Print Report
CEGL002397 Schizachyrium scoparium - Sorghastrum nutans - Aristida lanosa - Polypremum procumbens Sand Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Woolly-sheath Three-awn - Juniper-leaf Sand Grassland
Colloquial Name: Mississippi Embayment Sand Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This little bluestem sand prairie is found in the United States in the Mississippi Embayment of Missouri and sand barrens in southwestern Indiana. Stands occur on nearly level to steeply sloped elevated terraces, knolls, ridges, and natural levees. The parent material is eolian or alluvial sand, associated with the Bulltown Soil Series. This tallgrass or midgrass prairie is composed of a single layer of dominant graminoids intermixed with abundant forbs. The herbaceous layer is dominated by Schizachyrium scoparium and Sorghastrum nutans. Other species can include Lithospermum canescens, Cyperus spp. (including Cyperus grayoides), Polypremum procumbens, Desmodium strictum, Digitaria cognata, Aristida spp., and Callirhoe triangulata.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The type concept is taken largely from the Missouri state types dry sand prairie and dry-mesic sand prairie, at least for the southeastern Missouri part (Nelson 1985). The two state types may each need their own global type. Stands in northern Missouri along the Mississippi River are tracked with ~Schizachyrium scoparium - Danthonia spicata - Carex pensylvanica - (Viola pedata) Sand Grassland (CEGL002318)$$. This community is often near sand savanna communities. Type has been extirpated from Arkansas. Name needs revision in Missouri. Stands in Indiana occur in Vigo, Sullivan and Tippecanoe counties and may be a separate type.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This community is composed of a single layer of dominant graminoids intermixed with abundant forbs. This sand prairie can be a tallgrass or a midgrass prairie. It is dominated by Schizachyrium scoparium and Sorghastrum nutans. Other species can include Lithospermum sp., Cyperus spp. (including Cyperus grayoides), Polypremum procumbens, Desmodium strictum, Digitaria cognata (= var. cognata), Aristida spp., and Callirhoe triangulata (Nelson 1985).
Dynamics: Stands are maintained by fire with an average burn frequency of 1-5 years on the mesic sites and 5 years on the dry-mesic sites (Nelson 1985).
Environmental Description: Both the drier and more moist portions of this community are subject to drought stress (Nelson 1985).
Geographic Range: This bluestem sand prairie is found in the United States in the Mississippi Embayment of Missouri and sand barrens in southwestern Indiana, and at least historically in Arkansas and possibly Illinois.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AR, IL, IN?, MO
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687227
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.Nb Central North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D023 | 2.B.2.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nb.1 Big Bluestem - Indiangrass - Dense Blazingstar Tallgrass Prairie Macrogroup | M054 | 2.B.2.Nb.1 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nb.1.c Big Bluestem - Indiangrass - Porcupine Grass Tallgrass Prairie Group | G333 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.c |
| Alliance | A4047 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass Central Sand & Gravel Grassland Alliance | A4047 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.c |
| Association | CEGL002397 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Woolly-sheath Three-awn - Juniper-leaf Sand Grassland | CEGL002397 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Schizachyrium scoparium - Sorghastrum nutans - Aristida lanosa - Polypremum procumbens Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
? Southern Sand Prairie (Midwestern Ecology Working Group n.d.)
>< dry sand prairie (Nelson 1985)
>< dry-mesic sand prairie (Nelson 1985)
? Southern Sand Prairie (Midwestern Ecology Working Group n.d.)
>< dry sand prairie (Nelson 1985)
>< dry-mesic sand prairie (Nelson 1985)
- Faber-Langendoen, D., editor. 2001. Plant communities of the Midwest: Classification in an ecological context. Association for Biodiversity Information, Arlington, VA. 61 pp. plus appendix (705 pp.).
- Homoya, M. A., J. Aldrich, J. Bacone, L. Casebere, and T. Post. 1988. Indiana natural community classification. Indiana Natural Heritage Program, Indianapolis, IN. Unpublished manuscript.
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- Nelson, P. 2010. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Revised edition. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.
- Nelson, P. W. 1985. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Jefferson City. 197 pp. Revised edition, 1987.
- White, J., and M. Madany. 1978. Classification of natural communities in Illinois. Pages 311-405 in: Natural Areas Inventory technical report: Volume I, survey methods and results. Illinois Natural Areas Inventory, Urbana, IL.