Name:
Schizachyrium scoparium - Sorghastrum nutans Jackson Prairie Herbaceous Vegetation
Reference:
Southeastern Ecology Working Gro...
Description:
This upland herbaceous community is characterized by treeless openings dominated by perennial grasses, composites, and legumes, with scattered clumps of shrubby vegetation. These floristically diverse areas are typically less than 1-8 hectares in size and occur within a calcareous forest matrix. The community develops on ridgetops and upper slopes on exposures of marine-derived calcareous clays associated with the Jackson Formation in the local landscape. These clays are well-drained, slowly permeable, and alkaline (pH 7.5-8.0). They have calcareous concretions, gypsum (selenite) crystals and high shrink-swell properties. Numerous types of marine fossils are present in some local exposures (especially at Copenhagen Prairie). Moisture regimes are typically dry to dry-mesic. 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 occurs in central Louisiana and is known mainly from Caldwell Parish (Copenhagen Prairie) but also is known from northern Grant Parish (including the historic Tancock Prairie) and Sabine Parish. Grasses include <i>Schizachyrium scoparium, Andropogon gerardii, Danthonia spicata, Sporobolus</i> spp., <i>Bouteloua curtipendula</i> (rarely), <i>Paspalum floridanum</i> and <i>Sorghastrum nutans</i>. Characteristic forbs include <i>Dalea candida, Ruellia humilis, Desmanthus illinoensis, Koeleria macrantha, Silphium integrifolium, Arnoglossum plantagineum, Asclepias tuberosa, Baptisia nuttalliana, Callirhoe papaver, Coreopsis lanceolata, Gaillardia aestivalis, Houstonia purpurea var. calycosa (= Hedyotis purpurea var. calycosa), Brickellia eupatorioides (= Kuhnia eupatorioides), Manfreda virginica, Neptunia lutea, Salvia lyrata, Echinacea purpurea, Delphinium carolinianum, Ratibida pinnata</i>, and others.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.35071.CEGL004721
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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