Print Report
CEGL004970 Panicum amarum - Paspalum monostachyum Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bitter Panicgrass - Gulfdune Crowngrass Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is a coastal dune grassland community of the upper coast of Texas and adjacent areas of coastal Louisiana dominated by Panicum amarum and Paspalum monostachyum. Further east, where such communities occur within the range of Schizachyrium maritimum, these grasses are not often dominant. Scattered shrubs and forbs are typically present. In addition to the nominal species, other components include Spartina patens, Paspalum vaginatum, Sporobolus virginicus, Oenothera drummondii, Strophostyles helvola, Solidago sempervirens, Croton punctatus, Hydrocotyle bonariensis, Sabatia arenicola, Ipomoea pes-caprae, Ipomoea imperati, Gaillardia pulchella, Phyla nodiflora, Eleocharis albida, Juncus bufonius, Sisyrinchium biforme, Heterotheca subaxillaris, Astragalus nuttallianus, Pediomelum rhombifolium, Dalea emarginata, and others.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: In Texas, this community replaces ~Uniola paniculata - (Panicum amarum) - Croton punctatus Grassland (CEGL002218)$$ on partially stabilized dunes of the coastal barrier islands and patches of mainland Gulf shoreline along the upper Texas coast (Diamond 1993).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: In addition to Panicum amarum and Paspalum monostachyum, other components include Spartina patens, Paspalum vaginatum, Sporobolus virginicus, Oenothera drummondii, Strophostyles helvola, Solidago sempervirens, Croton punctatus, Hydrocotyle bonariensis, Sabatia arenicola, Ipomoea pes-caprae, Ipomoea imperati (= Ipomoea stolonifera), Gaillardia pulchella, Phyla nodiflora, Eleocharis albida, Juncus bufonius, Sisyrinchium biforme, Heterotheca subaxillaris, Astragalus nuttallianus, Pediomelum rhombifolium, Dalea emarginata, and others.
Dynamics: This community generally occurs on foredunes that receive the force of wind and salt spray but is beyond the influence of most tides. The effects of nearly continuous salt spray exclude most other species and maintain the vegetation type.
Environmental Description: This vegetation occurs on primary dunes, secondary dunes, and elevated backshore ridges of barrier islands along the coasts of Louisiana and Texas. The substrate is almost exclusively sandy, unstable, and droughty (Typic Quartzipsamments) with no soil profile development. Eolian processes cause active sand deposition and erosion. The sand substrate is usually visible, and litter accumulation from plant debris is nearly absent.
Geographic Range: This association is found on barrier islands and the coastal mainland of Texas and Louisiana.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: LA, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.687781
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3?
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.4 Temperate to Polar Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Formation | F005 | 2.B.4 |
| Division | 2.B.4.Na Eastern North American Coastal Scrub & Herb Vegetation Division | D026 | 2.B.4.Na |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.4.Na.2 American Beachgrass - Sea-oats - Seaside Goldenrod Dune & Grassland Macrogroup | M057 | 2.B.4.Na.2 |
| Group | 2.B.4.Na.2.a Wax-myrtle - Sea-oats - Shore Little Bluestem Dune & Grassland Group | G494 | 2.B.4.Na.2.a |
| Alliance | A1200 Shore Little Bluestem - Gulfdune Crowngrass - Bitter Panicgrass Texas Coastal Grassland Alliance | A1200 | 2.B.4.Na.2.a |
| Association | CEGL004970 Bitter Panicgrass - Gulfdune Crowngrass Grassland | CEGL004970 | 2.B.4.Na.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 pp.
- 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]
- Smith, L. M., and N. J. Craig. 1990. The natural communities of Louisiana. Revised edition. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Natural Heritage Program, Baton Rouge. 23 pp.
- Smith, Latimore M. Personal communication. Natural Heritage Program Ecologist. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Natural Heritage Program, Baton Rouge.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.