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A3474 Schizachyrium scoparium - Danthonia sericea - Bigelowia nuttallii Cumberland Sandstone Grassland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This vegetation includes perennial grasslands with Bigelowia nuttallii, Danthonia sericea, Liatris microcephala, and Schizachyrium scoparium and open woodlands with Pinus echinata, Pinus virginiana, Quercus falcata, Quercus marilandica, and Quercus stellata associated with sandstone outcrops on the Cumberland Plateau in Kentucky and Tennessee, as well as Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain in Alabama and northeastern Georgia.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Silky Oatgrass - Nuttall''s Rayless-goldenrod Cumberland Sandstone Grassland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Cumberland Sandstone Glade & Barrens

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This vegetation, dominated by perennial grasslands, occurs in association with open woodlands of sandstone outcrops and surrounding thin soil areas. These stands are found on the Cumberland Plateau in Kentucky and Tennessee, as well as Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain in Alabama and northeastern Georgia. The dominant herbaceous plants include Bigelowia nuttallii, Danthonia sericea, Liatris microcephala, and Schizachyrium scoparium. Scattered trees include Pinus echinata, Pinus virginiana, Quercus falcata, Quercus marilandica, and Quercus stellata. Shrubs may include Chionanthus virginicus, Kalmia latifolia, and Vaccinium arboreum.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Includes perennial grasslands and open woodlands associated with sandstone outcrops and surrounding thin soil areas. The dominant herbaceous plants include Bigelowia nuttallii, Danthonia sericea, Liatris microcephala, and Schizachyrium scoparium. There may be scattered trees, such as Pinus echinata, Pinus virginiana, Quercus falcata, Quercus marilandica, and Quercus stellata.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Some scattered trees can be included.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Graminoids dominate stands of this alliance with scattered trees and shrubs. Schizachyrium scoparium dominates these grasslands which have scattered broad-leaved deciduous trees, or mixed broad-leaved deciduous trees with needle-leaved evergreen trees such as Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana. The herbaceous flora is diverse and varies considerably seasonally; spring and autumn are periods of peak flowering.

Floristics: The dominant herbaceous plants include Bigelowia nuttallii, Danthonia sericea, Liatris microcephala, and Schizachyrium scoparium. Scattered trees include Pinus echinata, Pinus virginiana, Quercus falcata, Quercus marilandica, and Quercus stellata. Shrubs may include Chionanthus virginicus, Kalmia latifolia, and Vaccinium arboreum.

Dynamics:  Drought (in these thin soil areas) is important in keeping these areas open with few trees.
Environmental Description:  This vegetation is associated with sandstone outcrops and surrounding thin soil areas.
Geographic Range: This alliance is found on the Cumberland Plateau in Kentucky and Tennessee, as well as Lookout Mountain and Sand Mountain in Alabama and northeastern Georgia. This vegetation may also occur in western Virginia.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AL, GA, KY, TN, 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.2 Little Bluestem - Silky Oatgrass Acidic Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup M509 2.B.2.Nc.2
Group 2.B.2.Nc.2.b Little Bluestem - Silky Oatgrass Acidic Glade & Barrens Group G178 2.B.2.Nc.2.b
Alliance A3474 Little Bluestem - Silky Oatgrass - Nuttall''s Rayless-goldenrod Cumberland Sandstone Grassland Alliance A3474 2.B.2.Nc.2.b
Association CEGL004061 Little Bluestem - Silky Oatgrass - Small-head Blazingstar - (Creeping Aster) Grassland CEGL004061 2.B.2.Nc.2.b
Association CEGL004343 Elf Orpine - Appalachian Stitchwort Sandstone Glade CEGL004343 2.B.2.Nc.2.b
Association CEGL004622 Nuttall''s Rayless-goldenrod - Woodland Tickseed - Small-head Blazingstar Grassland CEGL004622 2.B.2.Nc.2.b
Association CEGL008470 Mountain Laurel - (Black Huckleberry, Box Huckleberry) Cumberland Shrubland CEGL008470 2.B.2.Nc.2.b
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Acidic Glades and Barrens (Edwards et al. 2013)
>< ID4g. Sandstone Prairie (Allard 1990)
Concept Author(s): C. Nordman, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: C. Nordman

Acknowledgements: The past work of K. Patterson and B. Perkins is gratefully acknowledged.

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.
  • Edwards, L., J. Ambrose, and K. Kirkman. 2013. The natural communities of Georgia. University of Georgia Press, Athens, GA. 675 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.
  • Perkins, B. E. 1981. Vegetation of sandstone outcrops of the Cumberland Plateau. M.S. thesis, University of Tennessee, Knoxville. xi plus 121 pp.