Print Report

A4001 Bouteloua gracilis - Bouteloua hirsuta - Bouteloua curtipendula Shortgrass Prairie Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This shortgrass prairie alliance is characterized by a moderate to dense layer of short grasses dominated by Bouteloua gracilis, Bouteloua hirsuta, and midgrass Bouteloua curtipendula with Bouteloua dactyloides absent or has low cover. It is common across the western portions of the central and southern Great Plains.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Blue Grama - Hairy Grama - Sideoats Grama Shortgrass Prairie Alliance

Colloquial Name: Great Plains Grama Shortgrass Prairie

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This shortgrass prairie alliance is common across the western portions of the central and southern Great Plains. This vegetation is characterized by a moderate to dense sod of dominated by short grasses, Bouteloua gracilis, Bouteloua hirsuta and midgrass, Bouteloua curtipendula. However, not all three species are always present. Bouteloua dactyloides is absent or has low cover (<5%). Other grasses that may be present to codominant in Aristida purpurea, Bouteloua eriopoda, and Muhlenbergia torreyi. Elymus elymoides, Hesperostipa comata, Pascopyrum smithii, Pleuraphis jamesii, Schedonnardus paniculatus, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Sporobolus cryptandrus may also be present. Forbs have low cover but may be diverse including species of Astragalus, Eriogonum, Gaura, Machaeranthera, Opuntia, Plantago, Psoralidium, Ratibida, Sphaeralcea and Zinnia. Scattered shrubs are relatively uncommon and may include Artemisia frigida, Atriplex canescens, Ericameria nauseosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, and Cylindropuntia imbricata (in the southern extent). Soils are well-developed with texture ranging from sandy loam to clay loam. Artemisia frigida, Dalea formosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Mimosa borealis, and/or Yucca glauca occur in the shortgrass steppe of the western Great Plains in a variety of environments but are common in shallow soils near escarpments.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance is characterized by an open to dense short herbaceous layer dominated by diagnostic species Bouteloua gracilis, Bouteloua curtipendula, and Bouteloua hirsuta. However, not all three species are always present. Bouteloua dactyloides is absent or has low cover (<5%). Other diagnostic grasses that may be present to codominant are Aristida purpurea, Bouteloua eriopoda, and Muhlenbergia torreyi. Additional associates include Elymus elymoides, Hesperostipa comata, Pascopyrum smithii, Pleuraphis jamesii, Schedonnardus paniculatus, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Sporobolus cryptandrus. Forb associates include Astragalus spp., Eriogonum jamesii, Gaura coccinea, Machaeranthera pinnatifida var. pinnatifida, Opuntia polyacantha, Plantago patagonica, Psoralidium tenuiflorum, Ratibida columnifera, Sphaeralcea coccinea, and Zinnia grandiflora.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Stands containing a mix of Bouteloua gracilis, Carex filifolia, and moderate amounts of Pascopyrum smithii or Hesperostipa comata may present classification problems. Bouteloua gracilis increases with heavy grazing pressure as other species decline in many western plant communities, often resulting in difficulties in classification. This alliance should be compared with A4000 to see if the two alliances should be merged, but that alliance may occur more typically on clayey soils.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Stands in this alliance have a graminoid layer dominated by short grasses that typically form a sod. Midgrasses may codominate in some communities. Rarely, sparse scattered shrubs may be present. Some ungrazed stands may have a short bunchgrass form.

Floristics: This vegetation of this alliance is characterized by a moderate to dense sod of short grasses, midgrasses and forbs. The dominant and diagnostic species are Bouteloua gracilis, Bouteloua curtipendula, and Bouteloua hirsuta. However, not all three species are always present. Bouteloua dactyloides (= Buchloe dactyloides) is absent or has low cover (<5%). Other grasses that may be present to codominant are Aristida purpurea, Bouteloua eriopoda, and Muhlenbergia torreyi. Elymus elymoides, Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata), Pascopyrum smithii, Pleuraphis jamesii, Schedonnardus paniculatus, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Sporobolus cryptandrus may also be present. Forbs such as Astragalus spp., Eriogonum jamesii, Gaura coccinea, Machaeranthera pinnatifida var. pinnatifida, Opuntia polyacantha, Plantago patagonica, Psoralidium tenuiflorum, Ratibida columnifera, Sphaeralcea coccinea, and Zinnia grandiflora are common throughout this community. Scattered shrubs are uncommonand may include Artemisia frigida, Atriplex canescens, Ericameria nauseosa (= Chrysothamnus nauseosus), Gutierrezia sarothrae, and Cylindropuntia imbricata (= Opuntia imbricata) (in the southern extent). Artemisia frigida, Dalea formosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Mimosa borealis, and/or Yucca glauca occur in the shortgrass steppe of the western Great Plains in a variety of environments but are common in shallow soils near escarpments.

Dynamics:  Bouteloua gracilis is an extremely drought- and grazing-tolerant shortgrass species. It is one of the most widely distributed grasses in the western U.S. and is present in many different grassland, shrubland and woodland communities. It evolved with grazing by large herbivores and generally forms a short sod. However, in some stands, ungrazed plants develop the upright physiognomy of a bunchgrass.
Environmental Description:  This shortgrass prairie alliance is widespread across the western portions of the central and southern Great Plains. Climate is semi-arid continental, with over half the annual precipitation typically occurring during the summer. Soils are well-developed and range from sandy loam to clay loam.
Geographic Range: This shortgrass prairie alliance is common across the western portions of the central and southern Great Plains.

Nations: MX?,US

States/Provinces:  CO, KS, NM, OK, TX, WY


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.Nb Central North American Grassland & Shrubland Division D023 2.B.2.Nb
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Nb.3 Blue Grama - Buffalograss Shortgrass Prairie Macrogroup M053 2.B.2.Nb.3
Group 2.B.2.Nb.3.a Blue Grama - Buffalograss - James'' Galleta Shortgrass Prairie Group G144 2.B.2.Nb.3.a
Alliance A4001 Blue Grama - Hairy Grama - Sideoats Grama Shortgrass Prairie Alliance A4001 2.B.2.Nb.3.a
Association CEGL001754 Blue Grama - Sideoats Grama Grassland CEGL001754 2.B.2.Nb.3.a
Association CEGL001755 Blue Grama - Hairy Grama Grassland CEGL001755 2.B.2.Nb.3.a
Association CEGL001761 Blue Grama - Sand Dropseed Grassland CEGL001761 2.B.2.Nb.3.a
Association CEGL001764 Hairy Grama - Sideoats Grama Grassland CEGL001764 2.B.2.Nb.3.a
Association CEGL002250 Sideoats Grama - (Black Grama, Blue Grama) Grassland CEGL002250 2.B.2.Nb.3.a
Association CEGL002782 Prairie Sagewort / Blue Grama Dwarf-shrubland CEGL002782 2.B.2.Nb.3.a
Association CEGL005011 Broom Snakeweed - Soapweed Yucca Dwarf-shrubland CEGL005011 2.B.2.Nb.3.a
Association CEGL005389 Blue Grama - Ring Muhly - Purple Three-awn Grassland CEGL005389 2.B.2.Nb.3.a
Concept Lineage: This new alliance includes associations from Old Alliance V.A.5.N.d. Bouteloua curtipendula Herbaceous Alliance (A.1244), Old Alliance V.A.5.N.e. Bouteloua gracilis Herbaceous Alliance (A.1282), and Old Alliance V.A.5.N.e. Bouteloua hirsuta Herbaceous Alliance (A.1285).

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Bouteloua gracilis herbaceous alliance (Hoagland 1998a)
? Bouteloua hirsuta Series (Wood et al. 1998) [This also includes some of the shrub herbaceous alliances.]
< Bouteloua hirsuta herbaceous alliance (Hoagland 1998a) [This only includes southern Great Plains associations.]
> Central and Eastern Grasslands: 53: Grama-Galleta Steppe (Bouteloua-Hilaria) (Küchler 1964)
< Grama-Galleta Series (Dick-Peddie 1993)
< Grama-Threeawn Series (Dick-Peddie 1993)
< Lower Slope (Beavis et al. 1982)
< Plains-Mesa Grassland (Dick-Peddie 1993)
Concept Author(s): W.A. Dick-Peddie (1993)

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-08-14
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