Print Report

CEGL007838 Panicum virgatum - Calamovilfa arcuata Riverscour Wet Meadow

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Switchgrass - Cumberland Sandreed Riverscour Wet Meadow

Colloquial Name: Ouachita Bedrock Riverscour Wet Meadow

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This scour prairie community occurs on moderately wet to relatively well-drained scour zones on the rocks, boulders, and cobbles that form the banks of larger streams and rivers of the Ouachita Mountains. It is best expressed where the rivers have cut through rock outcrops and bare rock is exposed, often adjoining rocky bluffs. Vegetation is typically short (0.5-1 m), and bare rock exposures are common. Species composition is variable depending in part on size of river and width of riverbank. Commonly dominant are Panicum virgatum, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Calamovilfa arcuata. Other common herbaceous species include Andropogon gerardii, Symphyotrichum dumosum (riverbank form), Baptisia sphaerocarpa, Boltonia diffusa, Coreopsis tripteris, Diodia virginiana, Euphorbia corollata, Conoclinium coelestinum, Eupatorium serotinum, Ludwigia alternifolia, Panicum rigidulum, Rhexia mariana, Silphium laciniatum, Trachelospermum difforme, Tradescantia ohiensis, Tridens flavus, Tripsacum dactyloides, and others. Commonly occurring woody species include Acer rubrum var. trilobum, Alnus serrulata, Amorpha fruticosa, Amorpha ouachitensis, Betula nigra, Cornus obliqua, Diospyros virginiana, Hamamelis vernalis, Hypericum lobocarpum, Hypericum prolificum, Ilex decidua, Ilex vomitoria, Liquidambar styraciflua, Nyssa sylvatica, Platanus occidentalis, and others. Characteristic species of this community include Camassia scilloides, Carex crinita, Ceanothus herbaceus, Cooperia drummondii, Houstonia purpurea, Juncus coriaceus, Liatris squarrosa, Dichanthelium acuminatum var. lindheimeri, Parthenium integrifolium, Physostegia intermedia, Rhynchospora glomerata, Trepocarpus aethusae, and Valerianella radiata. This community is maintained by the scouring of floods in relatively high gradient flashy rivers. Where river size is too small, scouring is not intense enough to remove shrubs which then come to dominate the site. Where the river is too large or becomes low gradient, the plant community shifts to riparian forest vegetation. Hydrological alteration degrades and eliminates this community.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: No Data Available

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

Floristics: Commonly dominant are Panicum virgatum, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Calamovilfa arcuata. Other common herbaceous species include Andropogon gerardii, Symphyotrichum dumosum (= Aster dumosus) (riverbank form), Baptisia sphaerocarpa, Boltonia diffusa, Coreopsis tripteris, Diodia virginiana, Euphorbia corollata, Conoclinium coelestinum (= Eupatorium coelestinum), Eupatorium serotinum, Ludwigia alternifolia, Panicum rigidulum, Rhexia mariana, Silphium laciniatum, Trachelospermum difforme, Tradescantia ohiensis, Tridens flavus, Tripsacum dactyloides, and others. Commonly occurring woody species include Acer rubrum var. trilobum, Alnus serrulata, Amorpha fruticosa, Amorpha ouachitensis, Betula nigra, Cornus obliqua (= Cornus amomum ssp. obliqua), Diospyros virginiana, Hamamelis vernalis, Hypericum lobocarpum, Hypericum prolificum, Ilex decidua, Ilex vomitoria, Liquidambar styraciflua, Nyssa sylvatica, Platanus occidentalis, and others. Characteristic species of this community include Camassia scilloides, Carex crinita, Ceanothus herbaceus, Cooperia drummondii, Houstonia purpurea, Juncus coriaceus, Liatris squarrosa, Dichanthelium acuminatum var. lindheimeri (= Panicum lindheimeri), Parthenium integrifolium, Physostegia intermedia, Rhynchospora glomerata, Trepocarpus aethusae, and Valerianella radiata.

Dynamics:  This community is maintained by the scouring of floods in relatively high gradient flashy rivers. Where river size is too small, scouring is not intense enough to remove shrubs which then come to dominate the site. Where the river is too large or becomes low gradient, the plant community shifts to riparian forest vegetation. Hydrological alteration degrades and eliminates this community.
Environmental Description:  This scour prairie community occurs on moderately wet to relatively well-drained scour zones on the rocks, boulders, and cobbles that form the banks of larger streams and rivers of the Ouachita Mountains. It is best expressed where the rivers have cut through rock outcrops and bare rock is exposed, often adjoining rocky bluffs. Vegetation is typically short (0.5-1 m), and bare rock exposures are common. Species composition is variable depending in part on size of river and width of riverbank.
Geographic Range: This community is found on larger streams and rivers of the Ouachita Mountains.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AR, OK


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.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.4 Eastern North American Riverscour Vegetation Macrogroup M881 2.C.4.Nd.4
Group 2.C.4.Nd.4.a Central Interior-Appalachian Riverscour Barrens & Prairie Group G753 2.C.4.Nd.4.a
Alliance A3794 Hazel Alder - Ozark Witch-hazel - Coastal Plain Willow Riverscour Alliance A3794 2.C.4.Nd.4.a
Association CEGL007838 Switchgrass - Cumberland Sandreed Riverscour Wet Meadow CEGL007838 2.C.4.Nd.4.a
Concept Lineage: Non-Kentucky portion split out and expanded here.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Streamside Shrubland/Grassland -- moderately wet zone, relatively well drained but not xeric zone, subxeric zone, low wet zone (TNC 1996a)
Concept Author(s): S. Landaal

Author of Description: S. Landaal

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 10-01-98
  • NatureServe Ecology - Southeastern United States. No date. Unpublished data. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
  • Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.
  • TNC [The Nature Conservancy]. 1996a. Ecological assessment: Alcoa Bauxite Natural Areas in Arkansas: A report on the status of Natural Areas with stewardship recommendations. The Nature Conservancy, Arkansas Field Office, Little Rock. 57 pp.