Print Report
CEGL004211 Schizachyrium scoparium - (Sorghastrum nutans) - Sporobolus compositus var. compositus - Liatris punctata var. mucronata Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - (Indiangrass) - Tall Dropseed - Cusp Blazingstar Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This association is described from the least disturbed grasslands present at Fort Hood, Texas. Most occurrences are dominated by Schizachyrium scoparium in a mixture with other grasses, including Sporobolus compositus, Sorghastrum nutans, Bouteloua hirsuta, Bouteloua curtipendula, Aristida purpurea, Muhlenbergia reverchonii, and Bothriochloa laguroides. This association can have a strong component of showy wildflowers, including Liatris punctata var. mucronata, Calylophus berlandieri, Melampodium leucanthum, Helianthus maximiliani, Oenothera macrocarpa, Silphium albiflorum, and Chamaecrista fasciculata. Salvia texana and Dalea multiflora tend to be abundant in areas with thinner soils. Other characteristic components include Symphyotrichum ericoides, Stenaria nigricans, Scutellaria wrightii, Thelesperma simplicifolium, Stillingia texana, Agalinis densiflora, Desmanthus spp., Mimosa roemeriana, Asclepias viridiflora, and Asclepias oenotheroides. Occasional woody components include Yucca pallida, Juniperus ashei, Rhus lanceolata, Toxicodendron radicans, and Rubus trivialis. Woody components increase in the absence of fire.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is a result of analysis of vegetation data from the best grasslands (least disturbed) found on Fort Hood to sample. Cluster analysis split this new association into two groups: one with Sorghastrum nutans, Bothriochloa laguroides, and Sporobolus compositus as an indicators and the other with Schizachyrium scoparium and Sorghastrum nutans. Due to the high level of past and present disturbance and since Bothriochloa laguroides and Sporobolus compositus do not seem to be good indicators of anything except disturbance, and the environmental parameters show no good distinction between the two groups, and floristic distinctions are weak, we decided to keep a single association to cover this vegetation. This single association may warrant splitting with the support of additional data and analysis. Some occurrences are in grazing deferment areas, some are in areas that burn, and many are in areas that experience high levels of off-road vehicle use.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Most occurrences are dominated by Schizachyrium scoparium in a mixture with other grasses, including Sporobolus compositus, Sorghastrum nutans, Bouteloua hirsuta, Bouteloua curtipendula, Aristida purpurea, Muhlenbergia reverchonii, and Bothriochloa laguroides. This association can have a strong component of showy wildflowers, including Liatris punctata var. mucronata (= Liatris mucronata), Calylophus berlandieri, Melampodium leucanthum, Helianthus maximiliani, Oenothera macrocarpa, Silphium albiflorum, and Chamaecrista fasciculata. Salvia texana and Dalea multiflora tend to be abundant in areas with thinner soils. Other characteristic components include Symphyotrichum ericoides, Stenaria nigricans (= Hedyotis nigricans), Scutellaria wrightii, Thelesperma simplicifolium, Stillingia texana, Agalinis densiflora, Desmanthus spp., Mimosa roemeriana, Asclepias viridiflora, and Asclepias oenotheroides. Occasional woody components include Yucca pallida, Juniperus ashei, Rhus lanceolata, Toxicodendron radicans, and Rubus trivialis. Woody components increase in the absence of fire.
Dynamics: Fire, climate, native grazing and edaphic factors all played a roll historically in maintaining an open structure in this vegetation. Loss of these natural processes often results in a decrease in native grass cover and increase in woody invaders. Threats to these communities include fire suppression, livestock grazing, invasive exotics, and damage by feral hogs and vehicles. The current range of this alliance has been reduce greatly from its historic extent. At Fort Hood, this community is often invaded by exotic grasses including Bothriochloa ischaemum.
Environmental Description: This is a broadly described association that is found in a variety of environmental settings. It tends to occur on clay loam soils that have developed over limestone. It also occurs on blackland soils that tend to occur in narrow corridors along streams and on stony clay loams. This association is not known from areas currently under heavy grazing pressure.
Geographic Range: This association is currently known only from the Edwards Plateau and Lampasas Cutplain of central Texas.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.801799
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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 | CEGL004211 Little Bluestem - (Indiangrass) - Tall Dropseed - Cusp Blazingstar Grassland | CEGL004211 | 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: No Data Available
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.