Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: Stands of this community are dominated by Andropogon virginicus var. virginicus, sometimes codominant with Schedonorus pratensis (= Festuca pratensis). Associated species vary with geography and habitat and include typical pioneer species. Species with high cover values in plot samples attributed to this type include Tridens flavus, Setaria parviflora (= Setaria geniculata), Eragrostis spectabilis, and Panicum anceps (NatureServe Ecology unpubl. data). On the eastern Highland Rim of Tennessee (Arnold Air Force Base), associated species include Diodia teres, Aristida dichotoma, Aristida oligantha, Packera anonyma (= Senecio anonymus), Paspalum laeve, Lespedeza virginica, and Plantago virginica. Rubus argutus and Smilax spp. may be locally abundant but are not dominant. In clearcuts, Schizachyrium scoparium, Danthonia spicata, and Dichanthelium spp. are also common, as are occasional Quercus spp. and Rubus argutus. The plot at Shiloh National Military Park (western Tennessee) was a mowed field of mostly native species, dominated by Andropogon virginicus var. virginicus. Paspalum setaceum and Tridens flavus were codominant (with less cover). Other herbaceous plants with high cover values were Setaria parviflora (= Setaria geniculata), Diodia teres, Schizachyrium scoparium, and less common were Packera anonyma, Sorghum halepense, and Cyperus retrorsus. At less than 1% cover were Polypremum procumbens, Oxalis stricta, Eragrostis spectabilis, Salvia lyrata, Solanum carolinense, Digitaria sanguinalis, Panicum anceps, Croton michauxii var. ellipticus (= Crotonopsis elliptica), Trifolium pratense, Kummerowia striata, Coreopsis pubescens, Plantago lanceolata, and Mecardonia acuminata. At only a trace amount of cover were Conyza canadensis, Acalypha virginica, Solidago sp., Erigeron annuus, Sida spinosa, Hypericum drummondii, Polygala verticillata, Eupatorium capillifolium, Passiflora incarnata, and Asclepias amplexicaulis. In West Virginia, common associates include Sorghastrum nutans, Dichanthelium clandestinum, Anthoxanthum odoratum, Phleum pratense, Dactylis glomerata, Daucus carota, Lotus corniculatus, Trifolium pratense, Leucanthemum vulgare, Solidago canadensis, Solidago rugosa, and Solidago nemoralis.

Dynamics:  This association may develop temporarily following clear-cutting, and will persist indefinitely under a regular mowing regime, e.g., in powerline corridors and maintained fields. If undisturbed, these grasslands will rapidly succeed to shrubs, and eventually to tree species.