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CEGL002377 Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula - Hesperostipa spartea - (Pascopyrum smithii) Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama - Porcupine Grass - (Western Wheatgrass) Grassland
Colloquial Name: Little Bluestem - Porcupine Grass Dry-Mesic Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This little bluestem dry-mesic prairie grassland community is found in the northern tallgrass prairie region of the United States. Stands occur on rocky, loamy south-facing slopes, with inclines ranging from 20-30°. The vegetation, consisting of grasses and forbs averaging 25-50 cm tall, is moderately open with approximately 5-15% of the ground remaining bare. The most abundant species are Schizachyrium scoparium, Andropogon gerardii, Bouteloua curtipendula, Pascopyrum smithii, and Hesperostipa spartea. Other typical grasses include Elymus canadensis, Aristida purpurea var. longiseta, Bouteloua dactyloides, Calamovilfa longifolia, and Sporobolus heterolepis. Common forbs include Amorpha canescens, Oligoneuron rigidum, Ambrosia psilostachya, Echinacea angustifolia, Dalea candida var. candida, Asteraceae spp., Mimosa nuttallii, Penstemon grandiflorus, Ratibida columnifera, Astragalus crassicarpus, Anemone cylindrica, Machaeranthera pinnatifida, Dalea candida var. oligophylla, Gaura coccinea, and Asclepias verticillata. The shrubs Symphoricarpos occidentalis, Yucca glauca, and Rosa spp. may be scattered among the herbaceous species.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type does not appear to occur in the North Dakota Sheyenne Grassland region.. Heavily grazed stands may resemble sand-gravel prairie, ~Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua spp. - Hesperostipa spartea Gravel Grassland (CEGL002499)$$.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The vegetation of this community consists of grasses and forbs averaging 23 cm tall. It is moderately open with approximately 15% of the ground remaining bare. The most abundant species are Schizachyrium scoparium, Bouteloua curtipendula, Andropogon gerardii, Pascopyrum smithii, and Hesperostipa spartea (= Stipa spartea). Other typical grasses include Elymus canadensis, Aristida purpurea var. longiseta (= Aristida longiseta), Bouteloua dactyloides (= Buchloe dactyloides), Calamovilfa longifolia, and Sporobolus heterolepis. Common forbs include Amorpha canescens, Oligoneuron rigidum (= Solidago rigida), Ambrosia psilostachya, Echinacea angustifolia, Dalea candida (= Petalostemon candidum), Asteraceae spp., Mimosa nuttallii (= Schrankia nuttallii), Penstemon grandiflorus, Ratibida columnifera, Astragalus crassicarpus, Anemone cylindrica, Machaeranthera pinnatifida (= Haplopappus spinulosus), Dalea candida var. oligophylla (= Petalostemon occidentalis), Gaura coccinea, and Asclepias verticillata. The shrubs Symphoricarpos occidentalis, Yucca glauca, and Rosa spp. may be scattered among the herbaceous species (MNNHP 1993).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This community is found on rocky, loamy south-facing slopes with inclines ranging from 20-30°. Depending on slope position, angle, and aspect, as well as soil type, conditions vary from dry to dry-mesic. Stands occur on valley sideslopes of glacial till and steeper slopes of moraines. Soils are Mollisols, but with shallower organic-rich horizons. Soil textures vary from clay loam to sandy loam. Cobbles and boulders are common and gravelly inclusions may also be present. Soils are excessively drained to well-drained (MNNHP 1993).
Geographic Range: This little bluestem dry-mesic prairie grassland community is found in the northern tallgrass prairie region of the United States, ranging from western Minnesota to the Dakotas and Iowa.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: IA, MN, ND, SD
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688165
Confidence Level: Low
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.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.1 Big Bluestem - Indiangrass - Dense Blazingstar Tallgrass Prairie Macrogroup | M054 | 2.B.2.Nb.1 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nb.1.d Big Bluestem - Prairie Dropseed - Porcupine Grass Tallgrass Prairie Group | G075 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.d |
| Alliance | A4019 Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama Northern Grassland Alliance | A4019 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.d |
| Association | CEGL002377 Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama - Porcupine Grass - (Western Wheatgrass) Grassland | CEGL002377 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula - Hesperostipa spartea - (Pascopyrum smithii) Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
- 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.).
- INAI [Iowa Natural Areas Inventory]. 2017. Vegetation classification of Iowa. Iowa Natural Areas Inventory, Iowa Department of Natural Resources, Des Moines.
- Keys, J. E., Jr., C. A. Carpenter, S. L. Hooks, F. G. Koenig, W. H. McNab, W. E. Russell, and M-L. Smith. 1995. Ecological units of the eastern United States - first approximation (map and booklet of map unit tables). Presentation scale 1:3,500,000, colored. USDA Forest Service, Atlanta, GA.
- MNNHP [Minnesota Natural Heritage Program]. 1993. Minnesota''s native vegetation: A key to natural communities. Version 1.5. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, Natural Heritage Program, St. Paul, MN. 110 pp.
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- Minnesota DNR [Minnesota Department of Natural Resources]. 2003-2005a. Field guide to the native plant communities of Minnesota. Three volumes: The Laurentian Mixed Forest Province (2003), The Eastern Broadleaf Forest Province (2005c), The Prairie Parkland and Tallgrass Aspen Parklands provinces (2005b). Ecological Land Classification Program, Minnesota County Biological Survey, and Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Program. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul.
- Minnesota DNR [Minnesota Department of Natural Resources]. 2005b. Field guide to the native plant communities of Minnesota: The Prairie Parkland and Tallgrass Aspen Parklands provinces. Ecological Land Classification Program, Minnesota County Biological Survey, and Natural Heritage and Nongame Research Program. Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul.
- NDNHI [North Dakota Natural Heritage Inventory]. 2018. Unpublished data. Vegetation classification of North Dakota. North Dakota Natural Heritage Inventory, North Dakota Parks & Recreation Department, Bismarck.
- SDNHP [South Dakota Natural Heritage Program]. 2018. Unpublished data. South Dakota Natural Heritage Program, Pierre, SD.