Name:
Schizachyrium scoparium - (Helianthus mollis, Helianthus occidentalis, Silphium trifoliatum) Herbaceous Vegetation
Reference:
Southeastern Ecology Working Gro...
Description:
This open, prairie-like community of the northern Highland Rim of Tennessee and adjacent Kentucky is dominated by grasses and forbs with scattered shrubby vegetation and, occasionally, trees. <i>Schizachyrium scoparium</i> is a strong dominant, with some <i>Sorghastrum nutans</i> present. Other more mesic grasses (<i>Andropogon gerardii, Tripsacum dactyloides</i>) are restricted to ditches. Other herbaceous components may include <i>Andropogon gyrans, Andropogon ternarius, Lespedeza capitata, Lespedeza virginica, Symphyotrichum novae-angliae (= Aster novae-angliae), Sericocarpus linifolius (= Aster solidagineus), Coreopsis major, Coreopsis tripteris, Helianthus angustifolius, Helianthus hirsutus, Solidago juncea, Pycnanthemum tenuifolium, Pycnanthemum verticillatum var. pilosum (= Pycnanthemum pilosum)</i>, and <i>Lobelia puberula</i>. <i>Rudbeckia subtomentosa, Prenanthes barbata</i>, and <i>Agalinis auriculata (= Tomanthera auriculata)</i> are rare plants found in some examples. Typical woody species include <i>Quercus falcata, Quercus imbricaria, Cornus florida, Cercis canadensis, Prunus angustifolia, Ilex decidua, Rhus copallinum, Rosa carolina</i>, and <i>Symphoricarpos orbiculatus</i>. This community occurs on the northwestern Highland Rim / Pennyroyal Karst Plain of Tennessee and Kentucky. The largest extant examples are presently found on Fort Campbell military base, where ecological burning and fires from live-fire munitions use result in open herbaceous-dominated landscapes. This vegetation was the predominant type here in the early 1800s, and probably originated from burning of forests by Native Americans. Smaller examples of related vegetation farther north in Kentucky (e.g. portions of Athey Barrens KSNPC Preserve) are included here as well.
Accession Code:
VB.CC.35270.CEGL007805
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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- status: accepted
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This Community's Level:
association
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 This Community's Children:
[none]
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Names:
Common: Kentucky - Tennessee Big Barrens
Translated: Little Bluestem - (Ashy Sunflower, Fewleaf Sunflower, Whorled Rosinweed) Herbaceous Vegetation
Scientific: Schizachyrium scoparium - (Helianthus mollis, Helianthus occidentalis, Silphium trifoliatum) Herbaceous Vegetation
Code: CEGL007805
UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686517
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