Name:
Uniola paniculata - Panicum amarum Dune Grassland Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This dune grassland vegetation of the Southeastern Coastal Plain typically contains <i>Uniola paniculata</i> as dominant or codominant with <i>Panicum amarum</i>. Other typical species of this alliance include <i>Andropogon</i> spp., <i>Cakile</i> spp., <i>Cenchrus</i> spp., <i>Chamaecrista fasciculata, Chamaesyce</i> spp., <i>Croton punctatus, Heterotheca subaxillaris, Hydrocotyle bonariensis, Iva imbricata, Physalis walteri, Spartina patens</i>, and <i>Strophostyles helvola</i>. In the southern part of the range, additional forbs and vines include <i>Helianthus debilis, Ipomoea pes-caprae, Ipomoea imperati</i>, and <i>Sesuvium</i> spp. On the Chandeleurs and related islands of coastal Louisiana, <i>Spartina patens</i> replaces <i>Uniola paniculata</i> (which is present in small amounts) as the dominant grass. In the northern portion of the distribution of this alliance (northern North Carolina and Virginia), <i>Ammophila breviligulata</i> may be present. This is primarily dune grassland vegetation, typically with scattered shrubs and forbs. The vegetative cover varies from sparse on foredunes and on actively moving sand areas to fairly dense on more stable dunes. This dune grassland is found in the Southeastern Coastal Plain from Virginia to Texas, exclusive of subtropical Florida, and occurs almost exclusively on sandy, unstable, droughty substrates (Typic Quartzipsamments) with no soil profile development. Eolian processes cause active sand deposition and erosion. The sand substrate is usually visible, and litter accumulation from plant debris is nearly absent. This community generally occurs on foredunes that receive the force of wind and salt spray but is beyond the influence of most storm tides. The effects of nearly continuous salt spray exclude most other species and maintain the vegetation type.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:38176-{43452754-70AF-4D48-9429-AB1C1C3D825C}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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