Name:
Schizachyrium scoparium - Sporobolus spp. Central Interior Calcareous Scrub & Grassland Macrogroup
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This vegetation macrogroup includes open barrens (or prairie) vegetation of the east-central United States. Physiognomy is variable, with management or natural disturbance. These are plant communities with open canopies, ranging from herbaceous-dominated barrens (some of which are maintained today by mowing instead of fire and grazing) through savanna and woodland types. The variety of relatively open habitats that is present here includes open grassland areas, as well as savanna woodlands. Stands are dominated by grasses and forbs with scattered shrubby vegetation and, occasionally, trees. The primary dominant grasses include <i>Andropogon gerardii</i> (southward also <i>Andropogon glomeratus, Andropogon gyrans, Andropogon ternarius</i>), <i>Panicum</i> spp., <i>Schizachyrium scoparium, Sorghastrum nutans</i>, and <i>Sporobolus</i> spp. Some other typical species found in examples may include <i>Helianthus mollis, Helianthus occidentalis, Helianthus silphioides, Panicum anceps, Silphium terebinthinaceum</i>, and <i>Silphium trifoliatum</i>. The shrublands can be dominated by <i>Cercis canadensis, Forestiera ligustrina, Hypericum</i> spp., <i>Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana</i>, and <i>Rhus aromatica</i>. The scattered trees (under historical or current managed conditions) are primarily <i>Quercus muehlenbergii, Quercus alba</i>, and <i>Quercus macrocarpa</i>. Under current conditions, <i>Acer rubrum, Liquidambar styraciflua, Quercus coccinea</i>, and <i>Quercus falcata</i> may be present, but these species are not characteristic. In the Appalachians, most examples are open woodlands with <i>Pinus rigida, Pinus virginiana, Juniperus virginiana var. virginiana</i>, and/or <i>Quercus alba, Quercus marilandica</i>, and <i>Quercus stellata</i> in the often stunted canopy. Trees can include <i>Fraxinus americana, Ulmus alata</i>, and <i>Cercis canadensis</i> on basic soil examples. This vegetation was formerly more widespread, but is now found in relatively scattered and isolated remnants. Some proposed factors which have functioned to maintain the openness of these vegetation types include the droughty, gravelly soils and resulting stresses to vegetation, as well as fire and grazing.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:40808-{DC5DE2CF-2119-4DDC-A4D9-9D2E0C2DBA20}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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