Print Report

CEGL007768 Schizachyrium scoparium - Sporobolus compositus - Fimbristylis puberula var. puberula Scrub Grassland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available


Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Tall Dropseed - Hairy Fimbry Scrub Grassland

Colloquial Name: Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain Dry Calcareous Blackland Prairie

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This dry blackland prairie community of the Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain of Arkansas typically occurs on dry ridges. Examples also occur on recovering eroded areas. The vegetation is typically short (60-90 cm [2-3 feet]) and somewhat sparse, with patches of bare ground present. Dominant species include Schizachyrium scoparium, Sporobolus compositus, and Fimbristylis puberula var. puberula. Other herbaceous species include Acacia angustissima, Agalinis skinneriana, Andropogon virginicus, Asclepias viridiflora, Asclepias viridis, Manfreda virginica (rarely), Coreopsis lanceolata, Croton capitatus, Croton monanthogynus, Dalea purpurea, Delphinium carolinianum ssp. virescens, Stenaria nigricans var. nigricans, Liatris squarrosa, Rudbeckia hirta (in places large clones covering 2-3 m2 perhaps the result of heavy grazing in the past), and Ruellia humilis. The bare soil is often covered with blue-green algae (Nostoc sp.). Occasional woody species include Sideroxylon lanuginosum, Diospyros virginiana, Fraxinus americana, Quercus muehlenbergii, and Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana which occur locally during periods of fire suppression or between severe droughts. Fire and edaphic factors (drought) play a role in limiting woody vegetation distribution in this community. Soils are calcareous alkaline clays with the high shrink-swell character of the Sumter and Demopolis series over deep calcareous substrates comprising marl, chalk, or broken limestone.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This prairie may grade into ~Quercus muehlenbergii - Quercus sinuata / Rhus aromatica / Liatris aspera - Allium canadense var. mobilense Woodland (CEGL007968)$$. This community has a limited distribution, and high-quality examples are rare. The highest quality examples of this community type exist at Terre Noire Natural Area. Additional large high-quality examples are located on the Keadle, Wood, Brewer, and Deltic Land and Timber tracts. Most blackland prairies in Arkansas do not contain this dry type. Usually dry-mesic examples occur on the ridgetops. It is possible that this rare community is an anthropogenic derivative of the extensive erosion that followed settlement of the blacklands.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available

Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: The vegetation of this dry blackland prairie community of the Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain of Arkansas is typically short (60-90 cm [2-3 feet]) and somewhat sparse, with patches of bare ground present. Dominant species in stands include Schizachyrium scoparium, Sporobolus compositus (= Sporobolus asper), and Fimbristylis puberula var. puberula. Other herbaceous species include Acacia angustissima, Agalinis skinneriana, Andropogon virginicus, Asclepias viridiflora, Asclepias viridis, Manfreda virginica (rarely), Coreopsis lanceolata, Croton capitatus, Croton monanthogynus, Dalea purpurea, Delphinium carolinianum ssp. virescens, Stenaria nigricans var. nigricans (= Hedyotis nigricans var. nigricans), Liatris squarrosa, Rudbeckia hirta (in places large clones covering 2-3 m2 perhaps the result of heavy grazing in the past), and Ruellia humilis. The bare soil is often covered with blue-green algae (Nostoc sp.). Occasional woody species include Sideroxylon lanuginosum (= Bumelia lanuginosa), Diospyros virginiana, Fraxinus americana, Quercus muehlenbergii, and Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, which occur locally during periods of fire suppression or between severe droughts. The Fimbristylis can be dominant in the spring with Sporobolus compositus or Schizachyrium scoparium dominant later in the year. Fimbristylis dominance may be a result of disturbance in the form of heavy grazing earlier in the century, but this is speculation. In general, Schizachyrium scoparium is dominates, but Sporobolus compositus dominates in some prairie openings.

Dynamics:  Fire and edaphic factors (drought) play a role in limiting woody vegetation distribution in this community. Stands of this community can become shrubby with fire suppression, although encroachment of woody vegetation is not as rapid as in the other blackland prairie community types. It is believed that droughty conditions inhibit growth of woody species. In addition, fine fuel accumulates relatively slowly. There is insufficient fuel present after a single growing season to implement a "complete" prescribed burn.

Environmental Description:  Soils are calcareous alkaline clays with the high shrink-swell character of the Sumter and Demopolis series over deep calcareous substrates comprising marl, chalk, or broken limestone (D. Zollner pers. comm. 2001).

Geographic Range: This dry blackland prairie community occurs in the Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain of Arkansas.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AR, LA?, OK?, TX?




Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available

Grank: G1G2

Greasons: No Data Available


Concept Lineage: merged

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available

Synonomy: = Schizachyrium scoparium - Sporobolus compositus - Fimbristylis puberula var. puberula Wooded Herbaceous Vegetation (Zollner et al. 1993)

Concept Author(s): Zollner et al. (1993)

Author of Description: S. Simon and D. Zollner

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 08-06-98

  • Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
  • Zollner, D., S. Simon, and T. Foti. 1993. A plant community classification for Arkansas''s Blackland Prairie ecosystem. In: E. Peacock and T. Schauwecker, editors. Blackland prairies of the Gulf Coastal Plain: Nature, culture, and sustainability. University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa.
  • Zollner, D., S. Simon, and T. Foti. 2003. A plant community classification for Arkansas''s Blackland Prairie ecosystem. Pages 110-145 in: E. Peacock and T. Schauwecker, editors. Blackland prairies of the Gulf Coastal Plain: Nature, culture and sustainability. University of Alabama Press, Tuscaloosa.
  • Zollner, Douglas. Personal communication. Ecologist, The Nature Conservancy, Arkansas Field Office, Little Rock.