Print Report
CEGL005179 Schizachyrium scoparium - Sorghastrum nutans - Clinopodium arkansanum Limestone Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: This primarily dry-mesic grassland community is found on thin soils over limestone or dolomite in the northern prairie-forest border region of the midwestern United States, particularly in Illinois and Ohio.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Limestone Calamint Limestone Grassland
Colloquial Name: North-Central Dry-Mesic Limestone - Dolomite Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This primarily dry-mesic grassland community is found on thin soils over limestone or dolomite in the northern prairie-forest border region of the midwestern United States, particularly in Illinois and Ohio. Stands occur on gentle to moderately steep slopes of rolling hills and plains. The soil is typically well-drained, shallow to moderately deep (40-100 cm), neutral to slightly alkaline, stony, and formed over dolomite or limestone. Bedrock outcrops may be present. The vegetation in this community is typically medium dense and dominated by a combination of mid- and tallgrasses. Schizachyrium scoparium and Sorghastrum nutans are the most abundant grasses, and Andropogon gerardii and Hesperostipa spartea are common associates. Other frequently occurring herbaceous species include Asclepias tuberosa, Carex meadii, Camassia scilloides, Desmanthus illinoensis, Dodecatheon meadia, Echinacea pallida, Eleocharis compressa, Galium boreale, Lithospermum canescens, Dalea purpurea, and Clinopodium arkansanum. Woody species, such as Cornus foemina and Juniperus virginiana, are sometimes found, especially where fire has not occurred for long periods.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The concept of this type is based on Illinois state types Dry-Mesic Dolomite Prairie and Mesic Dolomite Prairie (White and Madany 1978), who note that deep-soil prairie species, such as Baptisia alba var. macrophylla (= Baptisia leucantha), Baptisia bracteata var. leucophaea (= Baptisia leucophaea), Silphium laciniatum, and Silphium terebinthinaceum, are absent from these bedrock-influenced prairies. In Ohio this type may be in Adams County, but see ~Juniperus virginiana / Schizachyrium scoparium - Silphium terebinthinaceum var. luciae-brauniae - Carex juniperorum - Castilleja coccinea Wooded Grassland (CEGL004464)$$.
A possible southwestern subtype in Missouri contains Nothocalais cuspidata, Baptisia australis, Nemastylis geminiflora, Psoralidium tenuiflorum, and Tradescantia bracteata. A possible northeastern subtype in Illinois, Ohio, and New York contains Asclepias tuberosa, Galium boreale, and Dalea foliosa. Braun (1928) found Manfreda virginica to be abundant in southern Ohio. In New York, Reschke (1990) reports Anemone cylindrica, Asclepias tuberosa, Symphyotrichum ericoides, Desmodium glabellum, Desmodium paniculatum, Monarda fistulosa, Rudbeckia hirta, and Solidago juncea.
A possible southwestern subtype in Missouri contains Nothocalais cuspidata, Baptisia australis, Nemastylis geminiflora, Psoralidium tenuiflorum, and Tradescantia bracteata. A possible northeastern subtype in Illinois, Ohio, and New York contains Asclepias tuberosa, Galium boreale, and Dalea foliosa. Braun (1928) found Manfreda virginica to be abundant in southern Ohio. In New York, Reschke (1990) reports Anemone cylindrica, Asclepias tuberosa, Symphyotrichum ericoides, Desmodium glabellum, Desmodium paniculatum, Monarda fistulosa, Rudbeckia hirta, and Solidago juncea.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: The vegetation in this community is typically medium dense and dominated by a combination of mid- and tallgrasses. Schizachyrium scoparium and Sorghastrum nutans are the most abundant grasses. Andropogon gerardii and Hesperostipa spartea (= Stipa spartea) may also be present. Other frequently occurring herbaceous species include Asclepias tuberosa, Carex meadii, Camassia scilloides, Desmanthus illinoensis, Dodecatheon meadia, Echinacea pallida, Eleocharis compressa, Galium boreale, Lithospermum canescens, Dalea purpurea (= Petalostemon purpureus), and Clinopodium arkansanum (= Satureja arkansana). Woody species, such as Cornus foemina and Juniperus virginiana, are sometimes found, especially where fire has not occurred for long periods. Braun (1928) found Manfreda virginica to be abundant in southern Ohio.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands of this community are usually found on hillslopes of south to west aspects (Braun 1928). The soil is typically well-drained, shallow to moderately deep (40-100 cm) and formed over dolomite or limestone (White and Madany 1978, Nelson 1985). The soil is neutral to slightly alkaline (Braun 1928) and contains numerous stones. Bedrock outcrops are frequently present.
Geographic Range: This dry-mesic to mesic alkaline grassland community is found in the northern prairie-forest border region of the midwestern United States, particularly in Illinois and Ohio.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: IL, OH
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689101
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2
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.c Big Bluestem - Indiangrass - Porcupine Grass Tallgrass Prairie Group | G333 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.c |
| Alliance | A4058 Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama Central Loamy Grassland Alliance | A4058 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.c |
| Association | CEGL005179 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Limestone Calamint Limestone Grassland | CEGL005179 | 2.B.2.Nb.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Andropogon - Bouteloua Association (Braun 1928)
= Schizachyrium scoparium - Sorghastrum nutans - Clinopodium arkansanum Alkaline Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
> Dry-Mesic Dolomite Prairie (White and Madany 1978)
> Mesic Dolomite Prairie (White and Madany 1978)
= Schizachyrium scoparium - Sorghastrum nutans - Clinopodium arkansanum Alkaline Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
> Dry-Mesic Dolomite Prairie (White and Madany 1978)
> Mesic Dolomite Prairie (White and Madany 1978)
- Braun, E. L. 1928. The vegetation of the Mineral Springs region of Adams County, Ohio. The Ohio State University Bulletin, Volume 32, No. 30. Ohio Biological Survey, Bulletin 15. 3(5):383-517.
- 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.).
- Midwestern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Minneapolis, MN.
- Nelson, P. W. 1985. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Jefferson City. 197 pp. Revised edition, 1987.
- ONHD [Ohio Natural Heritage Database]. No date. Vegetation classification of Ohio and unpublished data. Ohio Natural Heritage Database, Division of Natural Areas and Preserves, Ohio Department of Natural Resources, Columbus.
- White, J., and M. Madany. 1978. Classification of natural communities in Illinois. Pages 311-405 in: Natural Areas Inventory technical report: Volume I, survey methods and results. Illinois Natural Areas Inventory, Urbana, IL.