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A.1234 | EcoArt 2002
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Name: A.1234 Reference: EcoArt 2002 Description: This alliance is widespread across upland sites in the northern Great Plains. Its communities tend to be the climax communities on fertile dry-mesic sites across much of its range. It is dominated by mid and short grass species; woody species do not regularly achieve prominence. Few of the species exceed 1 m while many, including ~Bouteloua gracilis$, do not exceed 50 cm. The most abundant species are ~Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata)$ and ~Bouteloua gracilis$. On more mesic sites ~Hesperostipa comata$ is predominant, while on areas that are drier or subject to light grazing ~Bouteloua gracilis$ takes precedence. Other graminoid species that are commonly found in communities of this alliance are ~Aristida purpurea var. longiseta (= Aristida longiseta), Carex duriuscula (= Carex eleocharis), Carex filifolia, Koeleria macrantha, Nassella viridula$, and ~Pascopyrum smithii$. Sites in the southern half of the range of this alliance may have significant amounts of ~Bouteloua curtipendula$. Forbs are common but not usually abundant. Forb species that are regularly found are ~Artemisia frigida, Gaura coccinea, Gutierrezia sarothrae (= Gutierrezia diversifolia), Liatris punctata, Sphaeralcea coccinea (= Malvastrum coccineum), Phlox hoodii$, and ~Sphaeralcea coccinea$. The clubmoss ~Selaginella densa$ is present in many stands in this alliance. Scattered shrubs are sometimes present. These include ~Prunus virginiana, Rhus aromatica$, and ~Symphoricarpos occidentalis$. In the western and southwestern portions of its range, ~Cercocarpus montanus$ may be found where this alliance occurs on slopes. ^Communities in this alliance are found on flat to moderately steep topography. The soils are sandy loam, loam, or sometimes clay loam. They are often well-developed and derived from either glacial deposits or sometimes limestone or sandstone (Hanson and Whitman 1938, Coupland 1950, Hanson 1955).  Accession Code: VB.CC.1000.A1234 Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 17-Mar-2005
	status: accepted Community's Parent: V.A.5.N.c This Community's Level: Alliance This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Scientific: HESPEROSTIPA COMATA - BOUTELOUA GRACILIS HERBACEOUS ALLIANCE   Code: A.1234   Common: Needle-and-Thread - Blue Grama Herbaceous Alliance (convergence) and Synonyms: (undetermined) Hesperostipa comata - Bouteloua gracilis Herbaceous Alliance