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CEGL001484 Panicum virgatum - (Pascopyrum smithii) Wet Meadow

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Switchgrass - (Western Wheatgrass) Wet Meadow

Colloquial Name: Switchgrass Wet-Mesic Tallgrass Prairie

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: In Badlands National Park, South Dakota, the switchgrass grassland type contains dense ground cover, typically between 50 and 80%. Panicum virgatum is the dominant species in more mesic areas. Pascopyrum smithii is more abundant on elevated sites within the drainages and basins, and Schizachyrium scoparium is the dominant species along the upper margin of the type. Where this type is found in drainages, the distribution often becomes "patchy" and Calamovilfa longifolia replaces Schizachyrium scoparium on the upper type margin. Commonly associated species include Glycyrrhiza lepidota, Symphyotrichum ericoides, and occasionally Populus deltoides. Switchgrass is a common component of many wetlands and mesic sites, but becomes dominant in wetter parts of drainages and wetland basins.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: The concept of this type is still under review. There is no documentation for this type at the Montana Natural Heritage Program (S.V. Cooper pers. comm.). Panicum virgatum does occur in southern Montana, but it seems unlikely that it would ever be a community dominant over any appreciable area. In addition, this type currently is defined to include stands from Badlands National Park, but there is minimal similarity between these and observed stands in Montana. This type may not be valid.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: In Badlands National Park, South Dakota, the switchgrass grassland type provides dense ground cover, typically between 50-80%. Panicum virgatum is the dominant species in more mesic areas. Pascopyrum smithii is more abundant on elevated sites within the drainages and basins, and Schizachyrium scoparium is the dominant species along the upper margin of the type. Where this type is found in drainages, the distribution often becomes ''patchy'' and Calamovilfa longifolia replaces Schizachyrium scoparium on the upper type margin. Commonly associated species include Glycyrrhiza lepidota, Symphyotrichum ericoides (= Aster ericoides), and occasionally Populus deltoides.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  Switchgrass is a common component of many wetlands and mesic sites, but becomes dominant in wetter parts of drainages and wetland basins (Von Loh et al. 1999).
Geographic Range: This moist switchgrass type occurs in the northern Great Plains of the United States. It has been reported from eastern Wyoming, eastern Montana and western South Dakota, but its range is not well understood.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  MT, SD, WY?


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2Q

Greasons: No Data Available
Type Name Database Code Classification Code
Class 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class C02 2
Subclass 2.C Shrub & Herb Wetland Subclass S44 2.C
Formation 2.C.4 Temperate to Polar Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Formation F013 2.C.4
Division 2.C.4.Nd Eastern North American Temperate Freshwater Marsh, Wet Meadow & Shrubland Division D323 2.C.4.Nd
Macrogroup 2.C.4.Nd.5 Prairie Cordgrass - Cattail species - Bulrush species Great Plains Marsh, Wet Meadow, Shrubland & Playa Macrogroup M071 2.C.4.Nd.5
Group 2.C.4.Nd.5.b Prairie Cordgrass - Slimstem Reedgrass - Sedge species Great Plains Wet Prairie, Wet Meadow & Seepage Fen Group G336 2.C.4.Nd.5.b
Alliance A3492 Switchgrass - Western Wheatgrass Wet Meadow Alliance A3492 2.C.4.Nd.5.b
Association CEGL001484 Switchgrass - (Western Wheatgrass) Wet Meadow CEGL001484 2.C.4.Nd.5.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Panicum virgatum - (Pascopyrum smithii) Herbaceous Vegetation (Butler et al. 2002)
= Panicum virgatum - (Pascopyrum smithii) Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
Concept Author(s): P. Lesica and D. Faber-Langendoen

Author of Description: P. Lesica and D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 02-15-00
  • Bourgeron, P. S., and L. D. Engelking, editors. 1994. A preliminary vegetation classification of the western United States. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. 175 pp. plus appendix.
  • Butler, J., D. Crawford, S. Menard, and T. Meyer. 2002. Lacreek National Wildlife Refuge, South Dakota. USGS-USFWS Vegetation Mapping Program. Final report. Technical Memorandum 8260-02-02, Remote Sensing and GIS Group, Technical Service Center, Bureau of Reclamation, Denver, CO.
  • 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.).
  • MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
  • MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. No date. Unpublished data on file. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT.
  • Von Loh, J., D. Cogan, D. Faber-Langendoen, D. Crawford, and M. Pucherelli. 1999. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, Badlands National Park, South Dakota. USDI Bureau of Reclamation. Technical Memorandum No. 8260-99-02. Denver, CO.
  • Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.