Name:
Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula Central Great Plains Grassland Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This alliance is found largely in the central and southern Great Plains with some occurrences in the northern Great Plains. It is widespread and common. Across its range, the vegetation is dominated by mid grasses. The vegetation cover can be moderately sparse to dense. Tall grasses and short grasses contribute substantially to the vegetation cover in most communities. The dominants are the nominal species <i>Schizachyrium scoparium</i> and <i>Bouteloua curtipendula</i>. <i>Bouteloua gracilis</i> and <i>Bouteloua hirsuta</i> are common associates across this alliance's range. Other graminoids that are present to codominant are <i>Andropogon gerardii, Andropogon hallii</i> (on sandier soils), <i>Bouteloua dactyloides</i> (in the south and west of this alliance's range), <i>Calamovilfa longifolia</i> (on sandier soils), <i>Koeleria macrantha, Pascopyrum smithii, Sporobolus cryptandrus, Sporobolus compositus var. compositus</i> (in the south), and <i>Sporobolus heterolepis</i> (in the east). There are a great number of forbs that occur in communities of this alliance, although they do not make up a large part of the herbaceous canopy. <i>Ambrosia psilostachya, Amorpha canescens, Dalea purpurea, Echinacea angustifolia, Gaura coccinea, Liatris punctata, Lygodesmia juncea, Ratibida columnifera, Sphaeralcea coccinea, Symphyotrichum ericoides</i>, and <i>Symphyotrichum oblongifolium</i> are found in many communities in this alliance. Shrubs are not abundant, but <i>Artemisia filifolia, Artemisia frigida, Rhus trilobata, Rosa</i> spp., <i>Symphoricarpos occidentalis</i>, and <i>Yucca glauca</i> may be scattered among the herbaceous species. Communities within this alliance are most commonly found on slopes but can occur on level ground. Loam and silt soils appear to be the most common; however, in the southwest of this alliance's range, some communities are predominantly on sandy soils.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:39252-{779FDAB8-BAA1-4D94-B3CD-19C3BB3A44D0}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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