Name:
Bigelowia nuttallii Herbaceous Alliance
Reference:
Southeastern Ecology Working Gro...
Description:
This alliance consists of Coastal Plain saline prairies and sandstone glades of central and northern Louisiana, eastern Texas, central Georgia, the Cumberland Plateau of Alabama, and Panhandle Florida, dominated by Bigelowia nuttallii, and a mixture of forbs and grasses, including many diminutive annuals. The community types in this alliance are generally distinguished by their herbaceous cover being associated with exposed sandstone boulders, flats, and ledges, intermixed with dense, herbaceous patches, scattered, stunted trees and shrubs, and fruticose lichens. Most examples occur within a matrix of open Pinus palustris woodlands (except for Cumberland Plateau Alabama examples). Much of the soil and rock is unvegetated. The alliance is dominated by prairie-like vegetation with Bigelowia nuttallii, Schizachyrium scoparium, Aristida longispica, Croton michauxii (= Crotonopsis linearis), and (in western examples) Sporobolus silveanus as primary components. The herbaceous flora is rich in endemic and disjunct species. In western types, other typical herbaceous species include Minuartia drummondii, Chaetopappa asteroides, Astragalus nuttallianus, Diodia teres, Fimbristylis puberula, Houstonia pusilla, Hypericum drummondii, Krigia occidentalis, Lechea san-sabeana, Linum medium, Marshallia caespitosa, Nothoscordum bivalve, Phacelia glabra, Polygala mariana, Rhynchospora globularis, Saxifraga texana, Isolepis carinata (= Scirpus koilolepis), and Stylosanthes biflora. Typical woody species that may be scattered in these communities include Quercus marilandica, Quercus stellata, Pinus palustris, Pinus echinata, Pinus taeda, Ilex vomitoria, and Morella cerifera (= Myrica cerifera). The herbaceous flora is diverse and varies considerably seasonally. Occurrences may appear almost devoid of vegetation during the dry summers, while the spring and autumn are periods of peak flowering. Soils are strongly acid, sandy loams and silty clay loams, with high aluminum content. These soils can be saturated during the cooler, wetter months, but are extremely dry and hard during summer droughts.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.18999.BIGELOWIANUTTAL
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
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