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CEGL002276 Bigelowia nuttallii - Krameria lanceolata - Aristida dichotoma - Sporobolus silveanus Grassland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Nuttall''s Rayless-goldenrod - Trailing Ratany - Churchmouse Three-awn - Silveus'' Dropseed Grassland

Colloquial Name: East Texas Catahoula Barrens

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This terrestrial, forb-dominated community is endemic to southeastern and east-central Texas outcrops of the Catahoula Formation. The herbaceous flora of this community is diverse and displays considerable seasonal variation. Occurrences may appear almost devoid of vegetation during the dry summers, while the spring and autumn are periods of peak flowering. The best known and studied examples are found in Jasper County on Angelina National Forest. The community is dominated by prairie-like vegetation with Bigelowia nuttallii, Schizachyrium scoparium, Aristida dichotoma, Aristida longespica, Croton michauxii, Sporobolus silveanus, and Tridens strictus as primary components. Key diagnostic species of this community are typically rare elsewhere in eastern Texas, including Schoenolirion wrightii, Evolvulus sericeus, Callirhoe sp., Gratiola flava, Saxifraga texana, Bigelowia nuttallii, Liatris punctata var. mucronata, Krameria lanceolata and others. Within the Pineywoods vegetation area this community occurs within a matrix of historically longleaf pine-dominated open woodlands. In Walker and Grimes counties (within the Post Oak Savanna vegetation area), this matrix vegetation is replaced by Quercus stellata woodland or savannas and may include a complex of exposed sandstone/mudstone flats and ledges, intermixed with dense, herbaceous patches, scattered, stunted trees and shrubs, and fruticose lichens. Much of the soil and rock is unvegetated.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Species composition in this community varies depending on depth of soil over sandstone and erosional features. There is much floristic similarity between this community and the type defined as "Sandstone Glade" in Louisiana (L. Smith pers. comm., Martin and Smith 1991); but many species occurring in each type are absent from the other. A possible confusion in its classification arises from differences in the mapping and recognition of the Catahoula and Fleming formations in Texas and Louisiana.

This community appears to be equivalent to that described in Marietta and Nixon (1984), but they list Bigelowia virgata (a synonym of Bigelowia nudata) and Aristida longespica rather than Bigelowia nuttallii and Aristida dichotoma. The recognized Bigelowia taxa in Texas have changed since 1984 (Kartesz 1999), but that does not explain the discrepancy in the Aristida taxonomy.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This association is a complex of exposed sandstone boulders, flats, and ledges, intermixed with dense, herbaceous patches, scattered, stunted trees and shrubs, and fruticose lichens. Much of the soil and rock is unvegetated. It occurs within a matrix of open woodland.

Floristics: The herbaceous flora of this community is diverse and varies considerably seasonally. Occurrences may appear almost devoid of vegetation during the dry summers, while the spring and autumn are periods of peak flowering (Marietta and Nixon 1984, Turner et al. unpubl. data). Stands of this association are dominated by prairie-like vegetation with Bigelowia nuttallii, Schizachyrium scoparium, Aristida dichotoma, Aristida longespica, Croton michauxii, Sporobolus silveanus, and Tridens strictus as primary components. Other typical herbaceous species include Agrostis hyemalis, Andropogon ternarius, Astragalus nuttallianus, Carex texensis, Chaetopappa asteroides, Dichanthelium spp., Diodia teres, Evolvulus sericeus, Fimbristylis puberula, Gratiola flava, Houstonia pusilla, Hypericum drummondii, Krameria lanceolata, Krigia occidentalis, Lechea san-sabeana, Liatris punctata var. mucronata (= Liatris mucronata), Linum medium, Marshallia caespitosa, Minuartia drummondii, Nothoscordum bivalve, Phacelia glabra, Polygala mariana, Rhynchospora globularis, Saxifraga texana, Schoenolirion wrightii, Isolepis carinata (= Isolepis koilolepis), Silphium laciniatum, Stylosanthes biflora, Phemeranthus parviflorus (= Talinum parviflorum), Steinchisma hians (= Panicum hians), Dichanthelium aciculare (= Panicum aciculare), Dichanthelium oligosanthes, and Cladonia spp. Typical woody species that may be scattered in these communities include Quercus marilandica, Quercus stellata, Pinus palustris, Pinus echinata, Pinus taeda, Ilex vomitoria, and Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera).

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This community is restricted to areas of shallow soil and exposed sandstone of the Catahoula Formation (Miocene age). Seasonal droughtiness, shallow soils, aluminum toxicity, and periodic fires are important factors that influence the composition and structure of this community. Soils are classified as Browndell (Albaquic Hapludalf) and Kisatchie (Albaquic Hapludalf) soils, strongly acidic at the surface to alkaline at depth, sandy loams and silty clay loams, with high aluminum content. These soils can be saturated during the cooler, wetter months but are extremely dry and hard during summer droughts.
Geographic Range: This community has a naturally restricted range from southeastern and east-central Texas.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  TX


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1

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.3 Poverty Dropseed - Little Bluestem - Calamint species Southern Barrens & Glade Macrogroup M308 2.B.2.Nh.3
Group 2.B.2.Nh.3.a Little Bluestem - Limestone Calamint - Nuttall''s Rayless-goldenrod Southeastern Coastal Plain Barrens & Glade Group G584 2.B.2.Nh.3.a
Alliance A4092 Nuttall''s Rayless-goldenrod - Slimspike Three-awn - Little Bluestem West Gulf Coastal Plain Grassland Alliance A4092 2.B.2.Nh.3.a
Association CEGL002276 Nuttall''s Rayless-goldenrod - Trailing Ratany - Churchmouse Three-awn - Silveus'' Dropseed Grassland CEGL002276 2.B.2.Nh.3.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: < Schizachyrium - Bigelowia Clayey Dry-Mesic Catahoula Barrens (Turner et al. 1999)
= An open, prairie-like community (Marietta and Nixon 1984) [(SE, natural, portion)]
? Catahoula Barrens (Bridges and Orzell 1989a)
< IE7f. Catahoula Barren (Allard 1990)
Concept Author(s): K.D. Patterson

Author of Description: K.D. Patterson and R.E. Evans

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-31-02
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  • Bridges, E. L., and S. L. Orzell. 1989a. Longleaf pine communities of the West Gulf Coastal Plain. Natural Areas Journal 9:246-263.
  • Bridges, E. L., and S. L. Orzell. 1989b. Additions and noteworthy vascular plant collections from Texas and Louisiana, with historical, ecological and geographical notes. Phytologia 66:12-69.
  • Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 pp.
  • Diamond, D., B. Amos, T. Cook, R. Edwards, W. Elliot, R. Evans, and K. Kennedy. 1992. Endangered, threatened, and watchlist of natural communities of Texas. Texas Organization for Endangered Species. Austin, TX. 14 pp.
  • MacRoberts, M. H., B. R. MacRoberts, and R. E. Evans. 1997a. Notes on Spiranthes parksii Correll (Orchidaceae) in deep east Texas. Phytologia 83(3):133-137.
  • Marietta, K. L. 1979. Vegetation of three upland communities in east Texas. M.S. thesis, Stephen F. Austin State University, Nacogdoches, TX. 81 pp.
  • Marietta, K. L., and E. S. Nixon. 1984. Vegetation of an open, prairie-like community in eastern Texas. Texas Journal of Science 36:25-32.
  • Martin, D. L., and L. M. Smith. 1991. A survey and description of the natural plant communities of the Kisatchie National Forest, Winn and Kisatchie districts. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge, LA. 372 pp.
  • Orzell, S. L., principal investigator. 1990. Texas Natural Heritage Program inventory of national forest and national grasslands in Texas. Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, Natural Heritage Program, Austin.
  • Smith, Latimore M. Personal communication. Natural Heritage Program Ecologist. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Natural Heritage Program, Baton Rouge.
  • Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
  • Turner, R. L., J. E. Van Kley, L. S. Smith, and R. E. Evans. 1999. Ecological classification system for the national forests and adjacent areas of the West Gulf Coastal Plain. The Nature Conservancy, Nacogdoches, TX. 95 pp. plus appendices.
  • Turner, R. L., J. E. Van Kley, L. S. Smith, and R. E. Evans. No date. Unpublished data from the national forests and adjacent areas of the West Gulf Coastal Plain. The Nature Conservancy, Nacogdoches, TX.