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Panicum virgatum - Tripsacum dactyloides - (Panicum hemitomon) Herbaceous Vegetation | Southeastern Ecology Working Gro...
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Name: Panicum virgatum - Tripsacum dactyloides - (Panicum hemitomon) Herbaceous Vegetation Reference: Southeastern Ecology Working Gro... Description: This association describes wet coastal prairie, now virtually extirpated, that historically was found in a natural mosaic with upland, mesic (non-wetland) coastal prairie to form the once extensive coastal prairies of the Pleistocene Prairie Terraces of southwestern Louisiana and southeastern Texas. This type occupied the broad low flats, drainage swales (locally called 'coulees' in Louisiana), and small shallow seasonally flooded areas (often called 'marais' and 'platins') that interdigitated with the slightly higher broad, convex flats of upland coastal prairie. It also occupied low, wet areas between pimple mounds, the mounds supporting upland coastal prairie. This landscape was bisected by 'gallery forests' along small permanent streams that divided the prairie into 'coves.' The prairies unquestionably sustained a rich variety of wetland grasses, sedges, rushes and forbs. Extremely few examples of wet coastal prairie remain, and practically no historical literature records of the vegetation were made. Further estimations of the characteristic vegetation of this type, primarily in relation to Louisiana examples, have been developed from a review of heliophytic herbaceous wetland vegetation thought to be native to the region, combined with the few floristic studies made of remnant native 'prairie' patches in the area (e.g., Allen 1988, LNHP on-going surveys, Brazoria National Wildlife Refuge). Grasses and grass-like plants (graminoids) most likely dominated. It must be noted that the coastal prairie vegetation of this type in Louisiana is very much like that of the adjacent longleaf pine flatwood savannas. The coastal prairie grades gradually on its northern edge into the longleaf pine flatwoods section in Louisiana, the two types sharing most herbaceous species in common in the transitional area. The soils of wet coastal prairie are hydric, strongly acid to slightly alkaline, and are mainly silt loams and silty clay loams. The coastal prairie zone of southwestern Louisiana and southeastern Texas has become very seriously infested with Triadica sebifera (= Sapium sebiferum) (Chinese tallow tree), which in many places has formed dense thickets and forests. It will quickly dominate fallow pastures and fields. Historically, upland coastal prairie was maintained by frequent burning and soil conditions generally inhospitable to the growth of trees and shrubs.  Accession Code: VB.CC.27220.PANICUMVIRGATUM Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 29-Oct-1999 to: 17-Nov-2014
	status: accepted Community's Parent: Panicum virgatum - Tripsacum dactyloides Herbaceous Alliance This Community's Level: Association This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   Translated: Switchgrass - Eastern Gammagrass - (Maidencane) Herbaceous Vegetation   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.689691 NatureServe Explorer   Scientific: Panicum virgatum - Tripsacum dactyloides - (Panicum hemitomon) Herbaceous Vegetation   Common: Wet Coastal Prairie/Marsh   Code: CEGL007937 (convergence) and Synonyms: (undetermined) Panicum virgatum - Tripsacum dactyloides - (Panicum hemitomon) Herbaceous Vegetation