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A4046 Schizachyrium scoparium - Echinacea pallida Southern Grassland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance occurs in the southern midwestern United States, specifically in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas and is typically dominated by Schizachyrium scoparium.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Pale Purple Coneflower Southern Grassland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Southern Little Bluestem - Pale Purple Coneflower Grassland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: Stands are typically dominated by Schizachyrium scoparium. Other common species include Baptisia spp., Buchnera americana, Echinacea pallida, Solidago spp. , and Sorghastrum nutans. This alliance occurs in the southern midwestern United States, specifically in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Examples of this alliance occur on hilltops and steep slopes of hills and ridges. Soils are well-drained to excessively drained. Fire and edaphic factors (drought) play a role in limiting woody vegetation in this community. Without fire management, woody vegetation, such as Juniperus virginiana, could become dense and shade out herbaceous prairie species.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance includes prairies dominated by Schizachyrium scoparium in Missouri and the Arkansas River Valley of Arkansas and Oklahoma.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: These associations are similar to ones in ~Central Tallgrass Prairie Group (G333)$$ and further review of the relationship between that group and this alliance may be needed. Also, this alliance overlaps significantly with ~Andropogon gerardii - Sorghastrum nutans - Helianthus spp. Southern Grassland Alliance (A4045)$$. Further review may be needed to determine if those two alliances should be merged into one.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance is dominated by mid grasses. The vegetation cover can be moderately sparse to dense.

Floristics: This alliance is dominated by a combination of mid and tall grasses, in particular Schizachyrium scoparium. Other common species include Baptisia spp., Buchnera americana, Echinacea pallida, Solidago spp. , and Sorghastrum nutans. Some examples contain widely scattered Quercus stellata. Fire suppression can lead to an increase in other woody species such as Juniperus virginiana.

Dynamics:  Fire, climate, native grazing and edaphic factors are all important in maintaining this alliance. Fire suppression can lead to an increase in woody species. Grazing can also negatively impact this alliance.
Environmental Description:  This alliance occurs primarily in the Arkansas River Valley and nearby areas on shaly knobs, hilltops, upper slopes of small hills, and ridges. Soils are typically dry to dry-mesic and shallow to moderately deep. Some examples contain alkaline soils formed over dolomite or limestone. Most examples contain acidic sands and sandy clay loams with low water-holding capacities. Soils range from well-drained to excessively drained and can be droughty.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in the southern midwestern United States, specifically in Missouri, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AR, KS, MO, OK


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.1 Big Bluestem - Indiangrass - Dense Blazingstar Tallgrass Prairie Macrogroup M054 2.B.2.Nb.1
Group 2.B.2.Nb.1.b Big Bluestem - Indiangrass - Little Bluestem Tallgrass Prairie Group G334 2.B.2.Nb.1.b
Alliance A4046 Little Bluestem - Pale Purple Coneflower Southern Grassland Alliance A4046 2.B.2.Nb.1.b
Association CEGL002211 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Poverty Oatgrass - Royal Catchfly Chert Grassland CEGL002211 2.B.2.Nb.1.b
Association CEGL002212 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Splitbeard Bluestem - Large-flower Tickseed Sandstone - Shale Grassland CEGL002212 2.B.2.Nb.1.b
Association CEGL005280 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Sticky Spiderwort Alkaline Bedrock Grassland CEGL005280 2.B.2.Nb.1.b
Association CEGL007827 Little Bluestem - Witchgrass species - American Bluehearts - Pale Purple Coneflower Grassland CEGL007827 2.B.2.Nb.1.b
Association CEGL008564 Little Bluestem - Silver Beardgrass - Willdenow''s Croton Grassland CEGL008564 2.B.2.Nb.1.b
Concept Lineage: This contains the Arkansas Valley and Missouri associations from A.1225 and A.1198.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< ID4a. Bluestem Tallgrass Prairie (Allard 1990)
? ID4b. Morse Clay Calcareous Prairie (Allard 1990)
? ID4c. Fleming Calcareous Prairie (Allard 1990)
? ID4c. Jackson Prairie (Allard 1990)
? ID4e. Cook Mountain Calcareous Prairie (Allard 1990)
? Mixed prairie [Stipa-Bouteloua association] (Bruner 1931)
? T5A1aI1c. Andropogon gerardii - Sorghastrum avenaceum (Foti et al. 1994)
? T5B1aI1a. Schizachyrium scoparium (Foti et al. 1994)
? T5B1aI1c. Bouteloua curtipendula (Foti et al. 1994)
? Various communities (Weaver and Albertson 1956)
Concept Author(s): P.W. Nelson (1985)

Author of Description: S. Menard

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
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  • Hoagland, B. W. 1997. Preliminary plant community classification for Oklahoma. Unpublished draft document, version 35629. University of Oklahoma, Oklahoma Natural Heritage Inventory, Norman. 47 pp.
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  • Nelson, P. W. 1985. The terrestrial natural communities of Missouri. Missouri Natural Areas Committee, Jefferson City. 197 pp. Revised edition, 1987.
  • Turner, R. L., J. E. Van Kley, L. S. Smith, and R. E. Evans. 1999. Ecological classification system for the national forests and adjacent areas of the West Gulf Coastal Plain. The Nature Conservancy, Nacogdoches, TX. 95 pp. plus appendices.
  • Weaver, J. E., and F. W. Albertson. 1956. Grasslands of the Great Plains: Their nature and use. Johnsen Publishing Co., Lincoln, NE. 395 pp.