Login | Datasets | Logout
 

View Community Concepts - Detail

A.1191 | EcoArt 2002
  click to update datacart
Name: A.1191
Reference: EcoArt 2002
Description: This alliance, found in central North America, is made up of mesic to wet-mesic tall grasslands. The dominant lifeforms in stands of this alliance are tall grasses, although forbs can be abundant as well. Trees and shrubs can occur as scattered individuals or clumps. Vegetation tends to be dense and between 1.5 and 2 m tall. The dominant species across the range of this alliance is ~Andropogon gerardii$. Other species that are common to abundant throughout the alliance's range are ~Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex$ spp., ~Panicum virgatum, Sorghastrum nutans$, and ~Spartina pectinata$. ~Muhlenbergia richardsonis$ may be diagnostic of this alliance in the northeastern Great Plains, and ~Pascopyrum smithii$ is common in the western portion of this alliance's range. ~Elymus canadensis$ is abundant in Wisconsin. ~Schizachyrium scoparium$ can be found on sites subject to seasonal drought. Forbs are abundant, especially farther east in this alliance's range. Among these forbs are Asteraceae spp., ~Helianthus grosseserratus, Lysimachia quadrifolia, Pycnanthemum virginianum, Ratibida columnifera, Ratibida pinnata, Thalictrum dasycarpum$, and ~Zizia aurea$. ^Stands of this widespread alliance occur most frequently on sand to silt loam soils. Some are found on clay loams or silty clays. The sites are typically level to gently sloping, and those with heavier soils often have standing water present in the spring or after heavy rains. Most stands are in the glaciated Midwest and occur on glacial till, outwash, or drift, or on glacial lakeplains. Fires were a common occurrence in stands of this alliance before effective fire suppression activities. In the prolonged absence of fire, woody species usually invade and can become abundant. 
Accession Code: VB.CC.961.A1191
Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
      Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization)
Perspective from: 26-Nov-1997 to: 17-Mar-2005
     
  • status: accepted
  • Community's Parent: V.A.5.N.a
  • This Community's Level: Alliance
  • This Community's Children: [none]
Names:   Scientific: ANDROPOGON GERARDII - (CALAMAGROSTIS CANADENSIS, PANICUM VIRGATUM) HERBACEOUS ALLIANCE
  Code: A.1191
  Common: Big Bluestem - (Bluejoint, Switchgrass) Herbaceous Alliance
(convergence) and Synonyms:
(undetermined) Andropogon gerardii - (Calamagrostis canadensis, Panicum virgatum) Herbaceous Alliance