Print Report
CEGL005204 Schizachyrium scoparium - Hesperostipa spartea - Bouteloua (curtipendula, gracilis) Sand Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Porcupine Grass - (Sideoats Grama, Blue Grama) Sand Grassland
Colloquial Name: Little Bluestem - Porcupine Grass - Grama Sand Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This dry sand prairie or barrens is found in the northern tallgrass region of the midwestern United States. Stands are located on glacial outwash and post-glacial lake dunes, including low dunes in swales. Soils are deep coarse sands, with low nutrient levels, low levels of organic matter, and poor water-retaining capacity. The vegetation structure can be somewhat open, sometimes less than 50% cover. The major graminoid species include Bouteloua gracilis, Bouteloua hirsuta, Calamovilfa longifolia, Carex siccata, Carex inops ssp. heliophila, Cyperus schweinitzii, Koeleria macrantha, Schizachyrium scoparium, Sporobolus cryptandrus, and Hesperostipa spartea. Other graminoids that may be present include Bouteloua curtipendula, Panicum virgatum, and Sorghastrum nutans (in wetter years). Characteristic forbs include Antennaria plantaginifolia, Ambrosia psilostachya, Dalea villosa, and less commonly Penstemon grandiflorus. Shrubs are sparsely distributed in this type. Species include Artemisia frigida, Amorpha canescens, Prunus pumila, Rosa arkansana, and Salix humilis. Diagnostic characteristics include sand-preferring species, such as Sporobolus cryptandrus, Carex inops ssp. heliophila, Cyperus schweinitzii, and Dalea villosa.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This sand prairie type extends to the Sheyenne Delta. It has a parallel distribution with the sand savanna type, ~Quercus macrocarpa - (Quercus ellipsoidalis) / Schizachyrium scoparium - Koeleria macrantha Wooded Grassland (CEGL002160)$$. The absence of Lithospermum caroliniense may be a diagnostic character separating this type from ~Schizachyrium scoparium - Danthonia spicata - Carex pensylvanica - (Viola pedata) Sand Grassland (CEGL002318)$$ or ~Schizachyrium scoparium - Carex muehlenbergii - Lithospermum caroliniense - Opuntia humifusa Sand Grassland (CEGL005099)$$. Hudsonia tomentosa is also more common in CEGL002318.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The vegetation structure can be somewhat open, sometimes less than 50% cover. The major graminoid species include Bouteloua gracilis, Bouteloua hirsuta, Calamovilfa longifolia, Carex siccata (= Carex foenea), Carex inops ssp. heliophila (= Carex heliophila), Cyperus schweinitzii, Koeleria macrantha, Schizachyrium scoparium, Sporobolus cryptandrus, and Hesperostipa spartea (= Stipa spartea). Other graminoids that may be present include Bouteloua curtipendula, Panicum virgatum, and Sorghastrum nutans (in wetter years). Characteristic forbs include Antennaria plantaginifolia, Ambrosia psilostachya (= Ambrosia coronopifolia), Dalea villosa (= Petalostemon villosus), and less commonly Penstemon grandiflorus. Shrubs are sparsely distributed in this type. Species include Artemisia frigida, Amorpha canescens, Prunus pumila, Rosa arkansana, and Salix humilis (MNNHP 1993).
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands are located on glacial outwash and post-glacial lake dunes, including on low dunes in swales. Soils are deep, coarse sands, with low nutrient levels, low levels of organic matter, and poor water-retaining capacity. In Minnesota, the type occurs on ''dune blankets,'' such as is found on Agassiz Dunes and Skull Lake Dunes (MNNHP 1993).
Geographic Range: This dry sand prairie or barrens is found in the northern tallgrass region of the midwestern United States, particularly western Minnesota and North Dakota.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: MN, ND
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689091
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 | CEGL005204 Little Bluestem - Porcupine Grass - (Sideoats Grama, Blue Grama) Sand Grassland | CEGL005204 | 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 - Hesperostipa spartea - Bouteloua (curtipendula, gracilis) Sand Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
- 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.
- NDNHI [North Dakota Natural Heritage Inventory]. 2018. Unpublished data. Vegetation classification of North Dakota. North Dakota Natural Heritage Inventory, North Dakota Parks & Recreation Department, Bismarck.