Print Report

CEGL001464 Andropogon gerardii - Sorghastrum nutans West-Central Plains Grassland

Type Concept Sentence: This tallgrass moist riparian prairie is found in the west-central Great Plains of the United States from Nebraska to Texas. The vegetation is dominated by tall grasses, particularly Andropogon gerardii and Sorghastrum nutans.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Big Bluestem - Indiangrass West-Central Plains Grassland

Colloquial Name: West-Central Plains Big Bluestem - Indiangrass Prairie

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This big bluestem prairie is a tallgrass, moist prairie type found in the west-central Great Plains of the United States. Stands occur in riparian areas and low-lying swales on the more western plains and are less riparian-dependent in the central plains as the amount of annual rainfall increases. This mesic prairie association is able to survive along the foothills because the cobbly soils are able to retain adequate moisture. The vegetation is dominated by tall grasses, particularly Andropogon gerardii and Sorghastrum nutans. Other grasses include Panicum virgatum, Pascopyrum smithii and Sporobolus cryptandrus. Forbs may include Desmanthus illinoensis and Glycyrrhiza lepidota.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This type occurs as isolated stands in the west-central to southern Great Plains, but it is less likely to be recognized as a distinct type in Nebraska or Kansas. Ecologists there just don''t get as excited by the presence of Andropogon gerardii in an otherwise mixedgrass or shortgrass prairie setting. Andropogon gerardii dominance fluctuates with climatic and grazing conditions, and few other indicators appear to be available in those states to help define a type.

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

Floristics: The vegetation is dominated by tall grasses, particularly Andropogon gerardii and Sorghastrum nutans. Other grasses include Panicum virgatum, Pascopyrum smithii and Sporobolus cryptandrus. Forbs may include Desmanthus illinoensis and Glycyrrhiza lepidota (Lauver et al. 1999).

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  Stands occur in valley bottoms and terraces along larger streams and rivers. Soils are deep, somewhat poorly drained loam to sandy loams found in alluvium. Stands require subirrigated soils to persist. It occurs along floodplains of perennial rivers on the plains, or, less frequently, on cobbly loam soils along the Colorado foothills. It also occurs on basalt outcrops in the southeastern portion of the state. This mesic prairie association is able to survive along the foothills because the cobbly soils are able to retain adequate moisture.
Geographic Range: This big bluestem prairie is a tallgrass, wet meadow found in the west-central Great Plains of the United States from Colorado and Nebraska to Oklahoma and Texas.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  CO, KS, NE, OK, TX


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2

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.a Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama - Western Wheatgrass Mixedgrass Prairie Group G133 2.B.2.Nb.2.a
Alliance A4677 Big Bluestem Central Mixedgrass Grassland Alliance A4677 2.B.2.Nb.2.a
Association CEGL001464 Big Bluestem - Indiangrass West-Central Plains Grassland CEGL001464 2.B.2.Nb.2.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Andropogon gerardii - Sorghastrum nutans - (Spartina pectinata) Herbaceous Vegetation (Carsey et al. 2003a)
= Andropogon gerardii - Sorghastrum nutans Western Great Plains Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Andropogon gerardii-Sorghastrum nutans (Kittel et al. 1999b)
= Big bluestem-Indian grass (Andropogon gerardii-Sorghastrum nutans) Plant Association (Kittel et al. 1997a)
< Tallgrass Prairie (Steinauer and Rolfsmeier 2003)
Concept Author(s): D. Clark

Author of Description: D. Clark, D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 11-26-97
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