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Aristida longispica - Schizachyrium scoparium - Diodia teres Saline Herbaceous Vegetation | Southeastern Ecology Working Gro...
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Name: Aristida longispica - Schizachyrium scoparium - Diodia teres Saline Herbaceous Vegetation Reference: Southeastern Ecology Working Gro... Description: This edaphically controlled grass-forb association occurs on saline-sodic soils of alluvial origin in the northern West Gulf Coastal Plain and Mississippi River Alluvial Plain of Arkansas and Louisiana. The topsoil is thin silt with toxic levels of sodium and/or magnesium salts in the subsoil, and is sometimes exposed as 'slick spots,' areas denuded of vegetation. Although the subsoil is silt, it is essentially cemented into an impervious hardpan by calcium. Sites therefore alternate between extremely dry and extremely wet, a condition that has been described as xerohydric. Genesis is uncertain but salts may be 'wicked' to the surface through evaporation. The so-called slick spots are rimmed by a 'cryptogamic lip' of lichens, algae and diminutive vascular plants. Geocarpon minimum occurs in this zone in the West Gulf Coastal Plain. Farther back from the lip, Cladonia lichens, Aristida longispica, Aristida spp., and Schizachyrium scoparium sequentially become dominant, along with Sabal minor in the West Gulf Coastal Plain. Schoenolirion wrightii is a regionally rare species in this zone. The role of fire in maintaining this community is not understood; some areas may support relatively frequent fire, and others are too thinly vegetated to carry a fire.  Accession Code: VB.CC.26650.ARISTIDALONGISP Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 18-Apr-2000 to: 17-Nov-2014
	status: accepted Community's Parent: (Quercus stellata, Quercus marilandica) / Schizachyrium scoparium Wooded Herbaceous Alliance This Community's Level: Association This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Translated: Slimspike Three-awn - Little Bluestem - Rough Buttonweed Saline Herbaceous Vegetation   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689006 NatureServe Explorer   Code: CEGL008419   Scientific: Aristida longispica - Schizachyrium scoparium - Diodia teres Saline Herbaceous Vegetation (convergence) and Synonyms: (undetermined) Aristida longispica - Schizachyrium scoparium - Diodia teres Saline Herbaceous Vegetation