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A1200 Schizachyrium littorale - Paspalum monostachyum - Panicum amarum Texas Coastal Grassland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: These grasslands are typically dominated by Dichanthelium spp., Heteropogon contortus, Panicum amarum, Paspalum monostachyum, Paspalum plicatulum, Paspalum vaginatum, Schizachyrium littorale, and Spartina patens. These are the predominant grasslands of the South Texas Sand Sheet, the Ingleside barrier-strandplain, as well as barrier islands and coastal situations of Texas and adjacent western Louisiana.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Shore Little Bluestem - Gulfdune Crowngrass - Bitter Panicgrass Texas Coastal Grassland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Texas-Louisiana Coastal Grassland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: Stands are typically dominated or codominated by Panicum amarum, Paspalum monostachyum, Paspalum plicatulum, or Schizachyrium littorale. Other associates include Dichanthelium spp., Heteropogon contortus, Paspalum vaginatum, and Spartina patens. There is some variation in composition across the moisture gradient at these sites. More poorly drained (wetter) areas tend to have high cover of Spartina patens and may support inclusions of Spartina spartinae. This alliance includes the predominant grasslands of the South Texas Sand Sheet, the Ingleside barrier-strandplain in the Coastal Bend of Texas, as well as barrier islands and other coastal situations of Texas and adjacent western Louisiana. On barrier islands, these grasslands occur on stabilized secondary dunes, low primary dunes, and relatively elevated backshore ridges above intertidal beaches.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This vegetation is found in the South Texas Sand Sheet, the Ingleside barrier-strandplain in the Coastal Bend of Texas, as well as barrier islands and other coastal situations of Texas and adjacent western Louisiana. Stands are typically dominated or codominated by Panicum amarum, Paspalum monostachyum, Paspalum plicatulum, or Schizachyrium littorale. Other associates include Dichanthelium spp., Heteropogon contortus, Paspalum vaginatum, and Spartina patens. This combination of geography and species composition is diagnostic.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: It may warrant further investigation why this alliance includes the predominant grassland vegetation of a geographic area along the central and south Texas coast when the associated Quercus fusiformis woodlands and shrublands are in a different alliance (and group), even though the group that includes this alliance includes Quercus virginiana shrublands.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These are tall grasslands of dunes composed of salt-spray-tolerant components. On the Coastal Sand Plain of interior south Texas, these grasslands occur intermixed with Quercus virginiana mottes and woodlands.

Floristics: Stands are typically dominated by Panicum amarum, Paspalum monostachyum, and Schizachyrium littorale (= Schizachyrium scoparium ssp. littorale), with other salt-spray-tolerant components, including Dichanthelium spp., Heteropogon contortus, Paspalum plicatulum, Paspalum vaginatum, and Spartina patens. Louisiana examples contain Astragalus nuttallianus, Croton punctatus, Dalea emarginata, Eleocharis albida, Gaillardia pulchella, Heterotheca subaxillaris, Hydrocotyle bonariensis, Ipomoea imperati (= Ipomoea stolonifera), Ipomoea pes-caprae, Juncus bufonius, Oenothera drummondii, Pediomelum rhombifolium, Phyla nodiflora, Sabatia arenicola, Sisyrinchium biforme, Solidago sempervirens, Strophostyles helvola, and others. Elionurus tripsacoides and Trichoneura elegans are present within their ranges in Texas. More poorly drained (wetter) areas may support inclusions of Spartina spartinae. On Texas barrier islands, these wetter inclusional grasslands may contain Sporobolus spp., Spartina patens, Eragrostis spp., Carex spp., Scirpus spp., Fuirena spp., and Fimbristylis spp. as important components and grade into grasslands of Uniola paniculata and Panicum amarum on drier, less stable dunes.

Dynamics:  These grasslands are maintained by periodic fires and soil and environmental conditions generally inhospitable to the growth of trees and shrubs. In some associations, the prolonged absence of fire can favor invasion by woody species which can become abundant. Overgrazing can also alter the composition and structure of these communities. Minor changes in drainage can cause differences in species composition.
Environmental Description:  This alliance includes grasslands of the Ingleside barrier-strandplain in the Coastal Bend of Texas, as well as barrier islands and coastal situations of Texas and adjacent western Louisiana. In coastal situations, these grasslands occur on stabilized secondary dunes on barrier islands (Texas) or on beach dunes and relatively elevated backshore ridges above intertidal beaches on barrier islands and mainland areas (Louisiana).
Geographic Range: This alliance is found on the South Texas Sand Sheet, the Ingleside barrier-strandplain in the Coastal Bend of Texas, as well as barrier islands and other coastal situations of Texas and adjacent western Louisiana.

Nations: MX?,US

States/Provinces:  LA, TX


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.4 Temperate to Polar Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Formation F005 2.B.4
Division 2.B.4.Na Eastern North American Coastal Scrub & Herb Vegetation Division D026 2.B.4.Na
Macrogroup 2.B.4.Na.2 American Beachgrass - Sea-oats - Seaside Goldenrod Dune & Grassland Macrogroup M057 2.B.4.Na.2
Group 2.B.4.Na.2.a Wax-myrtle - Sea-oats - Shore Little Bluestem Dune & Grassland Group G494 2.B.4.Na.2.a
Alliance A1200 Shore Little Bluestem - Gulfdune Crowngrass - Bitter Panicgrass Texas Coastal Grassland Alliance A1200 2.B.4.Na.2.a
Association CEGL002207 Shore Little Bluestem - Gulfdune Crowngrass Grassland CEGL002207 2.B.4.Na.2.a
Association CEGL004970 Bitter Panicgrass - Gulfdune Crowngrass Grassland CEGL004970 2.B.4.Na.2.a
Association CEGL007222 Gulfdune Crowngrass - Bushy Bluestem - Shore Little Bluestem - Texas Marsh-elder Grassland CEGL007222 2.B.4.Na.2.a
Association CEGL007821 Shore Little Bluestem - Brownseed Crowngrass Texas Sand Sheet Grassland CEGL007821 2.B.4.Na.2.a
Concept Lineage: This new alliance is equivalent to old alliance A.1200.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Coastal Dune Grassland (Smith and Craig 1990)
Concept Author(s): D. Diamond and M. Pyne, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: M. Pyne and J. Teague

Acknowledgements: We have incorporated significant descriptive information previously compiled by D. Diamond.

Version Date: 10-06-14
  • Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 pp.
  • Diamond, D. D., and T. E. Fulbright. 1990. Contemporary plant communities of upland grasslands of the Coastal Sand Plain, Texas. The Southwestern Naturalist 35(4):385-392.
  • Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
  • McAlister, W. H. 1988. An annotated list of the plants of the Aransas National Wildlife Refuge. Unpublished report with 1990 additions and index. 66 pp.
  • McAlister, W. H., and M. K. McAlister. 1993. A naturalist''s guide: Matagorda Island. University of Texas Press, Austin. 354 pp.
  • Smith, L. M., and N. J. Craig. 1990. The natural communities of Louisiana. Revised edition. Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries, Natural Heritage Program, Baton Rouge. 23 pp.