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Sporobolus neglectus - Sporobolus vaginiflorus - Trichostema brachiatum - Panicum philadelphicum - (Poa compressa) Alvar Grassland | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Sporobolus neglectus - Sporobolus vaginiflorus - Trichostema brachiatum - Panicum philadelphicum - (Poa compressa) Alvar Grassland
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: Annual alvar pavement-grasslands occur in Ontario and New York in the central and eastern Great Lakes region on shallow soils (usually less than 10 cm deep) over flat limestone and dolostone outcrops (pavements). At some sites there is a distinctive soil moisture regime of alternating wet and dry seasons; they are often saturated in early spring and late fall, and they are subject to severe summer drought in most years (except unusually wet years). Due to the very shallow soils, and often saturated conditions during freeze-thaw cycles in early and late winter, needle ice often forms in the soils, causing frost-heaving of the shallow soils. This community typically occurs in a landscape mosaic with other alvar communities and consists of a mosaic of pavement and grassland areas dominated by characteristic native species, such as <i>Sporobolus neglectus, Sporobolus vaginiflorus, Panicum philadelphicum, Poa compressa, Oligoneuron album, Danthonia spicata, Trichostema brachiatum, Packera paupercula, Carex crawei</i>, and <i>Panicum flexile</i>. There is usually less than 10% cover of shrubs. There may be nearly equal cover of grassy vegetation, and exposed rock covered with nonvascular plants. Lichens and mosses are common on "pavement" rock outcrops that occur as patches within this mosaic. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:33998-{866EEB71-33DB-405E-80FA-E03513D8D511}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 9
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 08-Jun-1998 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686394 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: CEGL005235
  Translated: Barrens Dropseed - Poverty Dropseed - Fluxweed - Philadelphia Panicgrass - (Canada Bluegrass) Alvar Grassland
  Common: Annual Alvar Pavement Grassland
  Scientific: Sporobolus neglectus - Sporobolus vaginiflorus - Trichostema brachiatum - Panicum philadelphicum - (Poa compressa) Alvar Grassland
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(similar) CEGL005235
(similar) Sporobolus neglectus - Sporobolus vaginiflorus - Isanthus brachiatus - Panicum philadelphicum - (Poa compressa) Alvar Herbaceous Vegetation
(similar) Sporobolus neglectus - Sporobolus vaginiflorus - Isanthus brachiatus - Panicum philadelphicum - (Poa compressa) Herbaceous Vegetation