Central Mixedgrass Prairie
Geology
Typical of various sedimentary formations of the Rolling Plains.
Landform
Gently rolling uplands.
Soils
Generally on loams and clay loams. Often on Ecological Sites such as Clay Slopes, Loamy Prairie, Clayey Upland, Claypan Prairie, Sandy Loam, and Clay Loam.
Parent Description
Central Mixedgrass Prairie represents the common prairie type in the Rolling Plains. This prairie often has Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem) as a dominant, with Nassella leucotricha (Texas wintergrass), Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama), Bothriochloa laguroides ssp. torreyana (silver bluestem), Bouteloua hirsuta (hariy grama), Bouteloua gracilis (blue grama), Bouteloua dactyloides (buffalograss), Andropogon gerardii (big bluestem), Pascopyrum smithii (western wheatgrass), Aristida purpurea (purple threeawn), Sporobolus cryptandrus (sand dropseed), and Pleuraphis mutica (tobosa) also commonly encountered. Grazing tends to favor shortgrass species such as Bouteloua dactyloides (buffalograss) and Bouteloua gracilis (blue grama). Sandy soils may be similar, but typically have greater cover of Sporobolus cryptandrus (sand dropseed) and forbs such as Eriogonum annuum (annual wildbuckwheat), Heterotheca canescens (gray goldaster), Dimorphocarpa candicans (Palmer’s spectaclepod), and Gaillardia pulchella (Indian blanket). This system is frequently invaded by juniper (primarily Juniperus pinchotii (redberry juniper)), Ziziphus obtusifolia (lotebush), and Prosopis glandulosa (mesquite), and sandier sites may contain some Artemisia filifolia (sand sage) and Quercus havardii (Havard’s shin oak).
Ecological Mapping Systems
Rolling Plains: Mixedgrass Prairie
Grassland dominated by species such as Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem), Nassella leucotricha (Texas wintergrass), Bouteloua curtipendula (sideoats grama), and Bothriochloa laguroides ssp. torreyana (silver bluestem). This type typically occupies loam, clay loams, or sandy loams.
Distribution Map
Photos
Public Land Occurrence
- Colorado Bend State Park: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
- Copper Breaks State Park: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
- Fort Griffin State Historic Site: Texas Historical Commission
- Independence Creek Preserve: The Nature Conservancy
- Lake Arrowhead State Park: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
- Lake Brownwood State Park: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
- Matador Wildlife Management Area: Texas Parks & Wildlife Department
Rolling Plains: Mixedgrass Sandy Prairie
Similar to Rolling Plains: Mixedgrass Prairie (307) but occupying sandy sites and typically with greater cover of Sporobolus cryptandrus (sand dropseed) and forbs such as Eriogonum annuum (annual wildbuckwheat), Heterotheca canescens (gray goldaster), Dimorphocarpa candicans (Palmer's spectaclepod), and Gaillardia pulchella (Indian blanket). Shrubs such as Artemisia filifolia (sand sage), Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite), and Quercus havardii (Havard's shin oak) may be encountered.
Distribution Map
Photos
