Print Report

G178 Schizachyrium scoparium - Danthonia sericea Acidic Glade & Barrens Group

Type Concept Sentence: These glades and barrens are dominated by Schizachyrium scoparium, Danthonia sericea, and Sorghastrum nutans with shrubs such as Vaccinium spp. and Gaylussacia spp. and scattered trees of Pinus virginiana, Pinus rigida, Pinus echinata, Quercus montana, Quercus stellata, and Quercus marilandica on quartzite, sandstone or other outcrops of acidic rock and associated thin-soil areas in the Ozarks, Ouachitas, Interior Low Plateau, and Cumberland Plateau regions.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Silky Oatgrass Acidic Glade & Barrens Group

Colloquial Name: Central Interior Acidic Open Glade & Barrens

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: This group represents grasslands, shrublands, and scattered trees in a mosaic with woodlands on quartzite, sandstone or other outcrops of acidic rock and associated thin-soil areas, primarily in unglaciated regions. The acidic soils are typically dry during the summer and autumn, becoming saturated during the spring and winter. Grasses such as Schizachyrium scoparium and Sorghastrum nutans dominate this group. Shrubs such as Vaccinium spp. and/or Gaylussacia spp. are common, as are scattered trees of Pinus virginiana, Pinus rigida, Pinus echinata, Quercus montana, Quercus stellata, and Quercus marilandica. Trees may be stunted. Juniperus virginiana can be present and often increases in the absence of fire. Herbaceous plants, including Diamorpha smallii and Minuartia glabra, are typical of the outcrops on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. Some characteristic grasses include Schizachyrium scoparium and Danthonia sericea. Fruticose lichens such as Cladonia spp. may be prominent in some examples. Examples of the group are influenced by drought and infrequent to occasional fires. Prescribed fires help manage stands by maintaining an open structure. Examples of this group are primarily found in the Interior Highlands (Ozark, Ouachita, Interior Low Plateau, and Cumberland Plateau regions) with rare and limited occurrences north and south of this primary range.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Schizachyrium scoparium is a common species on these acidic glades; however, it also occurs on other habitats. These are open grasslands and small rock outcrops which are on thin-soil acidic glades in the southeastern United States.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: The Baraboo Hills Association ~Quercus alba - Carya ovata / Carex pensylvanica - Heuchera richardsonii Quartzite Glade Woodland (CEGL005276)$$ "should perhaps be placed in the more typical glade formation (V.A.6.N.q.) based on historic conditions." Description is a bit unclear and should be rewritten.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The vegetation encompasses a complex of sparsely vegetated rock outcrops, perennial grasslands, and scattered heath shrubs and trees on shallow soils.

Floristics: Grasses such as Schizachyrium scoparium and Sorghastrum nutans dominate in the Central Interior Highlands, with stunted oak species Quercus stellata, Quercus marilandica, and shrub species such as Vaccinium spp. occurring on variable depth soils. Some other plants that may be associated with these glades include Andropogon ternarius, Danthonia spicata, Symphyotrichum patens var. patentissimum, Silene rotundifolia, Pityopsis graminifolia var. latifolia, Coreopsis grandiflora, Silene regia, Coreopsis lanceolata, Croton michauxii var. ellipticus (= Croton willdenowii), Sedum nuttallianum, Selaginella rupestris, and Portulaca pilosa. Herbaceous plants, including Diamorpha smallii and Minuartia glabra, are typical of the outcrops on the Cumberland Plateau in Tennessee. Pinus virginiana and Acer rubrum are typical of the current condition of many of the woodlands surrounding these outcrops on the Cumberland Plateau; Pinus rigida, Pinus echinata, and/or Quercus montana (= Quercus prinus) may also occur.

Dynamics:  Examples of this group are influenced by drought and infrequent to occasional fires. Prescribed fires help manage stands of this group by maintaining an open glade structure. Droughts and deer browse may currently interact to keep these glades open. Historically, the surrounding matrix of dry oak forests may have been more likely to burn, and those fires and the more open canopy could have spread into the glades (West and Welsh 1998). These glades are thought to be more environmentally controlled, by shallow soils, which suggest that soil depth and the historic extent of the glade community may be related.
Environmental Description:  This group occurs on flat outcrops of sandstone rock and along moderate to steep slopes or valley walls of rivers along most aspects. Parent material is sandstone, but also includes chert, shale, quartzite or rhyolite, novaculite, igneous quartzite or nepheline syenite bedrock with well- to excessively well-drained, shallow soils interspersed with rock and boulders. Climate: humid cool temperate. Soil/substrate/hydrology: Quartzite or sandstone or other outcrops of acidic rock and associated thin-soil areas over these types of rock. Some areas are really prone to wetness in the winter and spring. Generally, all of these glades become very dry and hot in the summer and are particularly affected by short-term drought.
Geographic Range: Examples of this group are found in the Interior Highlands of the Ozark, Ouachita, and Interior Low Plateau regions, as well on the Cumberland Plateau of Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, Georgia, Virginia, and likely West Virginia, with rare and limited occurrences in the Baraboo Hills of Wisconsin.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, AR, GA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MO, OH, OK, TN, VA


Confidence Level: Moderate

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.Nc Eastern North American Grassland & Shrubland Division D024 2.B.2.Nc
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Nc.2 Little Bluestem - Silky Oatgrass Acidic Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup M509 2.B.2.Nc.2
Group 2.B.2.Nc.2.b Little Bluestem - Silky Oatgrass Acidic Glade & Barrens Group G178 2.B.2.Nc.2.b
Alliance A1920 Post Oak - Blackjack Oak / Little Bluestem Interior Acidic Bedrock Scrub Alliance A1920 2.B.2.Nc.2.b
Alliance A3474 Little Bluestem - Silky Oatgrass - Nuttall''s Rayless-goldenrod Cumberland Sandstone Grassland Alliance A3474 2.B.2.Nc.2.b
Concept Lineage: G060 split into G178 & G179 (East workshop 2-09)

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Sandstone Glade (Nelson 2005)
= Sandstone Glades (Baskin and Baskin 1988)
= Sandstone Outcrops (Glades) (Quarterman et al. 1993)
>< Sandstone/Shale Savanna (Nelson 2005)
Concept Author(s): E. Quarterman, M.P. Burbank, and D.J. Shure (1993)

Author of Description: C.W. Nordman and D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 10-08-13
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