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CEGL004006 Andropogon gerardii - Schizachyrium scoparium - Dichanthelium scoparium - Rhynchospora glomerata Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Big Bluestem - Little Bluestem - Broom Witchgrass - Clustered Beaksedge Grassland
Colloquial Name: Highland Rim Wet-Mesic Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This is a wet-mesic phase of prairies of the Eastern Highland Rim of south-central Tennessee. May Prairie, Coffee County, Tennessee, is the only remaining high-quality example of this vegetation type, which was apparently once represented at other sites (though never extensive). Stands are dominated by Andropogon gerardii, Schizachyrium scoparium, Dichanthelium scoparium, and Rhynchospora glomerata. This community is distinguished from most other prairie communities by its strong representation of a southern, Coastal Plain component in its flora, including various Rhynchospora spp., Dichanthelium spp., and others. It is distinguished from the associated community at May Prairie, ~Schizachyrium scoparium - Panicum anceps - Panicum virgatum - Lespedeza capitata - Scleria spp. Grassland (CEGL004063)$$ by being wetter, and having a stronger component of species such as Rhynchospora glomerata, Rhynchospora globularis, Rhynchospora capitellata, Eryngium integrifolium, Dichanthelium scoparium, Dichanthelium aciculare, Rosa setigera, and Scleria verticillata. This association is also reported from a site in the Northern Loessal Hills of Mississippi (Natchez Trace Parkway), more information is needed.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This is the wetter phase of May Prairie, Coffee County, Tennessee. Based on data from DeSelm (1990). Alliance placement is uncertain. Also, this community may actually be a wetland and should be placed in another formation.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Stands of this association are dominated by Andropogon gerardii, Schizachyrium scoparium, Dichanthelium scoparium, and Rhynchospora glomerata. This community is distinguished from most other prairie communities by its strong representation of a southern, Coastal Plain component in its flora, including various Rhynchospora spp., Dichanthelium spp., and others. It is distinguished from the associated community at May Prairie, ~Schizachyrium scoparium - Panicum anceps - Panicum virgatum - Lespedeza capitata - Scleria spp. Grassland (CEGL004063)$$ by being wetter, and having a stronger component of species such as Rhynchospora glomerata, Rhynchospora globularis, Rhynchospora capitellata, Eryngium integrifolium, Dichanthelium scoparium, Dichanthelium aciculare, Rosa setigera, and Scleria verticillata. A putative example from a site in the Northern Loessal Hills of Mississippi (Natchez Trace Parkway) contains Coreopsis tripteris, Dichanthelium scoparium, Elymus virginicus, Eupatorium rotundifolium, Helianthus angustifolius, Paspalum floridanum, Schizachyrium scoparium, Scutellaria incana, Solidago odora, and Symphyotrichum dumosum, along with a few scattered trees and shrubs, including Diospyros virginiana, Nyssa sylvatica, Pinus taeda, Quercus nigra, and Rhus copallinum. More information is needed on whether this stand of vegetation is correctly affiliated with this association.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: No Data Available
Geographic Range: This type is found in the Eastern Highland Rim of south-central Tennessee. In addition, this association is also reported from a site in the Northern Loessal Hills of Mississippi (Natchez Trace Parkway), more information is needed.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: MS, TN
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687666
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.Nc Eastern North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D024 | 2.B.2.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nc.3 Little Bluestem - Dropseed species Central Interior Calcareous Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup | M508 | 2.B.2.Nc.3 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nc.3.a Big Bluestem - Little Bluestem - Ashy Sunflower Patch Prairie Group | G174 | 2.B.2.Nc.3.a |
| Alliance | A3889 Big Bluestem - Switchgrass - Rough Dropseed Southeastern Patch Prairie Alliance | A3889 | 2.B.2.Nc.3.a |
| Association | CEGL004006 Big Bluestem - Little Bluestem - Broom Witchgrass - Clustered Beaksedge Grassland | CEGL004006 | 2.B.2.Nc.3.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Big Bluestem-Tall Panicum (DeSelm 1990)
< ID4a. Bluestem Tallgrass Prairie (Allard 1990)
= May Prairie - Andropogon gerardii (DeSelm 1989a)
< ID4a. Bluestem Tallgrass Prairie (Allard 1990)
= May Prairie - Andropogon gerardii (DeSelm 1989a)
- Allard, D. J. 1990. Southeastern United States ecological community classification. Interim report, Version 1.2. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Chapel Hill, NC. 96 pp.
- DeSelm, H. R. 1989a. The barrens of Tennessee. Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science 64:89-95.
- DeSelm, H. R. 1990. Flora and vegetation of some barrens of the eastern Highland Rim of Tennessee. Castanea 55:187-206.
- Nordman, C., M. Russo, and L. Smart. 2011. Vegetation types of the Natchez Trace Parkway, based on the U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe Central Databases (International Ecological Classification Standard: Terrestrial Ecological Classifications). Arlington, VA. Data current as of 11 April 2011. 548 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
- TDNH [Tennessee Division of Natural Heritage]. 2018. Unpublished data. Tennessee Division of Natural Heritage, Nashville, TN.