Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Rough Dropseed - Limestone Calamint - Atlantic Camas - Rockpink Fameflower / Lichens Nepheline Syenite Grassland

Colloquial Name: Nepheline Syenite Herbaceous Glade

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This low-growing (to 30 cm [1 foot] tall) herbaceous community is a zonal component of Arkansas Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain Nepheline Syenite glades. The vegetation is dominated by forbs with enormous seasonal variation in dominance. Most of the plants are early flowering species that complete their life cycles before the glades dry up in the early summer, as well as fall-flowering annual grasses (e.g., Sporobolus clandestinus). This glade or rock outcrop community forms on the largest of outcrops of nepheline syenite in the Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain of Arkansas. In early spring, conditions can be mesic to wet as springs and small ephemeral streams flow across the rock outcrop and water pools in flat areas. Vegetative coverage in undisturbed glades ranges from 50-80% of the rock surface including large areas covered by lichens, mosses, and algae. The vegetation is seasonally dominated by Amsonia ciliata var. ciliata, Astragalus distortus (var. engelmannii, var. distortus), Clinopodium arkansanum, Camassia scilloides, Cheilanthes lanosa, Chamaesyce missurica, Oenothera linifolia, Phacelia hirsuta, Plantago pusilla, Rhexia mariana, Sabatia campestris, Salvia azurea, Schizachyrium scoparium, Sporobolus clandestinus, Phemeranthus calycinus, Cladonia spp. (lichens), Grimmia spp. (mosses), and Nostoc spp. (blue-green algae). Other herbaceous species include Acalypha monococca, Agalinis skinneriana, Allium cernuum, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Arabis missouriensis, Symphyotrichum oolentangiense, Bouteloua curtipendula, Carex muehlenbergii var. enervis, Coreopsis lanceolata, Croton capitatus, Croton glandulosus var. septentrionalis, Croton monanthogynus, Croton michauxii var. ellipticus, Dalea candida, Digitaria cognata, Drosera brevifolia, Erigeron strigosus, Eriocaulon koernickianum, Euphorbia corollata, Glandularia canadensis, Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium, Stenaria nigricans, Chrysopsis pilosa, Houstonia pusilla, Houstonia longifolia, Hypericum drummondii, Hypericum gentianoides, Hypericum hypericoides, Hypericum punctatum, Hypoxis hirsuta, Isoetes butleri, Krigia virginica, Lechea tenuifolia, Liatris squarrosa var. hirsuta, Liatris squarrulosa, Manfreda virginica, Minuartia patula, Monarda fistulosa, Nothoscordum bivalve, Opuntia humifusa, Ptilimnium nuttallii, Saxifraga texana, Scleria ciliata, Selenia aurea, and Yucca arkansana. Woody species are uncommon but may occur in large cracks in the rock. They are seldom more than 1 m (3 feet) tall and may include Celtis tenuifolia, Diospyros virginiana, Rhus copallinum, Sideroxylon lanuginosum, and Ulmus alata. Nepheline syenite is mildly alkaline. The surface exfoliates relatively rapidly forming pockets of shallow gravelly soil. This community grades into ~(Quercus stellata) / Schizachyrium scoparium - Piptochaetium avenaceum - Aristida purpurascens - Delphinium carolinianum Nepheline Syenite Wooded Grassland (CEGL008422)$$. The highest quality remnants are found at the Bauxite Natural Areas. The type locality is in Saline County, Arkansas. Other examples are also known from Pulaski County, Arkansas.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: There is also a related type dominated by perennial grasses with scattered trees. See ~(Quercus stellata) / Schizachyrium scoparium - Piptochaetium avenaceum - Aristida purpurascens - Delphinium carolinianum Nepheline Syenite Wooded Grassland (CEGL008422)$$. Julian Campbell (pers. comm.) believes that Sabatia campestris is an undescribed species or subspecies.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available

note: No Data Available