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Andropogon gerardii - Sorghastrum nutans - Liatris spicata Tallgrass Prairie Macrogroup | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Andropogon gerardii - Sorghastrum nutans - Liatris spicata Tallgrass Prairie Macrogroup
Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description: This macrogroup encompasses tallgrass prairie grasslands occurring on glacial features and flat to rolling landscapes across North America from Texas to Manitoba where fire regularly occurs. It includes perennial grassland species and associated forb species across its range. Predominant grass species include <i>Andropogon gerardii, Panicum virgatum, Schizachyrium scoparium</i>, and <i>Sorghastrum nutans</i>. Northern mesic sites may also include <i>Sporobolus heterolepis</i> and <i>Muhlenbergia richardsonis</i>. Drier, rocky sites contain <i>Bouteloua curtipendula</i> and <i>Hesperostipa spartea</i>. Southward, dominants may also include <i>Tripsacum dactyloides</i> and <i>Paspalum plicatulum</i>. A wide diversity of forbs are present and even dominant, including <i>Achillea</i> spp., <i>Echinacea</i> spp., <i>Helianthus</i> spp., <i>Liatris</i> spp., <i>Lobelia spicata, Ratibida pinnata, Silphium</i> spp., <i>Solidago</i> spp., and <i>Symphyotrichum</i> spp. Woody species are rare but rockier sites may contain scattered trees tolerant of droughty conditions and periodic fire, such as <i>Quercus macrocarpa</i> and <i>Pinus banksiana</i>. A wide variety of forbs can contribute to the vegetation cover. Species composition varies geographically. Grazing and fire influenced species composition and distribution of this macrogroup historically, but a substantial reduction in fire frequency has allowed woody plants or other grasses to become dominant in many examples. Poor grazing practices can lead to soil erosion and invasion by cool-season grasses such as <i>Bromus inermis</i> and <i>Poa pratensis</i>. Much of this macrogroup has been converted to agriculture and very few unaltered examples persist in the current, highly fragmented landscape. 
Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40474-{92CDECC5-032E-488E-9E68-F43DED66BB92}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 15-Oct-2014 to: ongoing
      Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.860688 NatureServe ExplorerNatureServe Explorer logo
  Code: M054
  Scientific: Andropogon gerardii - Sorghastrum nutans - Liatris spicata Tallgrass Prairie Macrogroup