Print Report

CEGL005069 Spiraea tomentosa - Salix humilis / Andropogon gerardii - Panicum virgatum Wet Shrubland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Steeplebush - Prairie Willow / Big Bluestem - Switchgrass Wet Shrubland

Colloquial Name: Steeplebush Wet-Mesic Sand Shrub Meadow

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This wet-mesic sand shrub meadow is found in the central tallgrass prairie-forest border region of Illinois in the United States. Stands occur in depressions of glacial lakeplains. Shrub species include the dominants Spiraea tomentosa, Salix humilis, Rubus hispidus, and Gaylussacia baccata, along with Aronia x prunifolia and Vaccinium angustifolium. Herbaceous species include the dominants Andropogon gerardii and Panicum virgatum, as well as Bartonia virginica, Osmunda regalis, Parthenium integrifolium, Pedicularis canadensis, and Viola lanceolata.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This type concept is taken from the Illinois state type Shrub Prairie (White and Madany 1978), and represents the wetter sandy soil type. It probably occurred elsewhere in Indiana and Iowa. Many prairie remnants contain patchy shrub prairie, but it is not clear if these have increased due to fire suppression. Few extensive prairie landscapes remain today, making it difficult to characterize this type.

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

Floristics: Shrub species include the dominants Spiraea tomentosa, Salix humilis, Rubus hispidus, and Gaylussacia baccata, along with Aronia x prunifolia and Vaccinium angustifolium. Herbaceous species include the dominants Andropogon gerardii and Panicum virgatum, as well as Bartonia virginica, Osmunda regalis, Parthenium integrifolium, Pedicularis canadensis, and Viola lanceolata (White and Madany 1978, Steffen and Anderson 1997).

Dynamics:  Fires may have been necessary to maintain open shrub prairie conditions. Many prairie remnants contain patchy shrub prairie thickets, but it is not clear if these have increased due to fire suppression.
Environmental Description:  Stands occur in depressions of glacial lakeplains.
Geographic Range: This community is found in the central midwestern United States in northeastern Illinois.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  IL, IN


Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1Q

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass S44 2.C
Formation 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation F013 2.C.4
Division 2.C.4.Nd Eastern North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D323 2.C.4.Nd
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nd.2 Broadleaf Cattail - White Snakeroot - Rush species Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Macrogroup M069 2.C.4.Nd.2
Group 2.C.4.Nd.2.e Prairie Cordgrass - Bluejoint - Sedge species Midwest Wet Prairie, Wet Meadow & Shrub Swamp Group G770 2.C.4.Nd.2.e
Alliance A4056 Big Bluestem - Panicum virgatum Wet Prairie Alliance A4056 2.C.4.Nd.2.e
Association CEGL005069 Steeplebush - Prairie Willow / Big Bluestem - Switchgrass Wet Shrubland CEGL005069 2.C.4.Nd.2.e
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Spiraea tomentosa - Salix humilis / Andropogon gerardii - Panicum virgatum Shrubland (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
< Shrub Prairie (White and Madany 1978)
Concept Author(s): J. White and M. Madany (1978)

Author of Description: J. White, M. Madany, D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 03-28-00
  • 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.).
  • Homoya, M. A., J. Aldrich, J. Bacone, L. Casebere, and T. Post. 1988. Indiana natural community classification. Indiana Natural Heritage Program, Indianapolis, IN. Unpublished manuscript.
  • Hop, K., S. Lubinski, J. Dieck, J. Drake, and S. Menard. 2009. National Park Service Vegetation Inventory Program: Indiana Dunes National Lakeshore, Indiana. USDI U.S. Geological Survey, La Crosse, WI, and NatureServe, St. Paul, MN. 312 pp.
  • Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
  • Steffen, J., and J. Anderson. 1997. Chicago Wilderness community classification system (draft). Chicago Wilderness Biodiversity Council, Chicago, IL.
  • White, J., and M. Madany. 1978. Classification of natural communities in Illinois. Pages 311-405 in: Natural Areas Inventory technical report: Volume I, survey methods and results. Illinois Natural Areas Inventory, Urbana, IL.