Print Report
M307 Andropogon virginicus - Rubus spp. - Ambrosia artemisiifolia Southeastern Ruderal Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup
Type Concept Sentence: This macrogroup represents vegetation of the southeastern United States found on sites that were cleared and the soils disturbed, or the vegetation otherwise heavily disturbed, e.g., through heavy grazing, such that the vegetation may be composed of weedy or generalist native and exotic species, in combinations that have no natural analogs.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Broomsedge Bluestem - Blackberry species - Annual Ragweed Southeastern Ruderal Grassland & Shrubland Macrogroup
Colloquial Name: Southeastern Ruderal Grassland & Shrubland
Hierarchy Level: Macrogroup
Type Concept: This macrogroup comprises vegetation that occurs on sites that were cleared and the soils disturbed (e.g., old fields, abandoned quarries, old homesteads, etc.), or the vegetation otherwise heavily disturbed, e.g., through heavy grazing, such that the vegetation has a distinct composition and structure from other more native vegetation types. The stands may be composed of weedy generalist native or exotic species, or combinations of these. 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 may be present or dominant, including the native genera Baccharis, Cornus, Prunus, and Rubus, as well as the exotics Ligustrum spp., Pueraria montana var. lobata, and Wisteria sinensis. In the absence of disturbance, small trees rapidly overtake the sites and may become dominant.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Stands of this macrogroup occupy sites that were cleared and the soils disturbed (e.g., old fields, abandoned quarries, old homesteads, etc.) or have been otherwise heavily disturbed, e.g. through heavy grazing. Stands may be composed of weedy or generalist native or exotic grass, forb and shrub species, in combinations for which no natural analog exists. Typically exotics exceed 80% cover, or the combination of weedy, generalist and exotic species exceed 80% cover. Further work is needed to establish a list of generalist, weedy natives and exotics, but some diagnostic features are as follows: Andropogon virginicus is often the dominant plant by the third year of succession in Piedmont old fields (Oosting 1942). It is typically preceded by Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Conyza canadensis, Digitaria sanguinalis, and Symphyotrichum pilosum. Other native perennial grasses may include Andropogon gyrans, Andropogon ternarius, and Dichanthelium dichotomum. Other native herbaceous taxa may include Antennaria plantaginifolia, Chamaecrista fasciculata, Chamaesyce nutans, Diodia teres, Fimbristylis autumnalis, Gamochaeta purpurea, Helenium amarum, Hypericum drummondii, Hypericum gentianoides, Ipomoea lacunosa, Ipomoea pandurata, Juncus tenuis, Plantago aristata, Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium, Solanum carolinense, and Solidago sp. Some exotic taxa include Eragrostis pilosa, Kummerowia striata, and Rumex acetosella. Shrubs and vines include the native genera Baccharis, Cornus, Prunus, Rubus, as well as the exotics Ligustrum spp., Pueraria montana var. lobata, and Wisteria sinensis.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This macrogroup contains combinations of weedy or generalist native and exotic taxa for which no natural analog exists. Variation in native versus exotic species composition is accommodated at the alliance level within this macrogroup and its one group. One significant reference is Wright and Fridley (2010), from which more information can be obtained on regional variation in ruderal vegetation in the eastern United States. In some areas of the Southeast, there may be difficulties in distinguishing this macrogroup (M307) in 7.B.2 ~Pasture & Hay Field Crop Cultural Formation (CFO05)$$ from related "pasture grassland" vegetation of 2.B.2 ~Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation (F012)$$. Agricultural pastures and hayfields differ from native or naturalized grasslands in the degree to which both structure and composition are manipulated through regular mowing, fertilization, intensive grazing, and other practices. These modifications to structure and composition provide distinctive vegetation characteristics as compared to ruderal (and natural) grasslands. If agricultural practices are discontinued, native and exotic species from the surrounding landscape may establish and the field will become more "ruderal." Where this occurs, the vegetation should be assigned to this macrogroup (M307).
The distinction between degraded native grasslands, ruderal grasslands, and planted pasture/hay can become difficult where native grasses are sown for pasture or hay. For example, tallgrass species may be planted on cleared lands within the range of tallgrass prairie, and take on sufficient floristic similarity to tallgrass prairie to be low-quality examples, but they may be used for pasture or hay. Similarly, in Texas, many native grasslands have been seeded, then fenced, sometimes cleared of woody species, and maintained as pasture/hay. Its probably simplest to call them Agricultural Pasture/Hay, but the actual composition is quite variable (D. Diamond pers. comm. 2014).
The distinction between degraded native grasslands, ruderal grasslands, and planted pasture/hay can become difficult where native grasses are sown for pasture or hay. For example, tallgrass species may be planted on cleared lands within the range of tallgrass prairie, and take on sufficient floristic similarity to tallgrass prairie to be low-quality examples, but they may be used for pasture or hay. Similarly, in Texas, many native grasslands have been seeded, then fenced, sometimes cleared of woody species, and maintained as pasture/hay. Its probably simplest to call them Agricultural Pasture/Hay, but the actual composition is quite variable (D. Diamond pers. comm. 2014).
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Stands are dominated by short to tall forbs and graminoids, or by shrubs. 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: Andropogon virginicus is often the dominant plant by the third year of succession in Piedmont old fields (Oosting 1942). Before it achieves dominance, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Conyza canadensis, Digitaria sanguinalis, and Symphyotrichum pilosum may be more prominent. Other native perennial grasses may include Andropogon gyrans, Andropogon ternarius, and Dichanthelium dichotomum. Other (mostly native) herbaceous taxa may include Antennaria plantaginifolia, Bulbostylis capillaris, Chamaecrista fasciculata, Chamaesyce nutans, Cyperus compressus, Diodia teres, Fimbristylis autumnalis, Gamochaeta purpurea (= Gnaphalium purpureum), Helenium amarum (= Helenium tenuifolium), Hypericum drummondii, Hypericum gentianoides, Ipomoea lacunosa, Ipomoea pandurata, Juncus tenuis, Plantago aristata, Pseudognaphalium obtusifolium (= Gnaphalium obtusifolium), Solanum carolinense, and Solidago sp. (Oosting 1942). Shrubs and vines are dominant in some stands. These include the native genera Baccharis, Cornus, Croton, Juniperus, Prunus, Rhus, and Rubus. 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 the grasses Bothriochloa ischaemum, Cynodon dactylon, Dactylis glomerata, Eragrostis pilosa, Schedonorus spp., Imperata cylindrica, Paspalum notatum, and Sorghum halepense; the forbs Kummerowia striata (= Lespedeza striata), Lespedeza cuneata, and Rumex acetosella; and the shrubs and woody vines Ligustrum spp., Pueraria montana var. lobata, Wisteria sinensis, and others. In the case of Cynodon, Lolium, 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 may be dominant, but in some other cases small trees rapidly overtake them and may 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. Depending on the availability of adjacent seed sources, ongoing mowing, etc., sites may either remain as herb- and shrub-dominated meadows for 20-50+ years, or may succeed to forests.
Environmental Description: Stands occur on disturbed land, irrespective of the somewhat different environmental conditions that may prevail. The sites are typically relatively flat to rolling and fairly moist, with fertile and deep soils, related to their past desirability for agricultural activities.
Geographic Range: This vegetation is found across the southeastern United States, in the coastal plains and adjacent interior regions, from Virginia to Texas and north in the interior to Kentucky and Oklahoma.
Nations: MX?,US
States/Provinces: AL, AR, FL, GA, KY, LA, MD, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA, WV
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.860605
Confidence Level: High
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 |
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)
< Seral grasslands on abandoned fields (Penfound 1967) [Penfound''s concept encompasses the Central (Great Plains) and Eastern region of the United States, so includes M307, M123 and M498.]
< Seral grasslands on abandoned fields (Penfound 1967) [Penfound''s concept encompasses the Central (Great Plains) and Eastern region of the United States, so includes M307, M123 and M498.]
- Diamond, David D. Personal communication. Director, Missouri Resource Assessment Partnership (MoRAP), University of Missouri, Columbia.
- 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.
- Penfound, W. T. 1967. A physiognomic classification of vegetation in conterminous United States. Botanical Review 33:289-320.
- Wright, J. P., and J. D. Fridley. 2010. Biogeographic synthesis of secondary succession rates in eastern North America. Journal of Biogeography 37:1584-1596.