Print Report
A4059 Schizachyrium scoparium - Paspalum plicatulum - Schizachyrium tenerum Grassland Alliance
Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes midgrass and tallgrass prairie vegetation characterized by Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium, Paspalum plicatulum, Schizachyrium tenerum, Sorghastrum nutans, and Andropogon gerardii occurring along the inner and outer Gulf Coastal Plain of Texas and Louisiana.
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Brownseed Crowngrass - Slender Little Bluestem Grassland Alliance
Colloquial Name: Gulf Coast Dry-Mesic Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Alliance
Type Concept: This alliance includes midgrass and tallgrass prairie vegetation occurring along the inner and outer Gulf Coastal Plain of Texas and Louisiana. Dominant or codominant grasses include Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium, Paspalum plicatulum, Schizachyrium tenerum, Sorghastrum nutans, and Andropogon gerardii, occurring with Panicum virgatum, Paspalum floridanum, Sporobolus compositus, Setaria spp., Tridens strictus, and Muhlenbergia capillaris. These prairies are typically species rich; co-occurring forbs may include Helianthus mollis, Euthamia leptocephala, Symphyotrichum ericoides, Mimosa microphylla, Neptunia lutea, Eryngium yuccifolium, and Liatris spp. Overgrazing and fire suppression of these grasslands have led to the invasion of a wide variety of woody species such as Rosa bracteata, Vachellia farnesiana, Morella cerifera, and Triadica sebifera. Some of these grasslands occur on upland acidic Vertisols and Alfisols of the Coastal Prairie in Louisiana and Texas and on acidic Alfisols of the more inland portion of the Fayette Prairie in Texas. These prairies are often characterized by the occurrence of low, circular mounds called mima or pimple mounds, which add local relief to an otherwise flat topography. When mima mounds are present, this alliance represents the drier vegetation of the mounds.
Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance represents remnant upland prairies of coastal and near coastal Louisiana and Texas. It is characterized by Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium, Paspalum plicatulum, Schizachyrium tenerum, and Sorghastrum nutans and a diversity of other forbs, grasses, and sedges.
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: There may be undescribed associations related to this alliance. More information is needed to flesh out detailed floristic, environment, and range.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: This alliance includes midgrass and tallgrass prairie vegetation. Overgrazing and fire suppression of these grasslands have led to the invasion of a wide variety of woody species. Some of these prairies are characterized by the occurrence of low, circular mounds called mima or pimple mounds, which add local relief to an otherwise flat topography. When mima mounds are present, this alliance represents the drier vegetation of the mounds.
Floristics: This alliance includes midgrass and tallgrass prairie vegetation occurring along the inner and outer Gulf Coastal Plain of Texas and Louisiana. Dominant or codominant grasses include Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium, Paspalum plicatulum, Schizachyrium tenerum, Sorghastrum nutans, and Andropogon gerardii, occurring with Panicum virgatum, Paspalum floridanum, Sporobolus compositus, Setaria spp., Tridens strictus, and Muhlenbergia capillaris. These prairies are typically species rich; co-occurring forbs may include Helianthus mollis, Euthamia leptocephala, Symphyotrichum ericoides (= Aster ericoides), Mimosa microphylla (= Schrankia microphylla), Neptunia lutea, Eryngium yuccifolium, and Liatris spp. Overgrazing and fire suppression of these grasslands have led to the invasion of a wide variety of woody species such as Rosa bracteata, Vachellia farnesiana (= Acacia farnesiana), Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera), and Triadica sebifera (= Sapium sebiferum).
Dynamics: Prairies are maintained by periodic fires and soil conditions generally inhospitable to the growth of trees and shrubs. In the prolonged absence of fire, woody species usually invade and can become abundant. Overgrazing can also alter the composition and structure of prairie communities.
Environmental Description: Some of these grasslands occur on upland acidic Vertisols and Alfisols of the Coastal Prairie in Louisiana and Texas and on acidic Alfisols of the more inland portion of the Fayette Prairie in Texas. These prairies are often characterized by the occurrence of low, circular mounds called mima or pimple mounds, which add local relief to an otherwise flat topography. When mima mounds are present, this alliance represents the drier vegetation of the mounds.
Geographic Range: This alliance is known from the Coastal Prairie in Texas and Louisiana and the Fayette Prairie in Texas.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: LA, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.900109
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
Concept Lineage: A.1197 is finer in concept
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: ? Schizachyrium-Paspalum-Sorghastrum community type (Diamond and Smeins 1985)
? Schizachyrium-Paspalum-Sorghastrum community type (Diamond and Smeins 1988)
? Little bluestem-brownseed paspalum-Indiangrass type (Diamond and Smeins 1990)
? Lowland Community-type (Diamond and Smeins 1984)
? Schizachyrium-Paspalum-Sorghastrum community type (Diamond and Smeins 1988)
? Little bluestem-brownseed paspalum-Indiangrass type (Diamond and Smeins 1990)
? Lowland Community-type (Diamond and Smeins 1984)
- Diamond, D. D. 1983. Composition, diversity and interspecific relationships of grasslands within the true and upper coastal prairies of North America. Ph.D. dissertation, Texas A & M University, College Station. 155 pp.
- Diamond, D. D. 1993. Classification of the plant communities of Texas (series level). Unpublished document. Texas Natural Heritage Program, Austin. 25 pp.
- Diamond, D. D., and F. E. Smeins. 1984. Remnant grassland vegetation and ecological affinities of the Upper Coastal Prairie of Texas. The Southwestern Naturalist 29:321-334.
- Diamond, D. D., and F. E. Smeins. 1985. Composition, classification and species response patterns of remnant tallgrass prairies in Texas. The American Midland Naturalist 113:249-308.
- Diamond, D. D., and F. E. Smeins. 1988. Gradient analysis of remnant true and upper coastal prairie grasslands of North America. Canadian Journal of Botany 66:2152-2161.
- Diamond, D. D., and F. E. Smeins. 1990. The prairie--The native plant communities of the blackland prairie. Unpublished draft report. Texas Department of Parks and Wildlife, Austin, TX.
- 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.