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CEGL002207 Schizachyrium littorale - Paspalum monostachyum Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Shore Little Bluestem - Gulfdune Crowngrass Grassland
Colloquial Name: Shore Bluestem - Gulfdune Crowngrass Tallgrass Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is the predominant grassland on the Ingleside barrier-strandplain and barrier islands of the Texas Coastal Bend. It also occurs on the upper Texas coast (Follets Island). In addition to Schizachyrium littorale and Paspalum monostachyum, common components include Heteropogon contortus, Paspalum plicatulum, Trichoneura elegans, Andropogon gerardii, Sorghastrum nutans, Bothriochloa saccharoides, Muhlenbergia capillaris, Dichanthelium spp., and Elionurus tripsacoides. Minor changes in drainage can cause differences in species composition. On the Ingleside barrier-strandplain, while Paspalum monostachyum may dominate slightly lower areas [see ~Paspalum monostachyum - Andropogon glomeratus - Schizachyrium littorale - Iva texensis Grassland (CEGL007222)$$], deeper swales are typically dominated by Panicum virgatum and Spartina patens and are classified as ~Spartina patens - Fimbristylis (caroliniana, castanea) - (Panicum virgatum) Marsh (CEGL007836)$$. In this area, these grasslands occur intermixed with ~Quercus fusiformis - Persea borbonia Forest (CEGL002117)$$. Other components on the barrier-strandplain include Baptisia bracteata var. leucophaea, Dichanthelium acuminatum var. fasciculatum, Phlox drummondii, Rhynchosia americana, Sida lindheimeri, Stemodia lanata, and Stylisma villosa. In addition to the nominals, barrier flat communities include Spartina patens, Trachypogon spicatus, Muhlenbergia capillaris, Rhynchosia americana, Galactia canescens, Helianthus argophyllus, and Physalis walteri. Here, poorly drained areas may support inclusions of Spartina spartinae or Spartina patens.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This vegetation is related to ~Schizachyrium scoparium - Triplasis purpurea - Eriogonum multiflorum - Liatris elegans var. carizzana Grassland (CEGL008483)$$, occurring on deep sandy ridges along the San Bernard and possibly other rivers as they flow through the Lissie Formation in the Upper Coastal Prairie. It is also similar to ~Schizachyrium littorale - Paspalum plicatulum Texas Sand Sheet Grassland (CEGL007821)$$ occurring on the South Texas Sand Sheet. All of these communities occur over deep sandy strata. These communities share many taxa, but each seems to have a suite of unique species not found in the others. More information is needed to fully describe these differences. The taxonomy of the nominal species of Schizachyrium is in question for some occurrences. This type originally described vegetation of the South Texas Sand Sheet, the Ingleside barrier-strandplain and barrier islands in Texas. The sand sheet vegetation is now classified as ~Schizachyrium littorale - Paspalum plicatulum Texas Sand Sheet Grassland (CEGL007821)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: In addition to Schizachyrium littorale and Paspalum monostachyum, common components include Heteropogon contortus, Paspalum plicatulum, Trichoneura elegans, Andropogon gerardii, Sorghastrum nutans, Muhlenbergia capillaris, Dichanthelium spp., and Elionurus tripsacoides. Minor changes in drainage can cause differences in species composition. Also noted in mainland occurrences are Panicum hallii var. filipes (= Panicum filipes), Leptochloa nealleyi, and Chloris cucullata. On the Ingleside barrier-strandplain, while Paspalum monostachyum may dominate slightly lower areas [see ~Paspalum monostachyum - Andropogon glomeratus - Schizachyrium littorale - Iva texensis Grassland (CEGL007222)$$], deeper swales are typically dominated by Panicum virgatum and Spartina patens and are classified as ~Spartina patens - Fimbristylis (caroliniana, castanea) - (Panicum virgatum) Marsh (CEGL007836)$$. In this area, these grasslands occur intermixed with ~Quercus fusiformis - Persea borbonia Forest (CEGL002117)$$. Other components on the barrier-strandplain include Baptisia bracteata var. leucophaea, Dichanthelium acuminatum var. fasciculatum (= Dichanthelium lanuginosum), Phlox drummondii, Rhynchosia americana, Sida lindheimeri, Stemodia lanata, and Stylisma villosa. In addition to the nominals, barrier flat communities include Spartina patens, Trachypogon spicatus (= Trachypogon secundus), Muhlenbergia capillaris, Rhynchosia americana, Galactia canescens, Helianthus argophyllus, and Physalis viscosa. Here, poorly drained areas may support inclusions of Spartina spartinae and/or Spartina patens.
Dynamics: These grasslands are maintained by periodic fires and soil conditions generally inhospitable to the growth of trees and shrubs. In some associations, the prolonged absence of fire can favor invasion by woody species which can become abundant. Overgrazing can also alter the composition and structure of these communities.
Environmental Description: This association is the predominant grassland on the Ingleside barrier-strandplain of the Texas Coastal Bend and barrier flats of barrier islands off the central and upper coast of Texas.
Geographic Range: This community is known only from the central and upper coast of Texas.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687190
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 | A1200 Shore Little Bluestem - Gulfdune Crowngrass - Bitter Panicgrass Texas Coastal Grassland Alliance | A1200 | 2.B.4.Na.2.a |
| Association | CEGL002207 Shore Little Bluestem - Gulfdune Crowngrass Grassland | CEGL002207 | 2.B.4.Na.2.a |
Concept Lineage: merged
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Seacoast Bluestem-Gulfdune Paspalum Series (Diamond 1993)
- Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 pp.
- McAlister, W. H., and M. K. McAlister. 1993. A naturalist''s guide: Matagorda Island. University of Texas Press, Austin. 354 pp.
- McAlister, W. H., and M. K. McAlister. 1995. A naturalist''s guide: Aransas. University of Texas Press, Austin. 354 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.