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CEGL004521 Sporobolus silveanus - Carex meadii Grassland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Silveus'' Dropseed - Mead''s Sedge Grassland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This community occurs on Alfisols in the northeastern portion of the Blackland Prairie of Texas. Sporobolus silveanus, Carex meadii, and Fimbristylis puberula are the dominant species. Other typical species include Tridens strictus, Dichanthelium oligosanthes, Panicum virgatum, Paspalum floridanum, Coelorachis cylindrica, Neptunia lutea, Linum medium, Symphyotrichum ericoides, Symphyotrichum pratense, Helianthus mollis, Liatris pycnostachya, Liatris aspera, Coreopsis tinctoria, Baptisia sphaerocarpa, Baptisia bracteata var. leucophaea, Eryngium yuccifolium, and Silphium radula. This association sometimes occurs within mima-mound microtopography. Mima mounds are small circular hills which are often more than 1 m in height and 1-14 m across. Three distinct vegetation zones and as many as four different habitats can occur within a single mound.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Reliable and replicated anecdotal evidence suggests that at least one site harboring this association was formerly dominated by Andropogon gerardii and Panicum virgatum prior to a management shift in the early 1950s (J. Eidson pers. comm.). This type appears to be related to ~Sporobolus silveanus - Tridens strictus Grassland (CEGL002216)$$; further data and examination are needed to clarify the relationship. Examples occur at Smiley Woodfin Prairie (Lamar County, Texas) and Tridens Prairie (Lamar County, Texas). Expand description and differentiate from other associations in this alliance.

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

Floristics: Sporobolus silveanus, Carex meadii, and Fimbristylis puberula are the dominant species. Other typical species include Tridens strictus, Dichanthelium oligosanthes, Panicum virgatum, Paspalum floridanum, Coelorachis cylindrica, Neptunia lutea, Linum medium, Symphyotrichum ericoides (= Aster ericoides), Symphyotrichum pratense (= Aster sericeus var. microphyllus), Helianthus mollis, Liatris pycnostachya, Liatris aspera, Coreopsis tinctoria, Baptisia sphaerocarpa, Baptisia bracteata var. leucophaea (= Baptisia leucophaea), Eryngium yuccifolium, and Silphium radula (= Silphium asperrimum).

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  This association sometimes occurs within mima-mound microtopography. Mima mounds are small circular hills which are often more than 1 m in height and 1-14 m across (Diamond and Smeins 1993). Three distinct vegetation zones and as many as four different habitats can occur within a single mound (Collins 1975).
Geographic Range: This community occurs in the northeastern portion of the Blackland Prairie of Texas.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  OK?, TX


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1

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.a Little Bluestem - Prairie Bishop - Brownseed Crowngrass Tallgrass Prairie Group G335 2.B.2.Nb.1.a
Alliance A4063 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Big Bluestem Grassland Alliance A4063 2.B.2.Nb.1.a
Association CEGL004521 Silveus'' Dropseed - Mead''s Sedge Grassland CEGL004521 2.B.2.Nb.1.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Sporobolus silveanus - Carex meadii Community Type (Diamond and Smeins 1988)
< ID4j. Silveanus Dropseed Prairie (Allard 1990)
Concept Author(s): D. Diamond and F. Smeins (1988)

Author of Description: A.S. Weakley

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 08-01-96
  • Allard, D. J. 1990. Southeastern United States ecological community classification. Interim report, Version 1.2. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Chapel Hill, NC. 96 pp.
  • Collins, O. B., F. E. Smeins, and D. H. Riskind. 1975. Plant communities of the Blackland Prairie of Texas. Pages 75-88 in: M. K. Wali, editor. Prairie: A multiple view. University of North Dakota Press, Grand Forks, ND.
  • Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 pp.
  • Diamond, D. D., and F. E. Smeins. 1988. Gradient analysis of remnant true and upper coastal prairie grasslands of North America. Canadian Journal of Botany 66:2152-2161.
  • Diamond, D. D., and F. E. Smeins. 1993. The native communities of the Blackland Prairie. Pages 66-81 in: R. Sharpless and J. C. Yelderman, Jr., editors. The Texas Blackland Prairie, Land History and Culture. Symposium of the Natural Regions of Texas, Baylor University Program for Regional Studies. Baylor University, Waco, TX.
  • Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.