Print Report
CEGL005284 Quercus muehlenbergii / Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula Wooded Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Chinquapin Oak / Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama Wooded Grassland
Colloquial Name: Chinquapin Oak Limestone - Dolomite Savanna
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This oak savanna (or barrens) on limestone and dolostone is found in the Ozark region of the United States. Stands occur on moderately steep to steep upper slopes of hills, ridges, and plains, and on steep slopes and bluffs along streams and rivers. Aspect can be in any direction. Soils are rapidly drained to well-drained, and very shallow to shallow (0-100 cm). The parent material is limestone, cherty limestone, or dolomite with bedrock at or near the surface. The tree canopy is very open, sometimes somewhat stunted or limby, and occasionally complex in pattern due to the bedrock influence. Typical tree canopy species include Quercus muehlenbergii, Fraxinus americana, and Juniperus virginiana. Shrubs may include Rhus aromatica, Frangula caroliniana, Crataegus spp., or more rarely, Cotinus obovatus. Dominant ground layer species include Schizachyrium scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans, and Bouteloua curtipendula. Other characteristic species include Astragalus crassicarpus var. berlandieri, Galium arkansanum, Ophioglossum engelmannii, Polygala senega, Smilax bona-nox, and, in more western stands of the Springfield Plateau, Astragalus distortus, Berlandiera betonicifolia, and Erysimum capitatum.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The concept of this type is taken in part from the Missouri state type Limestone/Dolomite Savanna (Nelson 1985). Juniperus virginiana increases without fire, and its relative dominance in this type can be variable. Woodland stands are tracked as ~Quercus muehlenbergii - Fraxinus (quadrangulata, americana) / Schizachyrium scoparium Woodland (CEGL002143)$$. Closed forest chinquapin oak - red-cedar stands are tracked as a fire-suppressed phase of ~Quercus muehlenbergii - Fraxinus (quadrangulata, americana) / Schizachyrium scoparium Woodland (CEGL002143)$$. Pure red-cedar woodlands are treated as a distinct type where they occur along the bluffs of cliffs, ~Juniperus virginiana Alkaline Bluff Woodland (CEGL002426)$$. There may be no need in the Ozarks for an association-level distinction between savanna (this type) and woodland (CEGL002143) stands, but this decision should be reviewed in conjunction with the savanna and woodland distinction on acid substrates [see ~Quercus stellata - Quercus marilandica / Schizachyrium scoparium Wooded Grassland (CEGL002391)$$ and ~Quercus stellata - Quercus marilandica - Quercus velutina - Carya texana / Schizachyrium scoparium Woodland (CEGL002149)$$].
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The tree canopy is open, sometimes somewhat stunted or limby, and occasionally complex in pattern due to the bedrock influence. Typical tree canopy species include Quercus muehlenbergii, Fraxinus americana, and Juniperus virginiana. Shrubs may include Rhus aromatica, Frangula caroliniana (= Rhamnus caroliniana), Crataegus spp., or more rarely, Cotinus obovatus. Dominant ground layer species include Schizachyrium scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans, and Bouteloua curtipendula. Other characteristic species include Astragalus crassicarpus var. berlandieri (= Astragalus mexicanus), Galium arkansanum, Ophioglossum engelmannii, Polygala senega, Smilax bona-nox, and, in more western stands of the Springfield Plateau, Astragalus distortus, Berlandiera betonicifolia (= Berlandiera texana), and Erysimum capitatum (Nelson 1985).
Dynamics: Stands are influenced by a combination of periodic drought stress, wind and storm damage, and occasional fire. Fire effects can be irregular because of the complexities of exposed bedrock (Nelson 1985).
Environmental Description: Stands occur on moderately steep to steep upper slopes of hills, ridges, and plains, and on steep slopes and bluffs along streams and rivers. Aspect can be in any direction. Soils are rapidly drained to well-drained, and very shallow to shallow (0-100 cm). The parent material is limestone, cherty limestone, or dolomite with bedrock at or near the surface (Nelson 1985).
Geographic Range: This thin soil alkaline bedrock savanna type is found in the Ozarks region of the United States.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: MO
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688446
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2G3
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.Nc Eastern North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D024 | 2.B.2.Nc |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nc.3 Little Bluestem - Dropseed species Central Interior Calcareous Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup | M508 | 2.B.2.Nc.3 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nc.3.b Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama - Diamond-flowers Central Glade & Barrens Group | G179 | 2.B.2.Nc.3.b |
| Alliance | A1919 Eastern Red-cedar / Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama Alkaline Bedrock Scrub Grassland Alliance | A1919 | 2.B.2.Nc.3.b |
| Association | CEGL005284 Chinquapin Oak / Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama Wooded Grassland | CEGL005284 | 2.B.2.Nc.3.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Quercus muehlenbergii / Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula Wooded Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
= Limestone/Dolomite Savanna (Nelson 2005)
= Limestone/Dolomite Savanna (Nelson 2005)
- 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.).
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- Nelson, P. 2005. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Third edition. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Conservation, Jefferson City, MO. 550 pp.
- Nelson, P. 2010. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Revised edition. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Department of Natural Resources and the Department of Conservation, Jefferson City.
- Nelson, P. W. 1985. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Jefferson City. 197 pp. Revised edition, 1987.