Name:
Schizachyrium scoparium - Marshallia caespitosa - Nemastylis geminiflora Herbaceous Vegetation
Reference:
Southeastern Ecology Working Gro...
Description:
This calcareous prairie community is restricted to the Morse Clay in northwestern Louisiana and adjacent Arkansas. It is dominated by grasses and forbs with scattered shrubby vegetation and, occasionally, trees. Typical grasses include Schizachyrium scoparium, Andropogon glomeratus, and Aristida spp. Other common species include Manfreda virginica, Baptisia nuttalliana, Arnoglossum plantagineum, Dalea purpurea, Eryngium yuccifolium, Houstonia purpurea var. calycosa, Monarda fistulosa, Nemastylis geminiflora, Neptunia lutea, Mimosa nuttallii (= Mimosa quadrivalvis var. nuttallii), Panicum virgatum, Parthenium hispidum, Asclepias viridis, Marshallia caespitosa var. signata, Delphinium carolinianum, Echinacea pallida, and Asclepias tuberosa. Typical woody components include Crataegus spp., Pinus echinata, Prunus angustifolia, Ilex decidua, and Cercis canadensis. This community occurs in the Coastal Plain of southwestern Arkansas and western Louisiana and is associated with alluvium deposits in the former Red River floodplain. It occurs over Morse Clay on historic alluvial deposits, areas that are not part of the active floodplain. Soils are typically alkaline clays, with high shrink-swell character, and gilgai microtopography. The combination of periodic fire, high soil pH, and extreme physical soil properties are thought to be important in maintaining this community in a landscape otherwise dominated by forests (at least historically). This community is known from Bossier, Caddo, Red River, Rapides, and Natchitoches parishes in Louisiana and from Lafayette, Columbia, (and possibly Little River) counties in Arkansas.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.21492.SCHIZACHYRIUMSC
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
|
