Print Report

A4042 Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula Central Plains Grassland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance is common in the central and southern Great Plains on slopes and rolling uplands where Schizachyrium scoparium and Bouteloua curtipendula are dominant or codominant, possibly with a variety of other short, mid, and tallgrass species.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama Central Plains Grassland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Central Great Plains Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama Grassland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance is found largely in the central and southern Great Plains. It is widespread and common. Across its range, the vegetation is dominated by mid grasses. The vegetation cover can be moderately sparse to dense. Tall grasses and short grasses contribute substantially to the vegetation cover in most communities. The dominants are the nominal species Schizachyrium scoparium and Bouteloua curtipendula. Bouteloua gracilis and Bouteloua hirsuta are common associates across this alliance''s range. Other graminoids that are present to codominant are Andropogon gerardii, Andropogon hallii (on sandier soils), Bouteloua dactyloides (in the south and west of this alliance''s range), Calamovilfa longifolia (on sandier soils), Koeleria macrantha, Pascopyrum smithii, Sporobolus cryptandrus, Sporobolus compositus var. compositus (in the south), and Sporobolus heterolepis (in the east). There are a great number of forbs that occur in communities of this alliance, although they do not make up a large part of the herbaceous canopy. Ambrosia psilostachya, Amorpha canescens, Dalea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia, Gaura coccinea, Liatris punctata, Lygodesmia juncea, Ratibida columnifera, Sphaeralcea coccinea, Symphyotrichum ericoides, and Symphyotrichum oblongifolium are found in many communities in this alliance. Shrubs are not abundant, but Artemisia filifolia, Artemisia frigida, Rhus trilobata, Rosa spp., Symphoricarpos occidentalis, and Yucca glauca may be scattered among the herbaceous species. Communities within this alliance are most commonly found on slopes but can occur on level ground. Loam and silt soils appear to be the most common; however, in the southwest of this alliance''s range, some communities are predominantly on sandy soils.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance is concentrated in the central and southern Great Plains. Stands are mixedgrass communities dominated by Schizachyrium scoparium, often with Bouteloua curtipendula and possibly a variety of other grasses.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Two associations in this alliance appear to represent the same or very similar communities. ~Juniperus virginiana / Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula Great Plains Grassland (CEGL004066)$$ and ~Juniperus virginiana / Schizachyrium scoparium Wooded Grassland (CEGL004209)$$ should be considered for merging or more clearly differentiated.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Across its range, this alliance is dominated by mid grasses. The vegetation cover can be moderately sparse to dense. Tall and short grasses contribute substantially to the vegetation cover in most communities. The proportions of these two lifeforms are typically negatively correlated with each other and vary with the specific community and site. The tall grasses are more prevalent on sandier soils and on moderate or gentle lower slopes. The short grasses tend to be more common on flat uplands or steep slopes with heavier soils (Weaver and Albertson 1956). Shrubs and small trees are usually absent or rare but can become common in the absence of fire, particularly in the eastern portion of this alliance''s range.

Floristics: The dominants are the nominal species Schizachyrium scoparium and Bouteloua curtipendula. Bouteloua gracilis and Bouteloua hirsuta are common associates across this alliance''s range. Other graminoids that are present to codominant are Andropogon gerardii, Andropogon hallii (on sandier soils), Bouteloua dactyloides (= Buchloe dactyloides) (in the south and west of this alliance''s range), Calamovilfa longifolia (on sandier soils), Koeleria macrantha, Pascopyrum smithii, Sporobolus cryptandrus, Sporobolus compositus var. compositus (in the south), and Sporobolus heterolepis (in the east). There are a great number of forbs that occur in communities of this alliance, although they do not make up a large part of the herbaceous canopy. Ambrosia psilostachya, Amorpha canescens, Dalea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia, Gaura coccinea, Liatris punctata, Lygodesmia juncea, Ratibida columnifera, Sphaeralcea coccinea, Symphyotrichum ericoides, and Symphyotrichum oblongifolium are found in many communities in this alliance. Shrubs are not abundant, but Artemisia filifolia, Artemisia frigida, Rhus trilobata, Rosa spp., Symphoricarpos occidentalis, and Yucca glauca may be scattered among the herbaceous species. In the eastern portion of this alliance''s range, Juniperus virginiana can become abundant in the absence of fire or other methods of control.

Dynamics:  Fire is important to prevent the invasion of woody species into stands, especially in the eastern portion of this alliance''s range. However, fire is not as important as in more mesic grasslands, because drought conditions slow encroachment by woody species.
Environmental Description:  Communities within this alliance are most commonly found on slopes but can occur on level ground. Soils and substrates vary considerably for this alliance. Loam and silt soils appear to be the most common; however, in the southwest of this alliance''s range, some communities are predominantly on sandy soils (Weaver and Albertson 1956). Some communities are found on loess soils.
Geographic Range: This alliance is common from the central Great Plains south to northern Texas.

Nations: MX?,US

States/Provinces:  CO, KS, MXCOA?, NE, NM, OK, 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.Nb Central North American Grassland & Shrubland Division D023 2.B.2.Nb
Macrogroup 2.B.2.Nb.2 Needle-and-Thread - Western Wheatgrass - Plains Rough Fescue Grassland Macrogroup M051 2.B.2.Nb.2
Group 2.B.2.Nb.2.a Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama - Western Wheatgrass Mixedgrass Prairie Group G133 2.B.2.Nb.2.a
Alliance A4042 Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama Central Plains Grassland Alliance A4042 2.B.2.Nb.2.a
Association CEGL001594 Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama Western Great Plains Grassland CEGL001594 2.B.2.Nb.2.a
Association CEGL002036 Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama Loess Mixedgrass Grassland CEGL002036 2.B.2.Nb.2.a
Association CEGL002246 Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama - Blue Grama Central Plains Grassland CEGL002246 2.B.2.Nb.2.a
Association CEGL002247 Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama Chalkflat Grassland CEGL002247 2.B.2.Nb.2.a
Association CEGL002248 Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama Red Hills Grassland CEGL002248 2.B.2.Nb.2.a
Association CEGL002252 Little Bluestem - Gordon''s Bladderpod - Prairie Indian-paintbrush Grassland CEGL002252 2.B.2.Nb.2.a
Association CEGL004070 Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama - Texas Wintergrass Grassland CEGL004070 2.B.2.Nb.2.a
Association CEGL005031 Sand Dropseed - Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama Grassland CEGL005031 2.B.2.Nb.2.a
Concept Lineage: This alliance contains 10 associations from old A.1225, and one from old A.1919.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Schizachyrium scoparium / Juniperus virginiana herbaceous alliance (Hoagland 1998a)
>< Bluestem-Grama Prairie (Küchler 1974)
>< Cedar Hills Prairie (Küchler 1974)
>< Chalkflat Prairie (Küchler 1974)
? Mixed prairie [Stipa-Bouteloua association] (Bruner 1931)
? T5B1aI1a. Schizachyrium scoparium (Foti et al. 1994)
? T5B1aI1c. Bouteloua curtipendula (Foti et al. 1994)
? Various communities (Weaver and Albertson 1956)
Concept Author(s): J. Drake, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: J. Drake

Acknowledgements: We have incorporated significant descriptive information previously compiled by B. Hoagland.

Version Date: 12-18-14
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