Print Report

A4063 Schizachyrium scoparium - Sorghastrum nutans - Andropogon gerardii Grassland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This alliance includes upland prairie vegetation characterized by Schizachyrium scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans, Andropogon gerardii, and Sporobolus silveanus on Mollisols, Alfisols, and Vertisols in the Blackland Prairie ecoregion in Texas.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Big Bluestem Grassland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Texas Blackland Prairie

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: This alliance includes upland tallgrass prairie vegetation on rolling uplands in the Blackland Prairie ecoregion in Texas and possibly Oklahoma. It is characterized by Schizachyrium scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans, Andropogon gerardii, and Sporobolus silveanus. A variety of other graminoids and forbs may also occur including Carex spp., Bouteloua spp., Aristida spp., Paspalum floridanum, Nassella leucotricha, Tridens strictus, Carex meadii, Dichanthelium oligosanthes, Dichanthelium linearifolium, Dichanthelium aciculare, Panicum virgatum, Bifora americana, Silphium spp., Dalea spp., Helianthus maximiliani, Stenaria nigricans, Eryngium yuccifolium, and Liatris spp. This vegetation occurs on rolling uplands and occasional exposed rock outcrops. Underlying soils include Mollisols, Alfisols, and Vertisols. Gilgai and mima mounds provide microtopographic relief that influences species composition in some examples. Remaining examples have been impacted by overgrazing and lack of prescribed burning. Much of the original acreage has been converted to row crops or tame pasture, or has succeeded to woodland. 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.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance includes upland prairie vegetation on Mollisols, Alfisols, and Vertisols in the Blackland Prairie ecoregion in Texas. It is characterized by Schizachyrium scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans, Andropogon gerardii, and Sporobolus silveanus.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Within this group, this alliance represents vegetation with a strong component of Andropogon gerardii. More information is needed to circumscribe this vegetation relative to disturbance and land management practices, but these data are scarce because native examples of prairies in this area are rare. The relationships of some associations in this alliance need to be better circumscribed.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation represents types of tallgrass prairie. Remaining examples have been impacted by overgrazing and lack of prescribed burning. Much of the original acreage has been converted to row crops or tame pasture, or has succeeded to woodland.

Floristics: This alliance includes upland prairie vegetation characterized by Schizachyrium scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans, Andropogon gerardii, and Sporobolus silveanus. A variety of other graminoids and forbs may also occur including Carex spp., Bouteloua spp., Aristida spp., Paspalum floridanum, Nassella leucotricha, Tridens strictus, Carex meadii, Dichanthelium oligosanthes, Dichanthelium linearifolium, Dichanthelium aciculare, Panicum virgatum, Bifora americana, Silphium spp., Dalea spp., Helianthus maximiliani, Stenaria nigricans (= Hedyotis nigricans), Eryngium yuccifolium, and Liatris spp.

Dynamics:  Remaining examples have been impacted by overgrazing and lack of prescribed burning. Much of the original acreage has been converted to row crops or tame pasture, or has succeeded to woodland. Fire, climate, native grazing and edaphic factors all played a role 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:  This vegetation occurs on rolling uplands and occasional exposed rock outcrops. Underlying soils include Mollisols, Alfisols, and Vertisols. Gilgai and mima mounds provide microtopographic relief that influences species composition in some examples.
Geographic Range: This alliance occurs in the Blackland Prairie ecoregion in Texas and possibly Oklahoma.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  OK?, TX


Confidence Level: Moderate

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 A4063 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Big Bluestem Grassland Alliance A4063 2.B.2.Nb.1.a
Association CEGL002216 Silveus'' Dropseed - Longspike Tridens Grassland CEGL002216 2.B.2.Nb.1.a
Association CEGL004025 Little Bluestem - Big Bluestem - Indiangrass - Prairie Bishop Mollisol Grassland CEGL004025 2.B.2.Nb.1.a
Association CEGL004026 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Prairie Bishop Alfisol Grassland CEGL004026 2.B.2.Nb.1.a
Association CEGL004027 Little Bluestem - Indiangrass - Big Bluestem - Prairie Bishop Vertisol Grassland CEGL004027 2.B.2.Nb.1.a
Association CEGL004211 Little Bluestem - (Indiangrass) - Tall Dropseed - Cusp Blazingstar Grassland CEGL004211 2.B.2.Nb.1.a
Association CEGL004521 Silveus'' Dropseed - Mead''s Sedge Grassland CEGL004521 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: >< Schizachyrium - Sorghastrum - Andropogon community type (Diamond and Smeins 1984)
>< Schizachyrium - Sorghastrum - Andropogon community type (Diamond and Smeins 1988)
? Little Bluestem - Big Bluestem - Indiangrass Association (Diamond and Smeins 1990)
Concept Author(s): J. Teague, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: J. Teague

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
  • 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.