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Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula Bedrock Bluff Herbaceous Vegetation | Midwestern Ecology Working Group...
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Name: Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula Bedrock Bluff Herbaceous Vegetation
Reference: Midwestern Ecology Working Group...
Description: This little bluestem bluff prairie community occurs primarily in the Driftless Area of the upper midwestern United States. Stands occur on very thin soils on limestone ridges and steep hillsides, usually with a southwestern aspect. These dry prairie soils occupy the highest position on the moisture catena and may be less than 10 cm deep over extensive areas. The vegetation is dominated by grasses or, locally, low shrubs. Grasses are less than 1 m tall. <i>Schizachyrium scoparium, Bouteloua curtipendula, Sporobolus heterolepis</i>, and <i>Andropogon gerardii</i> are abundant grasses across this community's range. Forbs that are common include <i>Amorpha canescens, Symphyotrichum sericeum (= Aster sericeus), Dalea purpurea var. purpurea, Dichanthelium linearifolium, Euphorbia corollata</i>, and <i>Solidago nemoralis</i>. Species that do best toward the east include <i>Minuartia michauxii var. michauxii, Asclepias verticillata</i>, and <i>Geum triflorum</i>, while those that do best along the Mississippi River include <i>Symphyotrichum oblongifolium (= Aster oblongifolius), Bouteloua hirsuta</i>, and <i>Scutellaria parvula var. missouriensis (= Scutellaria parvula var. leonardii)</i>. In addition, <i>Muhlenbergia cuspidata</i> and <i>Pediomelum esculentum</i> are restricted to the Driftless Area. This community is structurally very stable and not very dependent on fire. Moisture conditions on these sites are so severe that trees and most woody species cannot grow. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.36688.CEGL002245
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:   Common: Little Bluestem Bedrock Bluff Prairie
  Translated: Little Bluestem - Sideoats Grama Bedrock Bluff Herbaceous Vegetation
  Scientific: Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula Bedrock Bluff Herbaceous Vegetation
  Code: CEGL002245
  UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684874 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo