Print Report

CEGL002675 Yucca glauca / Calamovilfa longifolia Shrub Grassland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Soapweed Yucca / Prairie Sandreed Shrub Grassland

Colloquial Name: Soapweed Yucca / Prairie Sandreed Shrub Prairie

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This soapweed yucca association is found on sandstone outcrops and sandy soils in the northern Great Plains of the United States. Soils are relatively deep (>1 m), pure sands, with medium- to coarse-textured lower horizons. The substrate is well-drained but not xeric. The more broadly defined ~Yucca glauca / Calamovilfa longifolia Shrub Grassland (CEGL002675)$$ occurs on a broader range of ridgetops and upper slopes. Stands contain an open to moderately dense (at least 10% cover), low-shrub layer above a species-rich herbaceous layer. Dominance of the shrub layer by Yucca glauca is characteristic (average cover in six stands was 9.8%). Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis and Artemisia cana ssp. cana may be present but are sparse and contribute little cover. In the herbaceous layer, Hesperostipa comata and Calamovilfa longifolia codominate (16% cover and 8% cover, respectively), and Bouteloua gracilis and Carex filifolia often are present, but with low cover. Forbs are common but contribute little cover; Artemisia frigida has the highest constancy, but no forb is characteristic of the association. Litter covers up to about half of the ground surface, and most of the rest of the ground surface is bare soil.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This association is the result of merging the former Yucca glauca / Calamovilfa longifolia Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation (CEGL001456) and former Stipa comata - Yucca glauca Herbaceous Vegetation (CEGL001706) following the review of data and descriptive material for these 2 types, which revealed they are similar enough to not warrant recognition as separate associations. See Comer et al. (1999) and Faber-Langendoen et al. (1997) for further comments. In Nebraska this type probably occurs in sand prairies outside the sandhills (G. Steinauer pers. comm. 2019).

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

Floristics: Stands contain an open to moderately dense (at least 10% cover), low-shrub layer above a species-rich herbaceous layer. Dominance of the shrub layer by Yucca glauca is characteristic (average cover in 6 stands was 9.8%). Artemisia tridentata ssp. wyomingensis and Artemisia cana ssp. cana may be present but are sparse and contribute little cover. In the herbaceous layer, Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata) and Calamovilfa longifolia codominate (16 and 8% cover, respectively), and Bouteloua gracilis and Carex filifolia often are present but contribute much less cover than do Hesperostipa or Calamovilfa. Forbs are common but contribute little cover; Artemisia frigida (dwarf-shrub-like) has the highest constancy, but no forb is characteristic of the association. Litter covers up to about half of the ground surface, and most of the rest of the ground surface is bare soil. In Badlands National Park, South Dakota, vegetation cover varies with soil conditions. Sandy soils have characteristic dominants, but on more silty clay soils, Carex filifolia and Pascopyrum smithii may dominate.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  Stands dominated by Hesperostipa comata are more typically found only along sandstone outcrop ridgetops and a short distance down the adjacent slopes (the Yucca glauca / Stipa comata association of Thilenius et al. 1995). Soils are relatively deep (>1 m), pure sands, with medium- to coarse-textured lower horizons. The substrate is well-drained, but not xeric. Stands with Calamovilfa longifolia occur on a broader range of ridgetops and upper slopes (Yucca glauca / Calamovilfa longifolia association of Thilenius et al. 1995).

The narrower Stipa comata / Yucca glauca association occurs on residual, relatively deep soils with genetic horizons. Texture varies from nearly pure sand on the surface to medium-textured and medium-coarse-textured at depth (Thilenius et al. 1995). The broader Yucca glauca / Calamovilfa longifolia association, into which it is suggested the Stipa / Yucca association be placed, occurs primarily on soils of the loamy sand, sandy loam, fine sandy loam, or loam textural classes (Prodgers 1978).
Geographic Range: This soapweed association is found on sandstone outcrops and sandy soils in the northern Great Plains of the United States, ranging from western Nebraska and South Dakota to eastern Wyoming, north to Montana.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  MT, NE, SD, WY


Confidence Level: Moderate

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4

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.4 Sand Bluestem - Prairie Sandreed - Sand Sagebrush Great Plains Sand Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup M052 2.B.2.Nb.4
Group 2.B.2.Nb.4.b Northern Great Plains Sand Grassland & Shrubland Group G889 2.B.2.Nb.4.b
Alliance A1540 Soapweed Yucca - Prairie Sandreed Sand Prairie Scrub Alliance A1540 2.B.2.Nb.4.b
Association CEGL002675 Soapweed Yucca / Prairie Sandreed Shrub Grassland CEGL002675 2.B.2.Nb.4.b
Concept Lineage: Merge of these 2 types per recommendation of G. Jones; they are same association but different people named them different things. Review of data revealed very similar species composition and environmental characteristics.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Stipa comata / Bouteloua hirsuta Plant Association (Johnston 1987) [Similar; contains Hesperostipa comata, Calamovilfa longifolia, and Bouteloua hirsuta as the major herbaceous species, but Yucca glauca apparently is sparse enough that this type should be considered a grassland with scattered shrubs, rather than a sparse shrub type.]
= Yucca glauca / Calamovilfa longifolia Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation (Butler et al. 2002)
= Yucca glauca / Calamovilfa longifolia Shrub Herbaceous Vegetation (Faber-Langendoen 2001)
< Choppy sands range site, 10"-14" precipitation zone, Wyoming Southern Plains (Soil Conservation Service 1986a) [These range sites support the larger ~Yucca glauca / Calamovilfa longifolia Shrub Grassland (CEGL002675)$$, into which the former Stipa comata / Yucca glauca Association has been placed.]
< Sands range site, 10"-14" precipitation zone, Eastern Montana Glaciated Plains geographical region (Ross and Hunter 1976) [These range sites support the larger ~Yucca glauca / Calamovilfa longifolia Shrub Grassland (CEGL002675)$$, into which the former Stipa comata / Yucca glauca Association has been placed.]
< Sands range site, 10"-14" precipitation zone, Eastern Montana Sedimentary Plains geographical region (Ross and Hunter 1976)
< Sands range site, 10"-14" precipitation zone, Montana Foothills and Mountains geographical region (Ross and Hunter 1976)
< Sands range site, 10"-14" precipitation zone, Wyoming Northern Plains (Soil Conservation Service 1986a)
< Sandy and Shallow sandy range sites, 15"-17" precipitation zone, Wyoming Northern Plains (Soil Conservation Service 1986a)
? Stable ridge vegetation type (Barnes et al. 1984) [Similar; described by Barnes et al. (1984) from the Nebraska Sand Hills.]
Concept Author(s): G.P. Jones and D. Faber-Langendoen

Author of Description: G.P. Jones and D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 08-20-99
  • Barnes, P. W., A. T. Harrison, and S. P. Heinisch. 1984. Vegetation patterns in relation to topography and edaphic variation in Nebraska Sandhills prairie. Prairie Naturalist 16(4):145-158.
  • 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.
  • Comer, P. (editor), L. Allen, S. Cooper, D. Faber-Langendoen, and G. Jones. 1999. Selected shrubland and grassland communities of the northern Great Plains. Report to the Nebraska National Forest. The Nature Conservancy.
  • Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, G. Jones, D. Lenz, P. Lesica, and S. Rolfsmeier. 1997. Rare plant communities of the northern Great Plains. Report to Nebraska National Forest, The Nature Conservancy. 155 pp.
  • 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.).
  • Johnston, B. C. 1987. Plant associations of Region Two: Potential plant communities of Wyoming, South Dakota, Nebraska, Colorado, and Kansas. R2-ECOL-87-2. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Region. Lakewood, CO. 429 pp.
  • Jones, G. 1992b. Wyoming plant community classification (Draft). Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, Laramie, WY. 183 pp.
  • MTNHP [Montana Natural Heritage Program]. 2002b. List of ecological communities for Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Montana State Library, Helena, MT.
  • Prodgers, R. 1978. Circle West vegetation baseline study: Final report. Circle West Technical Report No. 1. Energy Division, Montana Department of Natural Resources and Conservation, Helena. 115 pp.
  • Ross, R. L., and H. E. Hunter. 1976. Climax vegetation of Montana, based on soils and climate. USDA-SCS. Bozeman, Mont.
  • Soil Conservation Service. 1986a. Technical guide to range sites, section II. Wyoming State Office, Casper, WY.
  • TNC [The Nature Conservancy]. [1998]e. USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program, Classification of the vegetation of Fort Laramie National Historic Site. The Nature Conservancy, Minneapolis, MN, and International Headquarters, Arlington, VA. 40 pp.
  • Thilenius, J. F., G. R. Brown, and A. L. Medina. 1995. Vegetation on semi-arid rangelands, Cheyenne River Basin, Wyoming. General Technical Report RM-GTR-263. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 60 pp.
  • Thilenius, J. F., and G. R. Brown. 1990. Vegetation on semi-arid rangelands, Cheyenne River Basin, Wyoming. Unpublished report prepared for USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Laramie, WY. 147 pp.
  • USFS [U.S. Forest Service]. 1937. Range plant handbook. Dover Publications Inc., New York. 816 pp.
  • 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.