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Schizachyrium scoparium - Andropogon gerardii - Silphium terebinthinaceum Coosa Valley Barren Grassland | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Schizachyrium scoparium - Andropogon gerardii - Silphium terebinthinaceum Coosa Valley Barren Grassland
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This barrens vegetation occurs in the Coosa River valley of northwestern Georgia and northeastern Alabama. It represents the wetter end of a spectrum of small prairie-like openings in a mosaic of gently rolling terrain over a substrate of Conasauga Group geology, which includes calcareous shales and limestones. These small openings (generally less than 1 ha) are dominated by a mixture of perennial grasses and forbs, many of which are disjunct midwestern prairie species or narrowly distributed endemics adapted to the unique edaphic factors present at these sites. This mesic or wetter variant occurs in lower topographic situations over deep shrink-swell clays that are saturated for part of the year and dry and cracked like pavement during later portions of the growing season. Prairie-related grasses such as <i>Schizachyrium scoparium, Andropogon gerardii</i>, and <i>Sorghastrum nutans</i> typically predominate along with <i>Silphium terebinthinaceum</i>. In addition, <i>Panicum virgatum</i> is also a dominant grass species. Prairie goldenrods such as <i>Oligoneuron rigidum, Oligoneuron album</i>, and the remarkably disjunct <i>Oligoneuron riddellii</i> are also distinct components. Other disjunct elements include <i>Lysimachia quadriflora, Juncus filipendulus</i>, and <i>Rhynchospora thornei</i>. This association is further characterized by the presence of narrow endemics such as <i>Helianthus x verticillatus</i> and <i>Marshallia mohrii</i>. Other dominant herbaceous species found in this association include <i>Pycnanthemum virginianum, Ptilimnium costatum, Ludwigia microcarpa, Physostegia virginiana, Cirsium muticum, Helenium autumnale, Liatris spicata, Mitreola petiolata, Allium cernuum, Mecardonia acuminata, Symphyotrichum laeve var. concinnum</i>, and <i>Rhynchospora caduca</i>. Some example of this wetter barrens vegetation can include <i>Dodecatheon meadia</i> and <i>Schoenolirion croceum</i>. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:33535-{A358E04A-3D64-4003-984F-A72E84E2F74B}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 20-Feb-2004 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685697 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL004757
  Translated: Little Bluestem - Big Bluestem - Prairie Rosinweed Coosa Valley Barren Grassland
  Common: Coosa Valley Wet Barrens
  Scientific: Schizachyrium scoparium - Andropogon gerardii - Silphium terebinthinaceum Coosa Valley Barren Grassland
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) CEGL004757
(similar) Schizachyrium scoparium - Andropogon gerardii - Silphium terebinthinaceum Coosa Valley Barren Herbaceous Vegetation
(similar) Schizachyrium scoparium - Andropogon gerardii - Sorghastrum nutans Coosa Valley Barren Herbaceous Vegetation