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CEGL002499 Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua spp. - Hesperostipa spartea Gravel Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Grama species - Porcupine Grass Gravel Grassland
Colloquial Name: Northern Little Bluestem Gravel Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This little bluestem gravel prairie community type is found in the northern tallgrass prairie region of the United States and possibly adjacent Canada. Stands occur on gently to steeply sloping sites on glacial outwash, glacial beaches, or other glacial features that have a high proportion of sand and gravel, such as kames and eskers. Soils are often Mollisols but not deep, and they contain fine to coarse gravel, sand, and often larger rocks. Soil moisture is typically low due to the well- to excessively drained nature of the soils. This community is a grassland dominated by midgrasses. Dominants are Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua gracilis, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Hesperostipa spartea. Other common graminoids include Andropogon gerardii, Bouteloua hirsuta, Calamovilfa longifolia, Carex inops ssp. heliophila, Sporobolus heterolepis, and Hesperostipa comata. Forb diversity is moderate to high. Typical examples include Artemisia frigida, Astragalus laxmannii var. robustior, Echinacea angustifolia, Lygodesmia juncea, Potentilla pensylvanica, and Solidago missouriensis. Shrubs are absent to widely scattered. Those present may include Amorpha canescens, Rosa arkansana, and Symphoricarpos occidentalis. Lichens and mosses often occur on bare soil and gravel.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This type is based on the concept of the Minnesota sand-gravel prairie state subtypes (MNNHP 1993). It needs review from North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, and Manitoba. In Iowa, the Gravel Prairieis linked to the more eastern gravel hill prairies, ~Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula Gravel Grassland (CEGL002215)$$, but it may better fit with this type. Gravel prairies in the central tallgrass prairie region (CEGL002215) typically lack Bouteloua gracilis compared to the gravel prairies in the northern tallgrass prairie region (R. Dana pers. comm. 1999).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This community is a grassland dominated by midgrasses. Dominants are Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua gracilis, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Hesperostipa spartea (= Stipa spartea). Other common graminoids include Andropogon gerardii, Bouteloua hirsuta, Calamovilfa longifolia, Carex inops ssp. heliophila, Sporobolus heterolepis, and Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata). Forb diversity is moderate to high. Typical examples include Artemisia frigida, Astragalus laxmannii var. robustior (= Astragalus adsurgens ssp. robustior), Echinacea angustifolia, Lygodesmia juncea, Potentilla pensylvanica, and Solidago missouriensis. Shrubs are absent to widely scattered. Those present may include Amorpha canescens, Rosa arkansana, and Symphoricarpos occidentalis. Lichens and mosses often occur on bare soil and gravel (MNNHP 1993).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This community is found on gently to steeply sloping sites on glacial outwash, glacial beaches, or other glacial features that have a high proportion of sand and gravel, such as kames and eskers. Soils are often Mollisols but not deep, and they contain fine to coarse gravel, sand, and often larger rocks (MNNHP 1993). Soil moisture is typically low due to the well- to excessively drained nature of the soils.
Geographic Range: This bluestem gravel prairie community type is found in the northern tallgrass prairie region of the United States and possibly adjacent Canada, ranging from southwest Minnesota and the Dakotas, and possibly Manitoba.
Nations: CA?,US
States/Provinces: MN, ND, SD
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.688914
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.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 | CEGL002499 Little Bluestem - Grama species - Porcupine Grass Gravel Grassland | CEGL002499 | 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 spp. - Hesperostipa spartea Gravel Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
> Dry Prairie (Northwest Section) Sand - Gravel Subtype (MNNHP 1993)
> Dry Prairie (Southwest Section) Sand - Gravel Subtype (MNNHP 1993)
> Dry Prairie (Northwest Section) Sand - Gravel Subtype (MNNHP 1993)
> Dry Prairie (Southwest Section) Sand - Gravel Subtype (MNNHP 1993)
- 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.).
- 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.