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A4062 Schizachyrium scoparium - Liatris elegans var. carizzana Sandy Grassland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance occurs on deep, loose, sandy soils in the Gulf Coastal Plain of Texas. It is characterized by Schizachyrium scoparium, and a variety of grasses and forbs that occur in sandy environments, many of which are narrowly distributed.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Pinkscale Blazingstar Sandy Grassland Alliance

Colloquial Name: South-Central Blackland & Coastal Sandy Prairie

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance occurs on deep sandy soils in the Gulf Coastal Plain of Texas. It is characterized by Schizachyrium scoparium, and a variety of grasses and forbs that occur in sandy environments, many of which are narrowly distributed. Characteristic but less common grasses may include Trachypogon spicatus, Elionurus tripsacoides, Triplasis purpurea, Paspalum setaceum, Eragrostis secundiflora, Eragrostis spectabilis, Cenchrus spinifex, and Sporobolus junceus. In addition, this community supports a diverse array of characteristic forbs including Liatris elegans var. carizzana, Polygonella americana, Polanisia erosa, Croton argyranthemus, Croton capitatus, Croton glandulosus, Croton texensis, Berlandiera betonicifolia, Bigelowia nuttallii, Lechea san-sabeana, Lechea tenuifolia, Stylisma villosa, Cnidoscolus texanus, Stillingia sylvatica, and Asclepias tuberosa. The sandy soils are derived from underlying sandy Eocene strata such as Carrizo, Queen City, and Sparta sands, and from terraces formed along rivers fed by watersheds that include these formations. The deep sandy soils of this alliance may be less likely to support rank growth of grasses common in other coastal prairie communities on finer-textured soils and hence fires, while important in this vegetation, may occur less frequently than in other prairie vegetation.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance is found on deep sandy soils in the coastal plain of Texas and is characterized by the presence of Schizachyrium scoparium, and a variety of grasses and forbs that occur in sandy environment.

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: Though typically dominated by grasses, the deep sandy soils of this alliance may be less likely to support rank growth of grasses common in other coastal prairie communities on finer-textured soils. Deep sands may support a mosaic of seral stages resulting from a variety of natural disturbances. While grasses dominate later-successional areas, an abundance of annual or short-lived perennial species may dominate recently disturbed areas.

Floristics: Characteristic but less common grasses may include Trachypogon spicatus (= Trachypogon secundus), Elionurus tripsacoides, Triplasis purpurea, Paspalum setaceum, Eragrostis secundiflora, Eragrostis spectabilis, Cenchrus spinifex (= Cenchrus incertus), and Sporobolus junceus. In addition, this community supports a diverse array of characteristic forbs including Liatris elegans var. carizzana, Polygonella americana, Polanisia erosa, Croton argyranthemus, Croton capitatus, Croton glandulosus, Croton texensis, Berlandiera betonicifolia, Bigelowia nuttallii, Lechea san-sabeana, Lechea tenuifolia, Stylisma villosa, Cnidoscolus texanus, Stillingia sylvatica, and Asclepias tuberosa.

Dynamics:  These grasslands are maintained by periodic fires. Because natural disturbances easily create openings in vegetative cover on these deep sandy soils, fuel load may be lower here than in grasslands of tighter soils. In some associations, the prolonged absence of fire can favor invasion by woody species which can become abundant. Overgrazing can also alter the composition and structure of these communities.
Environmental Description:  This vegetation occurs on deep, loose, sandy soils associated with Eocene strata such as Carrizo, Queen City, and Sparta sands, or sandy terraces formed along rivers flowing through watersheds that include these sandy formations.
Geographic Range: This alliance is known from the Coastal Prairie, Texas Blackland Prairie, East Central Texas Plain, and Western Gulf Coastal Plain ecoregions of Texas.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  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.1 Big Bluestem - Indiangrass - Dense Blazingstar Tallgrass Prairie Macrogroup M054 2.B.2.Nb.1
Group 2.B.2.Nb.1.a Little Bluestem - Prairie Bishop - Brownseed Crowngrass Tallgrass Prairie Group G335 2.B.2.Nb.1.a
Alliance A4062 Little Bluestem - Pinkscale Blazingstar Sandy Grassland Alliance A4062 2.B.2.Nb.1.a
Association CEGL004913 Little Bluestem - Narrowleaf Pinweed - Cardinal''s-feather Grassland CEGL004913 2.B.2.Nb.1.a
Association CEGL008483 Little Bluestem - Purple Sandgrass - Heart-sepal Buckwheat - Pinkscale Blazingstar Grassland CEGL008483 2.B.2.Nb.1.a
Concept Lineage: No Data Available

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
Concept Author(s): J. Teague, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: J. Teague

Acknowledgements: Bill Carr was instrumental in describing both current associations in this alliance.

Version Date: 12-18-14
  • 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.