hirta, and Rudbeckia subtomentosa. The distinctiveness of this community from other associations in the alliance is unknown and will be difficult to determine since no unaltered examples remain.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: In Tennessee, Spartina pectinata-dominated vegetation in the southeastern Highland Rim is discussed by DeSelm (1989a), but it was probably always rare and may now be extirpated.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This community is dominated by Spartina pectinata, but Helianthus angustifolius and Viola sagittata are also abundant. Also present are Cephalanthus occidentalis, Andropogon gerardii, Dichanthelium scoparium, Schizachyrium scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans, Tripsacum dactyloides, Asclepias tuberosa, Baptisia alba var. macrophylla (= Baptisia leucantha), Crotalaria sagittalis, Dichanthelium clandestinum, Agalinis fasciculata, Helianthus grosseserratus, Helianthus mollis, Heterotheca villosa (= Chrysopsis villosa), Spiranthes cernua, Rhexia mariana, Rudbeckia hirta, and Rudbeckia subtomentosa.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: No Data Available
Geographic Range: This community is found in two ecoregional subsections in western Kentucky, and it may occur in adjacent Tennessee.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: KY, TN?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687139
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1Q
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.Nh Southeastern North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D102 | 2.B.2.Nh |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nh.2 Southeastern Coastal Plain Patch Prairie Macrogroup | M309 | 2.B.2.Nh.2 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nh.2.a Little Bluestem - Switchgrass - Bushy Bluestem Patch Prairie Group | G175 | 2.B.2.Nh.2.a |
| Alliance | A3319 Prairie Cordgrass Interior Prairie Alliance | A3319 | 2.B.2.Nh.2.a |
| Association | CEGL004118 Prairie Cordgrass Western Kentucky Grassland | CEGL004118 | 2.B.2.Nh.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Wet Prairie (Evans 1991)
= Wet Prairie Community (DeSelm 1989a)
= Wet Prairie Community (DeSelm 1989a)
- DeSelm, H. R. 1989a. The barrens of Tennessee. Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science 64:89-95.
- Evans, M. 1991. Kentucky ecological communities. Draft report to the Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission. 19 pp.
- Evans, M., B. Yahn, and M. Hines. 2009. Natural communities of Kentucky 2009. Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission, Frankfort, KY. 22 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- Weaver, J. E. 1954. North American prairie. Johnsen Publishing Co., Lincoln, NE. 348 pp.