Name:
Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula Central Loamy Grassland Alliance
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This dry to dry-mesic tallgrass prairie alliance is widespread in the midwestern United States and southern Ontario. The vegetation is characterized by moderate to dense cover of medium and tall grasses and a diverse mixture of forbs. Woody species are absent to rare but can be uncommon in some communities. The most abundant species across the range of this alliance are <i>Bouteloua curtipendula, Schizachyrium scoparium</i>, and <i>Sorghastrum nutans</i>. Other graminoids species common in parts of this alliance are <i>Andropogon gerardii, Bouteloua hirsuta, Carex</i> spp., <i>Danthonia spicata, Hesperostipa spartea</i>, and <i>Sporobolus heterolepis</i>. Some of the many forbs which can be found in this alliance include <i>Symphyotrichum ericoides, Echinacea pallida, Helianthus</i> spp., <i>Stenaria nigricans var. nigricans</i> (in Illinois and Missouri), <i>Lespedeza capitata</i> (especially on sand), <i>Lithospermum canescens, Clinopodium arkansanum</i> (in Illinois), and <i>Solidago nemoralis</i>. Woody species that are found in stands of this alliance are those that can adapt to the dry to dry-mesic conditions. Stands of this alliance are found on gentle to moderately steep slopes or on flatter sites with thin soils over bedrock. The most prevalent slope aspects are south or west. Soils range from shallow to deep and are well-drained to excessively well-drained. Most are loams or sands, but some can be gravel or clay. These soils are formed from eolian or alluvial sand, limestone, dolomite, sandstone, glacial till, glacial outwash, chert, loess, or shale.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:39268-{537DA6BC-D084-4367-B6FD-6507D704250B}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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