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Hesperostipa comata - Bouteloua gracilis Herbaceous Alliance | Midwestern Ecology Working Group...
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Name: Hesperostipa comata - Bouteloua gracilis Herbaceous Alliance Reference: Midwestern Ecology Working Group... 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.19679.HESPEROSTIPACOM Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 01-May-2019
	status: accepted This Community's Level: Alliance This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Scientific: Hesperostipa comata - Bouteloua gracilis Herbaceous Alliance   Translated: Needle-and-Thread - Blue Grama Herbaceous Alliance   UID: HIGHER_CLASS_UNIT.2.125439 NatureServe Explorer   Code: A.1234