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CEGL001681 Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua (curtipendula, gracilis) - Carex filifolia Grassland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - (Sideoats Grama, Blue Grama) - Threadleaf Sedge Grassland

Colloquial Name: Northern Great Plains Little Bluestem Prairie

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This little bluestem - mixedgrass prairie type is distributed throughout the northern Great Plains of the United States and Canada. Stands are usually found on moderate to steep slopes with variable aspects. The soils are typically shallow and occur over sandstone or limestone. The vegetation is predominantly composed of graminoid species less than 1 m tall with moderate to high cover. The dominant species is Schizachyrium scoparium with Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua gracilis, and Carex filifolia as associates or codominants. Andropogon gerardii, Carex inops ssp. heliophila, Carex duriuscula, Koeleria macrantha, and Calamovilfa longifolia are often present. Calamovilfa longifolia may be abundant on sandier soils. Muhlenbergia cuspidata, Hesperostipa comata, Pascopyrum smithii, and Nassella viridula may also be present. Forbs do not contribute greatly to the canopy, but many species may be found in this community. Among the forbs that may be found are Echinacea angustifolia, Symphyotrichum oblongifolium, Gaura coccinea, Lygodesmia juncea, Helianthus pauciflorus ssp. pauciflorus, Rosa arkansana, Liatris punctata, Pediomelum argophyllum, Symphyotrichum ericoides, Dalea purpurea, and Campanula rotundifolia.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Contrast this association with Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula grasslands in New Mexico. Hansen et al. (1984) report that Bouteloua gracilis and Koeleria macrantha may be prominent in Theodore Roosevelt National Park, North Dakota.

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

Floristics: This community is predominantly composed of graminoid species less than 1 m tall. Pinus ponderosa may occasionally be present. The vegetation cover is moderate to high. Thilenius et al. (1995) found that vegetation cover was 44% in Wyoming, and Hansen and Hoffman (1988) found 75% cover in North Dakota. The dominant species is Schizachyrium scoparium, with Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua gracilis, and Carex filifolia as associates or codominants. Andropogon gerardii, Carex inops ssp. heliophila, Carex duriuscula (= Carex eleocharis), Koeleria macrantha and Calamovilfa longifolia are often present. Calamovilfa longifolia may be abundant on sandier soils. Muhlenbergia cuspidata, Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata), Pascopyrum smithii, and Nassella viridula may also be present. Pseudoroegneria spicata may be found in the western portions of this community (Jones 1992b). In Manitoba, the graminoids Festuca ovina and Elymus trachycaulus and the lichen Selaginella densa are more abundant (Greenall 1995). Forbs do not contribute greatly to the canopy, but many species may be found in this community (Hanson and Whitman 1938). Among the forbs that may be found are Echinacea angustifolia, Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (= Aster oblongifolius), Symphyotrichum ericoides (= Aster ericoides), Gaura coccinea, Lygodesmia juncea, Helianthus pauciflorus ssp. pauciflorus, Rosa arkansana, Liatris punctata, Pediomelum argophyllum (= Psoralea argophylla), Dalea purpurea, Phlox hoodii, and Campanula rotundifolia. There are very few woody species; those that are present are usually short shrubs such as Artemisia frigida, Juniperus horizontalis, and Yucca glauca. Litter often accumulates and may cover more than 50% of the ground (Hirsch 1985). Invasive and/or exotic species found in many areas utilized for cattle grazing include Bromus inermis, Bromus tectorum, and Poa pratensis. Butler et al. (1986) found that, in a ravine in western North Dakota, the most abundant species on a south-facing footslope were Bouteloua curtipendula and Carex filifolia. Other species that were abundant were Schizachyrium scoparium, Calamovilfa longifolia, Hesperostipa comata, and Artemisia frigida. Pascopyrum smithii, Bouteloua gracilis, and Koeleria macrantha were also present.

Dynamics:  Fire probably played a major role in this type, whereby periodic fires would increase graminoid production and deter tree growth.
Environmental Description:  This community is usually found on gentle to steep slopes with variable aspects throughout its range. Hansen et al. (1984) and McAdams et al. (1998) report this type on southerly aspects for western South Dakota and southwestern North Dakota. In southeastern Montana and the Cheyenne River Basin, this type is more common on west and north aspects, although occurrences on south aspects exist (Hansen and Hoffman 1988, Thilenius 1995). The soil may be loamy sand, sandy loam, loam, or clay loam. There may be a substantial component of gravel. Hansen et al. (1984) found 7-36% gravel by weight in 16 stands in western North Dakota. The soils are typically shallow and occur over sandstone or limestone (Johnston 1987, Thilenius et al. 1995).
Geographic Range: This little bluestem mixedgrass prairie type is distributed throughout the northern Great Plains of the United States and Canada, ranging from Manitoba and possibly Saskatchewan, south to South Dakota and Wyoming.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  MB, MT, ND, NE, SD, SK, WY


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3G4

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.2 Needle-and-Thread - Western Wheatgrass - Plains Rough Fescue Grassland Macrogroup M051 2.B.2.Nb.2
Group 2.B.2.Nb.2.c Western Wheatgrass - Needle-and-Thread - Little Bluestem Mixedgrass Prairie Group G141 2.B.2.Nb.2.c
Alliance A4034 Little Bluestem Northern Mixedgrass Grassland Alliance A4034 2.B.2.Nb.2.c
Association CEGL001681 Little Bluestem - (Sideoats Grama, Blue Grama) - Threadleaf Sedge Grassland CEGL001681 2.B.2.Nb.2.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Andropogon scoparius / Carex filifolia Habitat Type (Hansen and Hoffman 1988)
= Andropogon scoparius / Carex filifolia Habitat Type (Hansen et al. 1984)
= Andropogon scoparius Habitat Type (Hirsch 1985)
= Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua (curtipendula, gracilis) - Carex filifolia Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
>< Schizachyrium scoparium / Bouteloua curtipendula Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
>< Schizachyrium scoparium / Carex filifolia Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Little Bluestem Type (Hanson and Whitman 1938)
Concept Author(s): P.L. Hansen et al. (1984)

Author of Description: P.L. Hansen, G.R. Hoffman, A.J. Bjugstad, J. Drake and D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-02-96
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