Ohio subset of Plant Communities of the Midwest ... - NatureServe

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Prairies/Grasslands: Midwestern Sand and Gravel Tallgrass Prairies Andropogon gerardii - Sorghastrum nutans - Schizachyrium scoparium - Aletris farinosa Herbaceous Vegetation Big Bluestem - Yellow Indiangrass - Little Bluestem - Northern White Colicroot Herbaceous Vegetation Mesic Sand Tallgrass Prairie CEGL005096 DESCRIPTION: Stands of this community may be dominated by grasses, mixtures of grasses and forbs, forbs, or short shrubs and grasses. Abundant and diagnostic species include Andropogon gerardii, Calamagrostis canadensis, Pycnanthemum virginianum, Schizachyrium scoparium, and Sorghastrum nutans. Aletris farinosa and Coreopsis tripteris are typical in this community and can be locally abundant. Other characteristic species include Carex pensylvanica, Desmodium canadense, Panicum virgatum, Solidago canadensis, and Solidago juncea (Comer et al. 1995b, Faber-Langendoen and Maycock 1994). Species composition varies with soil moisture and pH. Comer et al. (1995b) found five examples of this community in their survey of Michigan lakeplain prairies. The dominant species on the best of these sites were Schizachyrium scoparium and Andropogon gerardii. Common plants included Asclepias tuberosa, Baptisia tinctoria, Carex muehlenbergii, Carex swanii, Hieracium longipilum, Liatris scariosa, Lupinus perennis, Rudbeckia hirta, and Viola sagittata. This community occurs on level sandy glacial outwash, sandy glacial lakeplains, valley trains, and in dune areas. Soils are sandy loams, loamy sands, and sands. They are moderately well-drained to imperfectly or somewhat poorly drained. The soils often have thick, dark surface horizons, a slowly permeable layer within the profile, a high water table, and additions of water through seepage. The water table is highest in the spring and falls through the summer with drought conditions often occurring in the autumn. There is quite a bit of variation in soil moisture from site to site. There is sometimes brief ponding after heavy rains or in the spring. Soil pH ranges from 4.0-8.2 (Faber-Langendoen and Maycock 1994, Comer et al. 1995b). Fire is important in maintaining this community. In the absence of fire, mesic sand prairies succeed to woodland or forest. Poa compressa is a common exotic in disturbed sites. COMMENTS: 2, MCS. This type represents the mesic sand prairies in the Upper Midwest that are both off and on the lakeplain area of the Great Lakes. Lakeplain stands may be very similar to wet-mesic lakeplain prairies (Faber- Langendoen and Maycock 1987). In Michigan, Ohio, and Ontario, no distinction is made between mesic sand prairies on the lakeplain or off the lakeplain, as was done for wet-mesic sand prairies, Andropogon gerardii - Calamagrostis canadensis - Pycnanthemum virginianum - Oligoneuron ohioense Herbaceous Vegetation (CEGL005095), since the mesic condition is much less connected to lakeplain hydrology (P. Comer pers. comm. 1997). Type needs further review in Wisconsin, where it may occur at Chiwaukee Prairie and Avoca Prairie (E. Epstein pers. comm. 1999). CONSERVATION RANK: G2. Many former sites of this type have been eliminated by agricultural development. DISTRIBUTION: This community occurs in the southern Great Lakes region of the United States and Canada, ranging from southern Wisconsin and northern Illinois to Ohio and Ontario. USFS ECOREGIONS: 212Hx:CCC, 212Hy:CCC, 222Ao:CCC, 222Ha:CCC, 222If:CCC, 222Jb:CCC, 222Jg:CCC, 222Jh:CCC, 222Jj:CCC, 222Kg:CCC, 222Ki:CCC, 222Qb:CCC, 251Da:CCC, 251Dd:CCC, 251Dg:CCC CONSERVATION REGIONS: 36:C, 48:C STATES: IL IN MI OH WI PROVINCES: ON MIDWEST HERITAGE SYNONYMY: IL mesic sand prairie = IN mesic sand prairie = MI mesic sand prairie = OH big bluestem prairie + WI mesic sand prairie OTHER SYNONYMY: Mesic sandy loam prairie (Faber-Langendoen and Maycock 1987) =, Mesic sandy loam prairie (Faber-Langendoen and Maycock 1994) = USNVC HIERARCHY: ANDROPOGON GERARDII - (SORGHASTRUM NUTANS) HERBACEOUS ALLIANCE (V.A.5.N.a) PLANT COMMUNITIES OF THE MIDWEST – 2001. APPENDIX: ASSOCIATION DESCRIPTIONS 576
Prairies/Grasslands: Midwestern Sand and Gravel Tallgrass Prairies Schizachyrium scoparium - Carex tonsa var. rugosperma - Carex muehlenbergii - Lithospermum caroliniense - Opuntia humifusa Herbaceous Vegetation Little Bluestem - Parachute Sedge - Muhlenberg's Sedge - Plains Puccoon - Eastern Prickly-pear Herbaceous Vegetation Midwest Sand Barrens CEGL005099 DESCRIPTION: Graminoids dominate the herbaceous layer, which is often very open. Dominant and characteristic graminoids include Carex siccata (= Carex foenea), Carex muehlenbergii, Carex tonsa var. rugosperma (= Carex rugosperma), Cyperus lupulinus, Cyperus schweinitzii, Aristida basiramea, Aristida tuberculosa, Dichanthelium ovale var. addisonii (= Dichanthelium commonsianum), Koeleria macrantha, Schizachyrium scoparium, Sporobolus cryptandrus, and Hesperostipa spartea (= Stipa spartea). Calamovilfa longifolia may be prominent in more open dune ridges. Characteristic forbs include Antennaria plantaginifolia, Lithospermum caroliniense, Penstemon grandiflorus, and Solidago nemoralis. Other associated herbs include Asclepias tuberosa, Dalea villosa, Euphorbia corollata, Krigia virginica, and Lupinus perennis. Hudsonia tomentosa is more often restricted to local disturbances such as blowouts or slipfaces. Shrubs or shrub-like species include Salix humilis and Opuntia humifusa (Curtis 1959, MNNHP 1993, Anderson 1996, Schneider and Cochrane 1997). Stands can occur on steep slopes on sandy outwash, sandy lakeplains, and alluvial deposits along rivers and streams. They may occur on sand ridges (including inland dunes and sandy areas of coarse-textured end moraines), particularly on blowouts. Soils are well-drained to excessively drained, coarse-textured sands, loamy sands, and sandy loams. Gravels are very minor. Soils generally lack a dark A horizon and the upper horizons can be somewhat acidic (Curtis 1959, MNNHP 1993, Anderson 1996). Windstorms can create blowouts. COMMENTS: 3, MCS. In Minnesota, relation to the Minnesota Dry Prairie, barrens subtype in southeastern and central Minnesota needs clarification. The Minnesota type is currently crosswalked to Schizachyrium scoparium - Danthonia spicata - Carex pensylvanica - (Viola pedata) Herbaceous Vegetation (CEGL002318), but appears to be more like a sand barrens type. Separation of this type from sand prairie (CEGL002318) or even sand-gravel prairie, Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula Gravel Herbaceous Vegetation (CEGL002215), may be difficult. They may represent a later successional stage, with the sand barrens originating when exposed areas of sandy or sandy/gravelly substrates are created, either by wind or human clearing, and the sand prairies and gravel prairies succeeding them (Curtis 1959, Anderson 1996). Thus, it's possible that the sand barrens type can be combined into those two types. In general sand barrens occur on more dune-like habitats, coarse floodplain outwash, or on formerly plowed sand prairies, and sands may still move. Sand prairies occur on more stable sandy soils. Potential diagnostic species for sand prairies may be Lithospermum canescens and Viola pedata. Potential diagnostic species for sand barrens are Cyperus lupulinus ssp. lupulinus (= Cyperus filiculmis), Cyperus schweinitzii, Carex muehlenbergii, Lithospermum caroliniense, Opuntia humifusa, and Sporobolus cryptandrus. Solidago nemoralis is common, as are lichens. CONSERVATION RANK: G2G3. There are probably fewer than 100 occurrences of this community rangewide. It is reported from Ohio (where it is ranked S2), Indiana (S2), and Wisconsin (SU), and it may also occur in Illinois. Currently 7 occurrences have been documented from Indiana and Ohio. No data on current acreage are available, but there are probably less than 10,000 acres rangewide (assuming most occurrences are less than 100 acres). Historical acreage and trends are unknown, but it seems likely that some areas of this community have been destroyed by agricultural and residential development. DISTRIBUTION: This community is widespread throughout the midwestern region of the United States, where it is found on a variety of sandy soils, ranging from perhaps southeast and central Minnesota east to Ohio. USFS ECOREGIONS: 222Hf:CCC, 222If:CCC, 222Ig:CCC, 222Jj:CCC, 251: CONSERVATION REGIONS: 45:C, 48:C STATES: IL IN MN OH WI PROVINCES: MIDWEST HERITAGE SYNONYMY:IL dry sand prairie IN sand barrens = MN dry prairie (southeast section) barrens subtype; dry prairie (central section) barrens subtype OH sand barren = WI sand barrens = OTHER SYNONYMY: Oak Barrens (Anderson 1996) B. Includes the herbaceous sand barrens within it., Sand Barrens (Anderson 1982) = USNVC HIERARCHY: SCHIZACHYRIUM SCOPARIUM - (SPOROBOLUS CRYPTANDRUS) HERBACEOUS ALLIANCE (V.A.5.N.c) PLANT COMMUNITIES OF THE MIDWEST – 2001. APPENDIX: ASSOCIATION DESCRIPTIONS 579
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PLANT COMMUNITIES OF THE MIDWEST CL
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CONTENTS APPENDIX: PLANT COMMUNITY
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OVERVIEW APPENDIX: PLANT COMMUNITY
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− The USFS (U.S. Forest Service)
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Box 2. State Natural Heritage progr
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INDEX TO ASSOCIATIONS BY ECOLOGICAL
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2.3.4.4. Interior Highlands Shale G
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Acid Peatlands: Northern Shrub/Gram
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Rich Peat Fens: Northeastern Rich F
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Rich Peat Fens: Midwestern Prairie
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Seeps: Midwestern Seepage Meadows S
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Open and Emergent Marshes: Eastern
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* Nonstandard type (needs review) G
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Open and Emergent Marshes: Great La
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Wet Prairies and Wet Meadows: Great
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Wet Prairies and Wet Meadows: Midwe
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Wet Prairies and Wet Meadows: Midwe
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Wooded Swamps and Floodplains: Nort
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Wooded Swamps and Floodplains: Midw
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Page 58 and 59: Wooded Swamps and Floodplains: Midw
Page 60 and 61: Wooded Swamps and Floodplains: Appa
Page 62 and 63: Wooded Swamps and Floodplains: Sout
Page 64 and 65: Wooded Swamps and Floodplains: Sout
Page 66 and 67: Shoreline Sand/Mud Strands, Beaches
Page 68 and 69: Sphagnum wulfianum, Sphagnum warnst
Page 70 and 71: Shoreline Sand/Mud Strands, Beaches
Page 72 and 73: Rocky Shores: Great Lakes Alkaline
Page 74 and 75: Rocky Shores: Appalachian Highlands
Page 76 and 77: Rocky Uplands (Glades, Rock Barrens
Page 78 and 79: DISTRIBUTION: This limestone glade
Page 80 and 81: DISTRIBUTION: This graminoid shale
Page 82 and 83: Cliffs, Talus, Buttes and Badlands:
Page 88 and 89: Forests and Woodlands: Midwestern D
Page 90 and 91: Forests and Woodlands: Midwestern D
Page 92 and 93: Forests and Woodlands: Midwestern M
Page 94 and 95: Forests and Woodlands: Appalachian
Page 102 and 103: Forests and Woodlands: Interior Hig
Page 104 and 105: Savannas and Non-Rock Barrens: Midw
Page 106 and 107: Savannas and Non-Rock Barrens: Midw
Page 110 and 111: Prairies/Grasslands: Midwestern Thi
Page 112 and 113: Prairies/Grasslands: Midwestern Dee
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Ohio subset of Plant Communities of the Midwest ... - NatureServe

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