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CEGL002249 Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula - Agrostis hyemalis - Eleocharis spp. Hardpan Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama - Winter Bentgrass - Spikerush species Hardpan Grassland
Colloquial Name: Little Bluestem Hardpan Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This little bluestem hardpan prairie community is found in the south-central tallgrass prairie region of the United States. Stands occur on level to gently sloping ground on upland plains, ridges, and terraces. The soil is usually silty loam with an impermeable or slowly permeable silty clay subsoil layer. This fine-textured subsoil layer is very hard when dry and firm when moist, increasing runoff and restricting the downward growth of plant roots. The vegetation is dominated by medium tall herbaceous species, with scattered low shrubs. The graminoid layer is dominated by Bouteloua curtipendula, Panicum virgatum, and Schizachyrium scoparium. Agrostis hyemalis and Desmanthus illinoensis are characteristic of this type, although not always abundant. Andropogon gerardii may be dominant in some parts of this community''s range. Forbs include Camassia scilloides, Cicuta maculata, Desmanthus illinoensis, and Polygala verticillata.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Concept of this type is taken from the Missouri state type hardpan prairie (Nelson 1985) and Kansas state type Claypan Tallgrass Prairie (Lauver et al. 1999). It may be present in Oklahoma. Characteristic species that distinguish this type from ~Andropogon gerardii - Sorghastrum nutans Unglaciated Grassland (CEGL002204)$$ are needed.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The vegetation is dominated by medium-tall graminoids and forbs. Although scattered low shrubs and trees may occur, the tree canopy is less than 10%. Vertical root development is restricted by the hardpan subsoil layer. The graminoid layer is typically dominated by Bouteloua curtipendula, Panicum virgatum, and Schizachyrium scoparium. Agrostis hyemalis is characteristic of this type, although not always abundant. Andropogon gerardii may be dominant in some parts of this community''s range. Forbs include Camassia scilloides, Cicuta maculata, Desmanthus illinoensis, and Polygala verticillata (Nelson 1985, Lauver et al. 1999).
Dynamics: The hardpan soils often create droughty soils in the summer and autumn (Nelson 1985, Lauver et al. 1999).
Environmental Description: This community occurs on level to gently sloping ground on upland plains, ridges, and terraces. The soil is usually silty loam. There is an impermeable or slowly permeable silty clay subsoil layer. This fine-textured subsoil layer is very hard when dry and firm when moist, so runoff can be great. During the dry season, the hardpan also stops the movement by capillary action of water from deeper, wetter subsoil to near the surface. This results in droughty soils in the summer and autumn. It also restricts the downward growth of plant roots and burrowing by animals (Nelson 1985, Lauver et al. 1999).
Geographic Range: This little bluestem hardpan prairie community is found in the south-central tallgrass prairie region of the United States, extending from western Missouri west to eastern Kansas, and south to possibly Oklahoma.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: KS, MO
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687565
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2?
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 | A4058 Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama Central Loamy Grassland Alliance | A4058 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.c |
| Association | CEGL002249 Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama - Winter Bentgrass - Spikerush species Hardpan Grassland | CEGL002249 | 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 - Bouteloua curtipendula - Agrostis hyemalis - Eleocharis spp. Hardpan Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Claypan Tallgrass Prairie (Lauver et al. 1999)
= hardpan prairie (Nelson 1985)
= Claypan Tallgrass Prairie (Lauver et al. 1999)
= hardpan 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.).
- Lauver, C. L., K. Kindscher, D. Faber-Langendoen, and R. Schneider. 1999. A classification of the natural vegetation of Kansas. The Southwestern Naturalist 44:421-443.
- 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.