Print Report

A4058 Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula Central Loamy Grassland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This dry to dry-mesic prairie alliance is widespread in the midwestern United States and southern Ontario, typically on slopes with well-drained, thin soils over bedrock on or steep slopes where Bouteloua curtipendula, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Sorghastrum nutans are among the dominant species.

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

Colloquial Name: Central Dry Loamy Tallgrass Prairie

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This dry to dry-mesic tallgrass prairie alliance is widespread in the midwestern United States and southern Ontario. The vegetation is characterized by moderate to dense cover of medium and tall grasses and a diverse mixture of forbs. Woody species are absent to rare but can be uncommon in some communities. The most abundant species across the range of this alliance are Bouteloua curtipendula, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Sorghastrum nutans. Other graminoids species common in parts of this alliance are Andropogon gerardii, Bouteloua hirsuta, Carex spp., Danthonia spicata, Hesperostipa spartea, and Sporobolus heterolepis. Some of the many forbs which can be found in this alliance include Symphyotrichum ericoides, Echinacea pallida, Helianthus spp., Stenaria nigricans var. nigricans (in Illinois and Missouri), Lespedeza capitata (especially on sand), Lithospermum canescens, Clinopodium arkansanum (in Illinois), and Solidago nemoralis. Woody species that are found in stands of this alliance are those that can adapt to the dry to dry-mesic conditions. Stands of this alliance are found on gentle to moderately steep slopes or on flatter sites with thin soils over bedrock. The most prevalent slope aspects are south or west. Soils range from shallow to deep and are well-drained to excessively well-drained. Most are loams or sands, but some can be gravel or clay. These soils are formed from eolian or alluvial sand, limestone, dolomite, sandstone, glacial till, glacial outwash, chert, loess, or shale.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance is a dry to dry-mesic prairie with a mix of tall- and midgrasses. Bouteloua curtipendula, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Sorghastrum nutans are constant species. Calamovilfa longifolia, Danthonia spicata, and Sporobolus cryptandrus are more common on sandy soils. Forbs are common, including Lespedeza capitata and Solidago nemoralis.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance can grade into ~Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula Central Great Plains Grassland Alliance (A4042)$$ to the west. The abundance of tallgrass species and greater number of forbs set this alliance apart from the drier, more species-poor mixedgrass alliance. Name of the alliance needs to include better diagnostic species, as this alliance has a name very similar to ~Schizachyrium scoparium - Sorghastrum nutans Central Sand & Gravel Grassland Alliance (A4047)$$ (in G333). For now, a geographic modifier is used to distinguish it.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance is dominated by a mix of midgrasses, with patches of tallgrasses. The vegetation cover is usually moderate to dense and leaf litter can accumulate in stands not burned, grazed, or hayed. Forbs are very common and there is often high diversity but they may not contribute much cover. Trees and shrubs are uncommon or absent in stands where fire is still part of the natural or near-natural disturbance regime.

Floristics: The most abundant species across the range of this alliance are Bouteloua curtipendula, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Sorghastrum nutans. Other graminoids species common in parts of this alliance are Andropogon gerardii, Carex spp., Danthonia spicata, and Hesperostipa spartea (= Stipa spartea). Many forbs can be found in communities of this alliance. Among them are Symphyotrichum ericoides (= Aster ericoides), Echinacea pallida, Helianthus spp., Stenaria nigricans var. nigricans (= Hedyotis nigricans var. nigricans) (in Illinois and Missouri), Lespedeza capitata (especially on sand), Lithospermum canescens, Clinopodium arkansanum (= Satureja arkansana) (in Illinois), and Solidago nemoralis. Woody species that are found in stands of this alliance are those that can adapt to the dry to dry-mesic conditions, such as Juniperus virginiana, Rhus spp., Crataegus spp. (in disturbed stands), and Corylus spp.

Dynamics:  Fire, climate, native grazing and edaphic factors all played a roll historically in maintaining an open structure in this vegetation. Loss of these natural processes often results in a decrease in native grass cover and increase in woody invaders. Threats to these communities include fire suppression, livestock grazing, and damage by feral hogs and vehicles. The current range of this alliance has been reduce greatly from its historic extent.
Environmental Description:  Most stands of this alliance are found on steep to moderate slopes of various textures or flatter sites on thin soils over bedrock. (Curtis 1959, Nelson 1985). The most prevalent slope aspects are southern or western. Soils range from shallow to deep and are well-drained to excessively well-drained (White and Madany 1978, Chapman 1984). Most are stony loams or sands, but some can be gravel or clay.
Geographic Range: This dry to dry-mesic prairie alliance is widespread in the midwestern United States and southern Ontario.

Nations: CA,US

States/Provinces:  IA, IL, IN, KS, MI, MN, MO, OH, ON, WI


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.c Big Bluestem - Indiangrass - Porcupine Grass Tallgrass Prairie Group G333 2.B.2.Nb.1.c
Alliance A4058 Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama Central Loamy Grassland Alliance A4058 2.B.2.Nb.1.c
Association CEGL002214 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Sideoats Grama Dry-Mesic Grassland CEGL002214 2.B.2.Nb.1.c
Association CEGL002245 Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama Alkaline Bluff Grassland CEGL002245 2.B.2.Nb.1.c
Association CEGL002249 Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama - Winter Bentgrass - Spikerush species Hardpan Grassland CEGL002249 2.B.2.Nb.1.c
Association CEGL002403 Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama - Plains Muhly - Western Silver Aster Alkaline Grassland CEGL002403 2.B.2.Nb.1.c
Association CEGL005179 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Limestone Calamint Limestone Grassland CEGL005179 2.B.2.Nb.1.c
Association CEGL005183 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Sideoats Grama Loess Hill Grassland CEGL005183 2.B.2.Nb.1.c
Concept Lineage: This alliance is comprised of five associations from old A.1198 and one from old A.1225.

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: >< Bluestem-Grama 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 and D. Faber-Langendoen, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: J. Drake and D. Faber-Langendoen

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 06-09-15
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