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CEGL004721 Schizachyrium scoparium - Sorghastrum nutans Jackson Prairie Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Indiangrass Jackson Prairie Grassland
Colloquial Name: Louisiana Jackson Prairie Calcareous Grassland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This upland herbaceous community is characterized by treeless openings dominated by perennial grasses, composites, and legumes, with scattered clumps of shrubby vegetation. These floristically diverse areas are typically less than 1-8 hectares in size and occur within a calcareous forest matrix. The community develops on ridgetops and upper slopes on exposures of marine-derived calcareous clays associated with the Jackson Formation in the local landscape. These clays are well-drained, slowly permeable, and alkaline (pH 7.5-8.0). They have calcareous concretions, gypsum (selenite) crystals and high shrink-swell properties. Numerous types of marine fossils are present in some local exposures (especially at Copenhagen Prairie). Moisture regimes are typically dry to dry-mesic. The combination of periodic fire, high soil pH and extreme physical soil properties are thought to be important in maintaining this community in a landscape otherwise dominated by forests (at least historically). This community occurs in central Louisiana and is known mainly from Caldwell Parish (Copenhagen Prairie) but also is known from northern Grant Parish (including the historic Tancock Prairie) and Sabine Parish. Grasses include Schizachyrium scoparium, Andropogon gerardii, Danthonia spicata, Sporobolus spp., Bouteloua curtipendula (rarely), Paspalum floridanum and Sorghastrum nutans. Characteristic forbs include Dalea candida, Ruellia humilis, Desmanthus illinoensis, Koeleria macrantha, Silphium integrifolium, Arnoglossum plantagineum, Asclepias tuberosa, Baptisia nuttalliana, Callirhoe papaver, Coreopsis lanceolata, Gaillardia aestivalis, Houstonia purpurea var. calycosa, Brickellia eupatorioides, Manfreda virginica, Neptunia lutea, Salvia lyrata, Echinacea purpurea, Delphinium carolinianum, Ratibida pinnata, and others.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is closely related to ~Schizachyrium scoparium - Sorghastrum nutans - Dalea purpurea - Silphium integrifolium Jackson Prairie Grassland (CEGL004020)$$ (Jackson Prairie of Mississippi) and ~Schizachyrium scoparium - Panicum flexile - Carex microdonta Grassland (CEGL004021)$$ (Cook Mountain Prairie); additional information is needed to clarify their relationship.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Grasses in stands of this association include Schizachyrium scoparium, Andropogon gerardii, Danthonia spicata, Sporobolus spp., Bouteloua curtipendula (rarely), Koeleria macrantha, Paspalum floridanum, and Sorghastrum nutans. Characteristic forbs include Dalea candida, Ruellia humilis, Desmanthus illinoensis, Silphium integrifolium, Arnoglossum plantagineum, Asclepias tuberosa, Baptisia nuttalliana, Callirhoe papaver, Coreopsis lanceolata, Gaillardia aestivalis, Houstonia purpurea var. calycosa (= Hedyotis purpurea var. calycosa), Brickellia eupatorioides (= Kuhnia eupatorioides), Manfreda virginica, Neptunia lutea, Salvia lyrata, Echinacea purpurea, Delphinium carolinianum, Ratibida pinnata, and others.
Dynamics: The combination of periodic fire, high soil pH and extreme physical soil properties are thought to be important in maintaining this community in a landscape otherwise dominated by forests (at least historically).
Environmental Description: The community develops on ridgetops and upper slopes on exposures of marine-derived calcareous clays associated with the Jackson Formation in the local landscape. These clays are well-drained, slowly permeable, and alkaline (pH 7.5-8.0). They have calcareous concretions, gypsum (selenite) crystals and high shrink-swell properties. Numerous types of marine fossils are present in some local exposures (especially at Copenhagen Prairie). Moisture regimes are typically dry to dry-mesic.
Geographic Range: This community occurs in central Louisiana and is known mainly from Caldwell Parish (Copenhagen Prairie), but also is known from northern Grant Parish (including the historic Tancock Prairie) and Sabine Parish.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: LA
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688454
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1
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.Nh Southeastern North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D102 | 2.B.2.Nh |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nh.2 Southeastern Coastal Plain Patch Prairie Macrogroup | M309 | 2.B.2.Nh.2 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nh.2.a Little Bluestem - Switchgrass - Bushy Bluestem Patch Prairie Group | G175 | 2.B.2.Nh.2.a |
| Alliance | A3318 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass Coastal Plain Prairie Alliance | A3318 | 2.B.2.Nh.2.a |
| Association | CEGL004721 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass Jackson Prairie Grassland | CEGL004721 | 2.B.2.Nh.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Jackson Calcareous Prairie (Martin and Smith 1991)
- 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]
- Martin, D. L., and L. M. Smith. 1991. A survey and description of the natural plant communities of the Kisatchie National Forest, Winn and Kisatchie districts. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Baton Rouge, LA. 372 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.