Print Report

A3318 Schizachyrium scoparium - Sorghastrum nutans Coastal Plain Prairie Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: These are dry-mesic patch prairies with restricted distributions from the coastal plains of the southeastern United States, dominated by Bouteloua curtipendula, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Sorghastrum nutans.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Indiangrass Coastal Plain Prairie Alliance

Colloquial Name: Coastal Plain Little Bluestem Prairie

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance includes a variety of relatively restricted dry-mesic patch prairie types which are found in the coastal plains of the southeastern United States. They are rare and/or have been greatly reduced through land-use change. The most abundant species in stands of this alliance are Bouteloua curtipendula, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Sorghastrum nutans. Other common or characteristic graminoid species include Andropogon gerardii, Andropogon glomeratus, Carex spp., Danthonia spicata, Fimbristylis puberula, Panicum flexile, Panicum virgatum, Sorghastrum nutans, and Sporobolus clandestinus. Component forbs are highly variable among the various associations across the region, with members of the Asteraceae and Fabaceae being most abundant and prominent. Some examples may exhibit a scattered canopy of one or more of Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Quercus muehlenbergii, and/or Quercus stellata. Much of this patch prairie vegetation occurs on distinctive soils or geologic formations, such as calcareous clays. This includes the Jackson Formation of Mississippi and Louisiana; the Cook Mountain Formation, Fleming Formation, and Morse Clays of Louisiana; and the Demopolis and related formations of the Alabama Black Belt.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Examples of this alliance are found in the coastal plains of the southeastern United States and are typically dominated by Bouteloua curtipendula, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Sorghastrum nutans.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: It is possible that this alliance could be subdivided, either into moister and drier units, or between the examples west and east of the Mississippi River. There is not enough information to reliably do the former, and the latter seems arbitrary and unnecessary (at this time).

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: The dominant lifeforms in stands of this alliance are medium and tall perennial grasses, although forbs can be abundant as well. Woody species are uncommon in well-managed examples, but trees and shrubs can occur as scattered individuals or clumps. Vegetation tends to be dense and between 1-1.5 m tall.

Floristics: The most abundant species in stands of this alliance are Bouteloua curtipendula, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Sorghastrum nutans. Other common or characteristic graminoid species include Andropogon gerardii, Andropogon glomeratus, Carex spp., Danthonia spicata, Fimbristylis puberula, Panicum flexile, Panicum virgatum, Sorghastrum nutans, and Sporobolus clandestinus. Component forbs are highly variable among the various associations across the region, with members of the Asteraceae and Fabaceae being most abundant and prominent. Some forbs that may occur in the various associations include Dalea candida, Dalea purpurea, Echinacea pallida, Glandularia bipinnatifida, Grindelia lanceolata, Stenaria nigricans var. nigricans (= Hedyotis nigricans var. nigricans), Liatris punctata var. mucronata (= Liatris mucronata), Liatris squarrosa, Marshallia caespitosa, Nemastylis geminiflora, Packera tampicana, Ratibida pinnata, Rudbeckia missouriensis, Silphium integrifolium, Silphium laciniatum, Silphium terebinthinaceum, and Thelesperma filifolium. Some examples may exhibit a scattered canopy of one or more of Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana, Quercus muehlenbergii, and/or Quercus stellata. Specimens of Juniperus virginiana are relatively short and compact. The open grown Quercus spp. typically have short trunks, spreading limbs, and rounded crowns with many branches. These trees can be found scattered individually or in isolated clumps and patches. The subcanopy is absent or very sparse. Commonly encountered shrubs include Cornus florida, Rhus copallinum, Symphoricarpos orbiculatus, and Ulmus alata. Toxicodendron radicans may also display a shrubby growth form.

Dynamics:  Fires were a common occurrence in stands of this alliance before European settlement altered fire regimes. In the prolonged absence of fire, woody species, including Juniperus virginiana, can invade and become abundant. The grassland characteristics of the site can eventually be lost in the absence of fire, grazing, or other disturbance. Threats to these communities include fire suppression, livestock grazing, and damage by feral hogs and vehicles. The current range of this alliance has been reduced greatly from its historic extent.
Environmental Description:  These are dry and dry-mesic grasslands and patch prairies. Stands of this alliance occur in ridges and upper slopes in gently rolling topography of the coastal plains. Soil moisture and texture vary but tend to be coarser and well-drained (e.g., loams or sands).
Geographic Range: The vegetation of this alliance is primarily found in the West Gulf Coastal Plain of Arkansas, Louisiana, Oklahoma, and Texas, but some associations are attributed to the East Gulf and south Atlantic coastal plains. It includes vegetation of the Black Belt and Jackson prairies of Alabama and Mississippi.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, AR, GA, LA, MS, OK, TN, 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.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.2 Southeastern Coastal Plain Patch Prairie Macrogroup M309 2.B.2.Nh.2
Group 2.B.2.Nh.2.a Little Bluestem - Switchgrass - Bushy Bluestem Patch Prairie Group G175 2.B.2.Nh.2.a
Alliance A3318 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass Coastal Plain Prairie Alliance A3318 2.B.2.Nh.2.a
Association CEGL004020 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Purple Prairie-clover - Wholeleaf Rosinweed Jackson Prairie Grassland CEGL004020 2.B.2.Nh.2.a
Association CEGL004021 Little Bluestem - Wiry Panicgrass - Little-tooth Sedge Grassland CEGL004021 2.B.2.Nh.2.a
Association CEGL004022 Little Bluestem - Puffballs - Prairie Pleatleaf Grassland CEGL004022 2.B.2.Nh.2.a
Association CEGL004247 (Bastard Oak) / Indiangrass - Pinnate Prairie Coneflower - Diamond-flowers - (Dakota Mock Vervain) Georgia Chalk Prairie Grassland CEGL004247 2.B.2.Nh.2.a
Association CEGL004664 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - White Prairie-clover - Scaly Blazingstar - (Prairie Rosinweed) Black Belt Grassland CEGL004664 2.B.2.Nh.2.a
Association CEGL004721 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass Jackson Prairie Grassland CEGL004721 2.B.2.Nh.2.a
Association CEGL007768 Little Bluestem - Tall Dropseed - Hairy Fimbry Scrub Grassland CEGL007768 2.B.2.Nh.2.a
Association CEGL007769 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Pale Purple Coneflower - Purple Prairie-clover Grassland CEGL007769 2.B.2.Nh.2.a
Association CEGL007774 Indiangrass - Bushy Bluestem - Compass Plant Grassland CEGL007774 2.B.2.Nh.2.a
Association CEGL007812 Eastern Red-cedar - Osage-orange / Sideoats Grama - Stiff Greenthread - Great Plains Ragwort Wooded Grassland CEGL007812 2.B.2.Nh.2.a
Association CEGL007930 Little Bluestem - Missouri Orange Coneflower - Narrowleaf Gumweed - (Cusp Blazingstar) Grassland CEGL007930 2.B.2.Nh.2.a
Concept Lineage: Nine of the eleven associations in this alliance come from A.1198 (9/35), and two from A.1919 (2/15).

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Dalea Clayey Dry Blackland Prairies (Turner et al. 1999)
>< Schizachyrium - Sorghastrum - Andropogon community type (Diamond and Smeins 1984)
>< Schizachyrium scoparium / Juniperus virginiana herbaceous alliance (Hoagland 1998a)
? Schizachyrium scoparium-Helenium autumnale calcareous clay prairie or barren (Wieland 1995)
>< ID4a. Bluestem Tallgrass Prairie (Allard 1990)
? ID4b. Morse Clay Calcareous Prairie (Allard 1990)
? ID4c. Fleming Calcareous Prairie (Allard 1990)
? ID4c. Jackson Prairie (Allard 1990)
? ID4e. Cook Mountain Calcareous Prairie (Allard 1990)
>< ID4f. Limestone Prairie (Allard 1990)
? IE10a. Interior Upland Limestone Barren (Allard 1990)
? Keiffer Calcareous Prairie (Smith et al. 1989)
? Little Bluestem - Big Bluestem - Indiangrass Association (Diamond and Smeins 1990)
? T5A1aI1c. Andropogon gerardii - Sorghastrum avenaceum (Foti et al. 1994)
Concept Author(s): M. Pyne, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: M. Pyne

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 03-14-14
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