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Calamovilfa longifolia - Hesperostipa comata Herbaceous Vegetation | Western Ecology Working Group of...
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Name: Calamovilfa longifolia - Hesperostipa comata Herbaceous Vegetation
Reference: Western Ecology Working Group of...
Description: This prairie sandreed grassland community type occurs in the central and northern Great Plains region of the United States and southwestern Canada. Stands occur on stabilized sand dunes, as well as in interdunal valleys, colluvial sands, and, less commonly, silty terraces of intermittent streams. Soils are medium to fine sands formed either from eolian or colluvial processes. The vegetation has an open canopy, dominated by mid to tall grasses. <i>Calamovilfa longifolia</i> and <i>Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata)</i> are the most conspicuous and dominant grasses. Other common grasses include <i>Bouteloua gracilis, Koeleria macrantha, Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides)</i>, and <i>Sporobolus cryptandrus</i>. The type may grade into stands dominated by <i>Pascopyrum smithii</i> and <i>Nassella viridula (= Stipa viridula)</i> at the base of slopes. <i>Andropogon hallii</i> or <i>Hesperostipa spartea (= Stipa spartea)</i> may also be present. Sedges are rare but could include <i>Carex inops ssp. heliophila</i> or <i>Carex filifolia</i>. Forb diversity ranges from low to moderate, depending on the site. Dry valley sand prairies may be particularly forb-rich. Silty terraces of intermittent streams may contain <i>Artemisia frigida, Artemisia ludoviciana, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Psoralidium tenuiflorum</i>, and <i>Yucca glauca</i>. Shrubs are scattered and infrequent to absent, with <i>Rhus trilobata</i> the most common species. <i>Rosa woodsii, Elaeagnus commutata</i>, and <i>Artemisia cana</i> become more common in northern occurrences. These areas are highly susceptible to invasion by exotic brome grasses (<i>Bromus japonicus, Bromus squarrosus</i>, and <i>Bromus tectorum</i>) and may be quite weedy. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.33950.CEGL001473
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 17-Nov-2014 to: 01-May-2019
     
  • status: accepted
  • This Community's Level: association
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.690053 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Common: Prairie Sandreed - Needle-and-Thread Prairie
  Translated: Prairie Sandreed - Needle-and-Thread Herbaceous Vegetation
  Code: CEGL001473
  Scientific: Calamovilfa longifolia - Hesperostipa comata Herbaceous Vegetation