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CEGL004274 Bigelowia nuttallii - Aristida dichotoma - Houstonia rosea / Cladonia spp. Grassland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Nuttall''s Rayless-goldenrod - Churchmouse Three-awn - Rose Bluet / Cup Lichen species Grassland

Colloquial Name: West Gulf Coastal Plain Salt Glade

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This community is a saline prairie associated with high sodium substrates, possibly associated with inland salt domes, in the West Gulf Coastal Plain of Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas. Vegetation is patchy, with much bare soil. The location of these bare soil areas, called "slicks" in Arkansas, is variable through time. Aristida dichotoma is dominant in this community. Typical species include Bigelowia nuttallii, Minuartia muscorum, Nothoscordum bivalve, Tradescantia occidentalis, Houstonia rosea, Houstonia micrantha, Houstonia pusilla, Oenothera linifolia, Isolepis carinata, Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium, Sporobolus pyramidatus, Lepuropetalon spathulatum, Neptunia lutea, Krigia occidentalis, Plantago sp., Coreopsis tinctoria, Geocarpon minimum, Anemone caroliniana, Polypremum procumbens, Hedeoma hispida, Aristida dichotoma, Anagallis minima, Spergularia echinosperma, Schoenolirion wrightii, Phemeranthus parviflorus, Hordeum pusillum, Drosera brevifolia, Mimosa strigillosa, Ophioglossum crotalophoroides, and Callirhoe papaver.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Tradescantia occidentalis formerly included in association name. This or related vegetation occurs in the extreme eastern Crosstimbers of Arkansas adjoining the Arkansas Valley (T. Foti pers. comm.). A new association may be required to accommodate this vegetation, which lacks Bigelowia.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Aristida dichotoma is dominant in this community. Typical species include Bigelowia nuttallii (only in Louisiana examples), Minuartia muscorum (= Minuartia muriculata), Nothoscordum bivalve, Tradescantia occidentalis, Houstonia rosea, Houstonia micrantha, Houstonia pusilla, Oenothera linifolia, Isolepis carinata (= Isolepis koilolepis), Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium, Sporobolus pyramidatus, Lepuropetalon spathulatum, Neptunia lutea, Krigia occidentalis, Plantago sp., Coreopsis tinctoria, Geocarpon minimum, Anemone caroliniana, Polypremum procumbens, Hedeoma hispida, Aristida dichotoma, Anagallis minima, Spergularia echinosperma, Schoenolirion wrightii, Phemeranthus parviflorus (= Talinum parviflorum), Hordeum pusillum, Drosera brevifolia, Mimosa strigillosa, Ophioglossum crotalophoroides, and Callirhoe papaver.

Dynamics:  This community is a saline prairie associated with high sodium substrates, possibly associated with inland salt domes in Louisiana and Arkansas. Vegetation is patchy, with much bare soil. The location of these bare soil areas, called "slicks" in Arkansas, is variable through time (T. Foti pers. comm. and D. Zollner pers. comm.).
Environmental Description:  This community is associated with high sodium soils including Bonn silt loam, a Glossic Natraqualf in Louisiana. It may be associated with inland salt domes in Louisiana and Arkansas. This association is primarily known from the West Gulf Coastal Plains, but is also attributed to the Crosstimbers region adjacent to the Arkansas River Valley. More information is needed.
Geographic Range: This community is found in Louisiana and Arkansas.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AR, LA, TX


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

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 CEGL004274 Nuttall''s Rayless-goldenrod - Churchmouse Three-awn - Rose Bluet / Cup Lichen species Grassland CEGL004274 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: No Data Available
Concept Author(s): L.M. Smith and A.S. Weakley

Author of Description: L.M. Smith and A.S. Weakley

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 11-01-96
  • Foti, Tom. Personal communication. Ecologist [retired]. Arkansas Natural Heritage Commission, Little Rock.
  • LNHP [Louisiana Natural Heritage Program]. 2009. Natural communities of Louisiana. Louisiana Natural Heritage Program, Louisiana Department of Wildlife & Fisheries, Baton Rouge. 46 pp. [http://www.wlf.louisiana.gov/sites/default/files/pdf/page_wildlife/6776-Rare%20Natural%20Communities/LA_NAT_COM.pdf]
  • Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.