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A3468 Schizachyrium scoparium - Sorghastrum nutans - Symphyotrichum depauperatum Serpentine Grassland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: The dominant species in this community are Sorghastrum nutans and Schizachyrium scoparium; other characteristic herbaceous species may include Symphyotrichum depauperatum. These grasslands occur on soils derived from serpentine and range from Staten Island, New York, through parts of Pennsylvania and Maryland to the Blue Ridge of Virginia

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Serpentine American-aster Serpentine Grassland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Little Bluestem - Indiangrass Serpentine Barrens

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: The dominant species in this community are Sorghastrum nutans and Schizachyrium scoparium. Other characteristic herbaceous species may include the graminoids Danthonia spicata, Dichanthelium spp., and Panicum virgatum and the forbs Sericocarpus linifolius, Solidago nemoralis, and Symphyotrichum depauperatum. These grasslands occur on soils derived from serpentine. They range from Staten Island, New York, through parts of Pennsylvania and Maryland to the Blue Ridge of Virginia.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Grasslands on thin soil derived from serpentine. The dominant species in this community are Sorghastrum nutans and Schizachyrium scoparium. Other characteristic herbaceous species may include Symphyotrichum depauperatum.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: These are grasslands and are in a separate alliance in ~Appalachian Mafic Glade Group (G180)$$ from the barrens vegetation which is grassy with scattered trees. Associate Editor (Orie Loucks) made the following comment regarding the alliances in ~Appalachian Mafic Glade Group (G180)$$: "Seems like a lot of splitting of the group into distinct alliances. Too much focus on a specialized type, at association and alliance level? OK for now."

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: These are dominated by perennial grasses (graminoid lifeform).

Floristics: The dominant species in this community are Sorghastrum nutans and Schizachyrium scoparium. Other characteristic herbaceous species may include the graminoids Danthonia spicata, Dichanthelium spp., and Panicum virgatum and the forbs Sericocarpus linifolius, Solidago nemoralis, Symphyotrichum depauperatum, and many others (Rajakaruna et al. 2009).

Dynamics:  Fire, climate, native grazing and edaphic factors all played a role historically in maintaining an open structure in this vegetation (Arabas 2000). Loss of these natural processes often results in a decrease in native grass cover and increase in trees and shrubs. Threats to these communities include lack of fire, 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:  Stands occur on areas of thin soil derived from serpentine. These soils are prone to drought and do not sustain trees.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs on areas of soil derived from serpentine and ranges from Staten Island, New York, through parts of Pennsylvania and Maryland to the Blue Ridge of Virginia.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  MD, NY, PA, VA


Confidence Level: Moderate

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.Nc Eastern North American Grassland & Shrubland Division D024 2.B.2.Nc
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Nc.1 Catawba Rosebay / Michaux''s Saxifrage - Flattened Oatgrass Felsic & Mafic Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup M506 2.B.2.Nc.1
Group 2.B.2.Nc.1.c Little Bluestem - Balsam Groundsel - Prairie Groundsel Appalachian Mafic Glade Group G180 2.B.2.Nc.1.c
Alliance A3468 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Serpentine American-aster Serpentine Grassland Alliance A3468 2.B.2.Nc.1.c
Association CEGL004999 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - White Colicroot - Balsam Groundsel Grassland CEGL004999 2.B.2.Nc.1.c
Association CEGL006441 Indiangrass - Little Bluestem Serpentine Grassland CEGL006441 2.B.2.Nc.1.c
Association CEGL006442 Little Bluestem - Prairie Dropseed Serpentine Grassland CEGL006442 2.B.2.Nc.1.c
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Hempstead Plains Grassland (Reschke 1990)
>< ID4a. Bluestem Tallgrass Prairie (Allard 1990)
Concept Author(s): C. Nordman, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: C. Nordman

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 09-26-14
  • Allard, D. J. 1990. Southeastern United States ecological community classification. Interim report, Version 1.2. The Nature Conservancy, Southeast Regional Office, Chapel Hill, NC. 96 pp.
  • Arabas, K. B. 2000. Spatial and temporal relationships among fire frequency, vegetation, and soil depth in an eastern North American serpentine barren. Journal of the Torrey Botanical Society 127:51-65.
  • 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.
  • Heikens, A. L., K. A. West, and P. A. Robertson. 1994. Short-term response of chert and shale barrens vegetation to fire in southwestern Illinois. Castanea 59(3):274-285.
  • Rajakaruna, N., T. B. Harris, and E. B. Alexander. 2009. Serpentine geoecology of eastern North America: A review. Rhodora 111(945):21-108.
  • Reschke, C. 1990. Ecological communities of New York State. New York Natural Heritage Program, New York State Department of Environmental Conservation, Latham, NY. 96 pp.