Comm #12014
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Andropogon gerardii - Panicum virgatum - Schizachyrium scoparium - Schizachyrium tenerum - Helianthus mollis Herbaceous Vegetation
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accession code: VB.CC.18726.ANDROPOGONGERAR
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Southeastern Ecology Working Gro... |
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This is the upland, mesic (non-wet) coastal prairie that, along with wet coastal prairie, historically dominated vast acreages on the Pleistocene Prairie Terraces of southwestern Louisiana. It occupied the broad, slightly convex 'flats' across the region. In areas of pimple mounds, this type occupied the mounds, with wet coastal prairie (Panicum virgatum - Tripsacum dactyloides - (Panicum hemitomon) Herbaceous Vegetation (CEGL007937)) in low areas between mounds. The prairie landscape was bisected by 'gallery forests' along small permanent streams that divided the prairie into 'coves.' Upland prairie is typically dominated by the nominal species, but a large variety of other species is associated with the type. Composites, grasses, sedges and legumes are the primary families represented (Allen and Vidrine 1997), but many other families are present. Over 500 plant species have been recorded in Louisiana's remnant coastal prairies (Allen 1988). Some commonly occurring species, other than the nominals, include Agalinis spp., Agrostis hyemalis, Allium canadense var. mobilense, Andropogon glomeratus, Andropogon virginicus, Aristida purpurascens, Asclepias obovata, Asclepias viridis, Symphyotrichum lateriflorum?, Baptisia bracteata var. leucophaea (= Baptisia leucophaea), Baptisia sphaerocarpa, Boltonia asteroides, Buchnera americana (= Buchnera floridana), Chamaecrista fasciculata, Coreopsis tinctoria, Dalea candida (restricted to calcareous clays), Desmodium ciliare, Desmodium paniculatum, Dichanthelium acuminatum var. acuminatum, Dichanthelium aciculare (= Dichanthelium angustifolium), Dichanthelium oligosanthes, Eragrostis lugens, Erigeron annuus, Eryngium yuccifolium, Eupatorium leucolepis, Eupatorium rotundifolium, Euphorbia corollata, Euthamia leptocephala, Fimbristylis puberula, Gaura lindheimeri, Hedyotis nigricans, Helianthus angustifolius, Houstonia micrantha (= Hedyotis australis), Hypericum nudiflorum, Liatris acidota, Liatris pycnostachya, Mimosa hystricina (= Schrankia hystricina), Muhlenbergia capillaris, Neptunia lutea (restricted to calcareous clays), Oenothera speciosa, Orbexilum pedunculatum var. psoralioides (= Psoralea psoralioides), Orbexilum simplex (= Psoralea simplex), Oxalis violacea, Paspalum floridanum, Paspalum plicatulum, Penstemon laxiflorus, Phlox pilosa, Pityopsis graminifolia, Pycnanthemum tenuifolium, Rhynchospora fascicularis, Rhynchospora spp., Rubus trivialis, Rudbeckia hirta, Ruellia humilis, Salvia azurea, Setaria parviflora (= Setaria geniculata), Silphium gracile, Silphium laciniatum (restricted to clays), Sisyrinchium langloisii, Oligoneuron nitidum (= Solidago nitida), Solidago odora var. odora, Solidago sempervirens var. mexicana, Sorghastrum nutans, Tradescantia hirsutiflora, and Tridens strictus. The vegetation in the northern coastal prairies greatly resembles that of the mesic longleaf pine flatwoods (the two intergrade at the northern boundary of the coastal prairie in Louisiana), with very few species apparently restricted to the prairies. Soils in these areas are generally acidic, fairly nutrient-poor silt loams. Toward the south, the vegetation is influenced by heavier clay soils, with some of the clays being sub-calcareous to calcareous, and in these areas there are some strict calciphiles present (e.g., Dalea candida) and fewer species characteristic of the acidic silt loams to the north. The soils of this prairie vary from the acidic silt loams to the north, to the more base-rich silt loams to the east (derived from loess), and the relatively base-rich silt loams and clays to the south (mainly ancient Red River deposits?). The great majority of the soils are Alfisols, with a few Mollisols. Some typical soil series are Coteau silt loam (Glossaquic Hapludalf), Crowley silt loam (Typic Albaqualf), Jeanerette silt/silty clay loam (Typic Argiaquoll), Kaplan silt loam (Vertic Epiaqualf), Mamou silt loam (Aeric Epiaqualf), Morey silt/silty clay loam (Oxyaquic Argiudoll), and Vidrine (Glossaquic Hapludalf). Soil disturbance and over-grazing in the type lead to an increase in such species as Agalinis fasciculata, Ambrosia artemisiifolia, Andropogon glomeratus and/or Andropogon virginicus, Aristida oligantha, Axonopus fissifolius (= Axonopus affinis), Conyza canadensis, Coreopsis tinctoria, Croton capitatus, Diodia virginiana, Eclipta prostrata (= Eclipta alba), Fimbristylis littoralis (= Fimbristylis miliacea), Geranium carolinianum, Helenium amarum, Iva annua, Mimosa strigillosa, Modiola caroliniana, Phalaris caroliniana, Plantago virginica, Rumex crispus, Isolepis carinata (= Isolepis koilolepis), and others, and a decrease in disturbance-sensitive species. Upland coastal prairie intermixes with wet coastal prairie on the landscape, depending on local topography. Where coastal prairie still remains in areas of pimple mounds, the upland type is on pimple mounds and the wetland type is in low, intermound areas. Pimple mounds are present in the central and western coastal prairie of Louisiana but are lacking in the eastern, loess-based prairie. Where they remain, pimple mounds seem to be best developed (larger, more pronounced) in the southwestern part of the coastal prairie region. The coastal prairie zone of southwestern Louisiana has become very seriously infested with Triadica sebifera (= Sapium sebiferum) (Chinese tallow tree), which in many places has formed dense thickets and forests. It quickly comes to dominate fallow pastures and fields. Paspalum urvillei and Sporobolus indicus are two examples of exotic species that are problematic in prairie remnants today. Historically, upland coastal prairie was maintained by frequent burning and soil conditions generally inhospitable to the growth of trees and shrubs. |
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