Name:
Sporobolus vaginiflorus - Schizachyrium scoparium - Clinopodium spp. Southern Barrens & Glade Macrogroup
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This glade and barrens vegetation is found on various specialized substrates (igneous rock, clay, saline soil, limestone, sandstone) in the coastal plains of the southeastern United States ranging from the inland parts of Texas and adjacent Oklahoma through the coastal plains east to northern Florida. It is currently documented from seven distinct areas with particular substrates, in addition to the central Texas/Oklahoma zone. In inland (non-coastal plain) parts of Texas and adjacent Oklahoma including the Edwards Plateau, Lampasas Cutplain, and Crosstimbers, this vegetation consists of specialized glade communities, frequently dominated by low forbs, annual grasses, and succulents. This vegetation may occur as large to small patches, embedded in a matrix of woodlands, open forests, or perennial grass-dominated prairies. Some characteristic plants in these regions include <i>Lesquerella gordonii, Lesquerella ovalifolia, Schizachyrium scoparium, Sedum nuttallianum, Sedum pulchellum</i>, and <i>Sporobolus vaginiflorus</i> (<i>var. ozarkanus</i> and <i>var. vaginiflorus</i>).<br /><br />The substrates for the more eastern examples include outcrops of marine sediment and glauconitic clays of the Weches Formation in central eastern Texas; the Catahoula geologic formation of eastern Texas and western Louisiana; distinctive, massive outcrops of igneous substrate ("nepheline syenite") in Saline and Pulaski counties, Arkansas; outcrops of indurated sandstone in the Tifton Upland of the Georgia Coastal Plain (Altamaha Grit); sandstone outcrops of Panhandle Florida; limestone outcrops of Panhandle Florida; and soils with high saline content in portions of the coastal plain west of the Mississippi River.<br /><br />They will each be described separately. Weches glades are a series of small-patch communities which are endemic to San Augustine, Nacogdoches, and Sabine counties, Texas. Characteristic species include <i>Sedum pulchellum, Clinopodium arkansanum</i>, and <i>Sporobolus vaginiflorus</i>. In addition, the narrowly endemic annuals <i>Lesquerella pallida</i> and <i>Leavenworthia aurea var. texana</i> may be present. Catahoula barrens of eastern Texas and western Louisiana are a vegetational mosaic ranging from herbaceous-dominated areas on shallow soil and exposed sandstone to deeper soils with open woodland vegetation. Glades on distinctive, massive outcrops of igneous substrate ("nepheline syenite") are found in the upper coastal plain of Arkansas, near the Ouachita Mountains. Some typical dominant grasses include <i>Aristida purpurascens, Piptochaetium avenaceum, Schizachyrium scoparium</i>, and <i>Sporobolus clandestinus</i>. Altamaha Grit glade vegetation occurs on sandstone in the Tifton Upland of the Georgia coastal plain. Typical herbaceous species are <i>Allium cuthbertii, Aristida beyrichiana, Bigelowia nuttallii, Coreopsis major, Croton michauxii, Liatris squarrosa, Manfreda virginica, Penstemon dissectus, Schizachyrium tenerum, Phemeranthus teretifolius</i>, and <i>Tephrosia virginiana</i>. A typical dwarf-shrub is <i>Hypericum lloydii</i>. Occurrences can be as large as five acres. This community typically occurs in a matrix of longleaf pine woodlands.<br /><br />Sandstone glades of Panhandle Florida are dominated by <i>Bigelowia nuttallii</i>. Other characteristic species include <i>Eurybia hemispherica</i> and <i>Schizachyrium scoparium var. scoparium</i>.<br /><br />On the open small-patch limestone/calcareous glades that are endemic to the Panhandle of Florida and adjacent Georgia, the most characteristic dominant herbaceous species is <i>Schoenus nigricans</i>. Other characteristic taxa are <i>Andropogon</i> sp., <i>Dichanthelium</i> spp., <i>Stenaria nigricans var. nigricans, Helianthus radula</i>, and <i>Muhlenbergia capillaris</i>. Some mesic herbaceous patches dominated by <i>Aquilegia canadensis</i> are also included here.<br /><br />Saline glades or barrens of the West Gulf Coastal Plain of Louisiana, Texas, and Arkansas are associated with high sodium substrates, with patchy vegetation and much bare soil. <i>Aristida dichotoma</i> is dominant. There are also related examples in the adjacent Ouachita Mountains of Arkansas; these are also accommodated here, even though this technically extends the range off of the coastal plains.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40639-{E49FCFEC-78C5-4659-BE6C-5DD306AFC588}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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