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CEGL002236 Bothriochloa barbinodis - Trichloris pluriflora Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Cane Bluestem - Multi-flower Rhodesgrass Grassland
Colloquial Name: Cane Bluestem - Rhodesgrass Mixedgrass Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community, found in the southern Gulf Coast Prairies and Marshes and Tamaulipan Thornscrub ecoregions, is a midgrass grassland dominated by Trichloris pluriflora and Bothriochloa barbinodis. Other herbaceous species include Bouteloua spp., Setaria spp., Pappophorum bicolor, Bouteloua dactyloides, Hilaria belangeri, Trichloris crinita, and Heteropogon contortus. Most examples of this community type have become shrub-dominated due to lack of prescribed burning. This community naturally occurred as an open matrix of midgrass species within native mesquite - acacia shrublands dominated by Prosopis glandulosa, Vachellia farnesiana, and Acacia rigidula. This community once occupied uplands in the South Texas Plains and ranged into Mexico. It has been virtually eliminated due to conversion to tame pasture or cropland, or due to lack of burning. The few remaining examples are in private ownership and are highly disturbed because of overgrazing and brush clearing.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: A few remnant examples of this or similar vegetation can be found at Laguna Atascosa National Wildlife Refuge interspersed with shrublands and non-native grasslands. These examples may be dominated by admixtures of Trichloris pluriflora, Bouteloua rigidiseta, Pappophorum vaginatum, Bothriochloa laguroides, Heteropogon contortus, and Digitaria californica. Several invasive grasses, including Dichanthium annulatum, Dichanthium aristatum, Dichanthium sericeum, Pennisetum ciliare, and Urochloa maxima, are also often present.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This midgrass prairie is dominated by Trichloris pluriflora (= Chloris pluriflora) and Bothriochloa barbinodis. Other herbaceous species include Bouteloua spp., Setaria spp., Pappophorum bicolor, Bouteloua dactyloides (= Buchloe dactyloides), Hilaria belangeri, Trichloris crinita (= Chloris crinita), and Heteropogon contortus. This community naturally occurred as an open matrix of midgrass species within native mesquite - acacia shrublands dominated by Prosopis glandulosa, Vachellia farnesiana (= Acacia farnesiana), and Acacia rigidula.
Dynamics: Prairies are maintained by periodic fires and soil conditions generally inhospitable to the growth of trees and shrubs. In the prolonged absence of fire, woody species usually invade and can become abundant. Overgrazing can also alter the composition and structure of prairie communities.
Environmental Description: This community once occupied uplands in the South Texas Plains and ranged into Mexico.
Geographic Range: This community is known from south Texas, the Mexican state of Tamaulipas and possibly the Mexican states of Coahuila and Nuevo León.
Nations: MX,US
States/Provinces: MXCOA?, MXNLE?, MXTAM, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689966
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G2?
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 3 Desert & Semi-Desert Class | C03 | 3 |
| Subclass | 3.A Warm Desert & Semi-Desert Woodland, Scrub & Grassland Subclass | S06 | 3.A |
| Formation | 3.A.2 Warm Desert & Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Formation | F015 | 3.A.2 |
| Division | 3.A.2.Na North American Warm Desert Scrub & Grassland Division | D039 | 3.A.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 3.A.2.Na.1 Honey Mesquite - Spiny Hackberry / Multi-flower Rhodesgrass Tamaulipan Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup | M130 | 3.A.2.Na.1 |
| Group | 3.A.2.Na.1.b Multi-flower Rhodesgrass - Cane Bluestem - Texas Prickly-pear Grassland Group | G100 | 3.A.2.Na.1.b |
| Alliance | A3138 Little Bluestem - Cane Bluestem Tamaulipan Grassland Alliance | A3138 | 3.A.2.Na.1.b |
| Association | CEGL002236 Cane Bluestem - Multi-flower Rhodesgrass Grassland | CEGL002236 | 3.A.2.Na.1.b |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Cane Bluestem-False Rhodesgrass Series (Diamond 1993)
? ID5c. Cane Bluestem Prairie (Allard 1990)
? ID5c. Cane Bluestem Prairie (Allard 1990)
- 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.
- Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 pp.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.