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G583 Andropogon virginicus var. virginicus - Ambrosia artemisiifolia - Rubus argutus Ruderal Grassland & Shrubland Group

Type Concept Sentence: This is vegetation that occurs on disturbed sites that were cleared and the soils disturbed, including old fields, abandoned quarries, old homesteads, etc. Stands may be dominated by native or exotic species, or combinations of these. Andropogon virginicus is often the dominant plant during part of the successional sequence.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Broomsedge Bluestem - Annual Ragweed - Sawtooth Blackberry Ruderal Grassland & Shrubland Group

Colloquial Name: Southeastern Ruderal Grassland & Shrubland

Hierarchy Level:  Group

Type Concept: This group comprises vegetation that occurs on disturbed sites that were cleared and the soils disturbed (e.g., old fields, abandoned quarries, old homesteads, etc.). Stands may be composed of native or exotic species, or combinations of these. These are combinations of taxa for which no natural analog exists. In the southeastern Piedmont, the herbs and grasses that dominate old fields undergo a rapid turnover in the first three years after abandonment. By the third year, Andropogon virginicus often is the dominant plant. Before it achieves dominance, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Conyza canadensis, Digitaria sanguinalis, and Symphyotrichum pilosum may be more prominent. Other perennial grasses may include Andropogon gyrans, Andropogon ternarius, and Dichanthelium dichotomum. Shrubs and vines appear in these communities, and some genera may form stands, including the native genera Baccharis, Cornus, Prunus, Rubus, and Sophora secundiflora (in Texas), as well as the exotics Ligustrum, Pueraria, and Wisteria. This variation is accommodated at the alliance level within this group, as in the absence of disturbance, small trees rapidly overtake them and become dominant.

Diagnostic Characteristics: These are combinations of taxa for which no natural analog exists. Stands may be composed of native or exotic species, or combinations of these. Stands of this group occupy sites that were cleared and the soils disturbed (e.g., old fields, abandoned quarries, old homesteads, etc.).

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: These are combinations of taxa for which no natural analog exists.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Stands are dominated by short to tall forbs and graminoids. Some stands may exhibit dominance by shrubs, or a combination of all of these. Examples are highly variable from stand to stand, depending on time since disturbance or abandonment, and the vagaries of weed seed dispersal. They are also heterogeneous within stands, with some components occurring in distinct patches.

Floristics: By the third year of succession in Piedmont old fields, Andropogon virginicus often is the dominant plant. Before it achieves dominance, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Conyza canadensis, Digitaria sanguinalis, and Symphyotrichum pilosum may be more prominent. Other perennial grasses may include Andropogon gyrans, Andropogon ternarius, and Dichanthelium dichotomum. Other herbaceous taxa may include Antennaria plantaginifolia, Bulbostylis capillaris, Chamaecrista fasciculata, Chamaesyce nutans, Cyperus compressus, Diodia teres, Eragrostis pilosa, Fimbristylis autumnalis, Gamochaeta purpurea (= Gnaphalium purpureum), Helenium amarum (= Helenium tenuifolium), Hypericum drummondii, Hypericum gentianoides, Ipomoea lacunosa, Ipomoea pandurata, Juncus tenuis, Kummerowia striata (= Lespedeza striata), Plantago aristata, Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium (= Gnaphalium obtusifolium), Rumex acetosella, Solanum carolinense, and Solidago sp. (Oosting 1942). Shrubs and vines appear in these communities, and some genera may form stands, including the native genera Baccharis, Cornus, Prunus, Rubus, and Sophora secundiflora (in Texas). This variation is accommodated at the alliance level within this group. Under disturbance regimes that inhibit succession to tree-dominated vegetation, these shrubs and vines may form small to large patches. Stands may also be dominated by exotic species, including herbaceous Cynodon dactylon, Imperata cylindrica, Schedonorus spp., Paspalum notatum, Sorghum halepense, and woody shrubs and vines Ligustrum sinense, Pueraria montana var. lobata, Wisteria sinensis, etc. In the case of Cynodon, Schedonorus, and Paspalum, these may be planted, but other species are accidental introductions.

Dynamics:  In the southeastern Piedmont, the herbs and grasses that dominate old fields undergo a rapid turnover in the first three years after abandonment (Oosting 1942). Shrubs and vines appear in these communities, and may dominate stands, but in some other cases small trees rapidly overtake them and become dominant without disturbance. In drier sites, or under disturbance regimes that inhibit succession to tree-dominated vegetation, shrubs may form small to large patches which can be interpreted as constituting other associations.
Environmental Description:  Stands occur on disturbed land, irrespective of inherent environmental conditions. Soils may be fertile and deep, as these were the primary agricultural lands.
Geographic Range: This vegetation is found across the southeastern United States, in the coastal plains and interior.

Nations: MX?,US

States/Provinces:  AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNA

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.Nh Southeastern North American Grassland & Shrubland Division D102 2.B.2.Nh
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Nh.90 Broomsedge Bluestem - Blackberry species - Annual Ragweed Southeastern Ruderal Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup M307 2.B.2.Nh.90
Group 2.B.2.Nh.90.a Broomsedge Bluestem - Annual Ragweed - Sawtooth Blackberry Ruderal Grassland & Shrubland Group G583 2.B.2.Nh.90.a
Alliance A0751 Mescalbean Comanchian Ruderal Shrubland Alliance A0751 2.B.2.Nh.90.a
Alliance A3321 Broomsedge Bluestem - Annual Ragweed - Canadian Horseweed Eastern Ruderal Grassland Alliance A3321 2.B.2.Nh.90.a
Alliance A3322 Blackberry species - Plum species - Roughleaf Dogwood Eastern Ruderal Shrubland Alliance A3322 2.B.2.Nh.90.a
Alliance A4082 Kudzu - Chinese Wisteria Exotic Ruderal Vine-Shrubland Alliance A4082 2.B.2.Nh.90.a
Alliance A4083 Golden Bamboo Exotic Ruderal Shrubland Alliance A4083 2.B.2.Nh.90.a
Alliance A4084 Privet species Eastern Ruderal Exotic Shrubland Alliance A4084 2.B.2.Nh.90.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Abandoned Fields - Upland (Oosting 1942)
Concept Author(s): H.J. Oosting (1942)

Author of Description: M. Pyne

Acknowledgements: C. Lea

Version Date: 05-12-15
  • Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, S. Gawler, M. Hall, C. Josse, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, L. Sneddon, K. Schulz, J. Teague, M. Russo, K. Snow, and P. Comer, editors. 2010-2019a. Divisions, Macrogroups and Groups for the Revised U.S. National Vegetation Classification. NatureServe, Arlington, VA. plus appendices. [in preparation]
  • Oosting, H. J. 1942. An ecological analysis of the plant communities of Piedmont, North Carolina. The American Midland Naturalist 28:1-127.