Name:
(Quercus sinuata) / Sorghastrum nutans - Ratibida pinnata - Stenaria nigricans var. nigricans - (Glandularia bipinnatifida) Georgia Chalk Prairie Grassland
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This herbaceous association includes tallgrass prairies on the Fort Valley Plateau of Houston, Peach, Twiggs, and Bleckley counties in the South Atlantic Coastal Plain of Georgia on "gumbo flats" over Sumter soils. There is substantial variation in composition due to edaphic factors, fire suppression and disturbance. This community occurs on calcareous soils of the Dry Branch, Tivola and Ocmulgee formations of late Eocene origin. The Ocmulgee Formation, previously known as Cooper Marl in Georgia, is a combination of indurated and argillaceous limestone that also falls within the Ocala Group. Calcareous soils are the main abiotic factor driving the occurrence of blackland prairie vegetation within Georgia. The shrink-swell clays and alkaline pH of these soils account for a distinctive suite of vegetation not found elsewhere in the state. The Sumter Series most commonly underlies these prairie sites and consists of shallow, alkaline, moderately well-drained silty clays underlain by marl, chalk, or limestone. The Oktibbeha, Boswell, and Susquehanna series are also present to a lesser extent and occur together in intricate patterns. The nine prairies found on Ocmulgee Wildlife Management Area and Oaky Woods Wildlife Management Area represent the only blackland prairies in Georgia occurring on protected lands. These areas may be subjected to development if the currently projected (2008) transfer of leased timberland to private interests occurs.<br /><br />The dominant vegetation consists of a variety of native grasses usually dominated by <i>Sorghastrum nutans</i>. Other important grasses include <i>Andropogon gerardii, Aristida purpurascens, Eragrostis spectabilis, Muhlenbergia capillaris, Sporobolus clandestinus, Sporobolus junceus, Sporobolus vaginiflorus, Tridens flavus</i>, and <i>Tripsacum dactyloides</i>. The disjunct prairie grass <i>Bouteloua curtipendula</i> is present in at least one occurrence. In addition, a large number of state-listed rare or disjunct prairie herbaceous perennials also occur. Prominent among these are <i>Draba cuneifolia, Galium virgatum, Glandularia bipinnatifida, Ophioglossum engelmannii, Polygala boykinii, Scutellaria drummondii, Spermolepis inermis, Symphyotrichum georgianum, Symphyotrichum laeve var. concinnum, Symphyotrichum novae-angliae</i>, and <i>Thaspium barbinode</i>. Woody cover in these grasslands varies considerably due to edaphic factors, disturbance and fire suppression. Characteristic species that might be abundant to sparse include <i>Celtis tenuifolia, Cercis canadensis, Cornus asperifolia, Crataegus crus-galli, Crataegus spathulata, Crataegus triflora, Diospyros virginiana, Frangula caroliniana, Fraxinus americana, Juniperus virginiana, Quercus muehlenbergii, Quercus sinuata, Sideroxylon lanuginosum, Ulmus alata</i>, and <i>Viburnum rufidulum</i>. Common vines include <i>Berchemia scandens</i> and <i>Cocculus carolinus</i>.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:33082-{8BACE252-36EF-444E-BA6D-CEF7ECAA9A35}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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