Print Report
A3319 Spartina pectinata Interior Prairie Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: These are wet (saturated to seasonally flooded) areas dominated by Spartina pectinata in Arkansas, Kentucky, and (probably) adjacent Tennessee.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Prairie Cordgrass Interior Prairie Alliance
Colloquial Name: Interior Cordgrass Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance covers graminoid vegetation dominated by Spartina pectinata. Associates in Kentucky and Tennessee occurrences may include Andropogon gerardii, Agalinis fasciculata, Asclepias tuberosa, Baptisia alba var. macrophylla, Cephalanthus occidentalis, Crotalaria sagittalis, Dichanthelium clandestinum, Dichanthelium scoparium, Helianthus angustifolius, Helianthus grosseserratus, Helianthus mollis, Heterotheca villosa, Rhexia mariana, Rudbeckia hirta, Rudbeckia subtomentosa, Schizachyrium scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans, Spiranthes cernua, Tripsacum dactyloides, and Viola sagittata. Examples are found in open, wet (saturated to seasonally flooded) areas in Arkansas, Kentucky, and (probably) adjacent Tennessee. Spartina pectinata is a very wide-ranging species and this alliance is near the southern limit of its largely midwestern range. This southeastern alliance is represented by small disjunct occurrences in the Upper West Gulf Coastal Plain of Kentucky, possibly extending a short distance into adjacent Tennessee, and related areas of Arkansas. These areas can remain saturated for much of the growing season, but can experience droughty conditions in the summer and fall. In Kentucky, this vegetation is at present probably seasonally saturated; it was presumably formerly seasonally flooded.
Diagnostic Characteristics: Stands are dominated by Spartina pectinata in Arkansas, Kentucky, and (probably) adjacent Tennessee. This is a very wide-ranging species and is near the southern limit of its largely midwestern range.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This is the southeastern portion of a wide-ranging old alliance.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation of this alliance is characterized by the dominance of perennial graminoids, generally 1-2 m in height and with high cover. Forbs are present in most stands, but generally with low abundance. Woody plants are scattered to very infrequent.
Floristics: Stands are dominated by Spartina pectinata. Associates in Kentucky and Tennessee occurrences include Andropogon gerardii, Agalinis fasciculata, Asclepias tuberosa, Baptisia alba var. macrophylla (= Baptisia leucantha), Cephalanthus occidentalis, Crotalaria sagittalis, Dichanthelium clandestinum, Dichanthelium scoparium, Helianthus angustifolius, Helianthus grosseserratus, Helianthus mollis, Heterotheca villosa (= Chrysopsis villosa), Rhexia mariana, Rudbeckia hirta, Rudbeckia subtomentosa, Schizachyrium scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans, Spiranthes cernua, Tripsacum dactyloides, and Viola sagittata. Arkansas examples include Cephalanthus occidentalis, Hibiscus lasiocarpos (= Hibiscus moscheutos ssp. lasiocarpos), Tripsacum dactyloides, and others.
Dynamics: These areas can remain saturated for much of the growing season, but can experience droughty conditions in the summer and fall. Fires were a common occurrence in stands of this alliance before European settlement altered fire regimes, and frequent fire (1-3 years) is required to maintain herbaceous dominance. The mesic to wet-mesic characteristics of the environment mean that woody plant succession is accelerated, and the grassland characteristics of the site can be lost after only a few years in the absence of fire, grazing, or other disturbance. Most areas have been lost to drainage and cultivation, but lack of disturbance has also contributed to the loss of quality habitat. Threats to these communities include fire suppression, livestock grazing, and damage by feral hogs and vehicles.
Environmental Description: The habitat for this vegetation is wetland prairies in Arkansas and adjacent states, in particular swales and streamsides within upland prairies. In Kentucky, this vegetation is at present probably seasonally saturated; it was presumably formerly seasonally flooded. These areas can remain saturated for much of the growing season, but can experience droughty conditions in the summer and fall (Comer et al. 1995b).
Geographic Range: The associations of this alliance are presently known from the Upper East Gulf Coastal Plain and adjacent Mississippi River Valley Alluvial Plain from Arkansas and Kentucky. This vegetation may also be found in Louisiana, Mississippi, Tennessee, and east Texas, but has not been documented there.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AR, KY, LA?, MS?, TN?, TX?
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.899443
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 | A3319 Prairie Cordgrass Interior Prairie Alliance | A3319 | 2.B.2.Nh.2.a |
| Association | CEGL004118 Prairie Cordgrass Western Kentucky Grassland | CEGL004118 | 2.B.2.Nh.2.a |
| Association | CEGL008420 Prairie Cordgrass - Eastern Gamagrass Grassland | CEGL008420 | 2.B.2.Nh.2.a |
Concept Lineage: The two associations in this new alliance come from A.1347 (two of the 13 associations in this wide-ranging old alliance).
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Wet prairie (Evans 1991)
- Comer, P. J., W. A. MacKinnon, M. L. Rabe, D. L. Cuthrell, M. R. Penskar, and D. A. Albert. 1995b. A survey of Lakeplain Prairie in Michigan. CZM Project 94D-0.04. Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Lansing, MI.
- DeSelm, H. R. 1989a. The barrens of Tennessee. Journal of the Tennessee Academy of Science 64:89-95.
- Evans, M. 1991. Kentucky ecological communities. Draft report to the Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission. 19 pp.
- Evans, M., B. Yahn, and M. Hines. 2009. Natural communities of Kentucky 2009. Kentucky Nature Preserves Commission, Frankfort, KY. 22 pp.
- 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.