Western Great Plains Sandhill Steppe
Geology
Eolian or alluvial sand deposits.
Landform
On rolling to level uplands.
Soils
This system is restricted to Deep Sand, Sand Hills or Sandy ecological sites.
Parent Description
Shrub cover may be variable, ranging from about 15 to 90% canopy cover. Artemisia filifolia (sand sage) or Quercus havardii (Havard's shin oak) may dominate or co-dominate the shrub layer, but Prosopis glandulosa (mesquite), Rhus trilobata (skunkbush sumac), or Prunus angustifolia (Chickasaw plum) may also be conspicuous or sometimes dominate the layer. Shrub cover may sometimes be sufficient to greatly reduce the cover of herbaceous species in the understory. A sparse overstory canopy may be present with species such as Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite), Celtis laevigata var. reticulata (netleaf hackberry), Quercus stellata (post oak), and Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii (western soapberry) present. Occasionally overstory canopy is well-developed and include these species, as well as tree stature representatives of Quercus havardii (Havard's shin oak) or Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite). At some sites, shrub cover may be low and herbaceous cover is typically dominated by grass species such as Schizachyrium scoparium (little bluestem) and Sporobolus cryptandrus (sand dropseed). Herbaceous cover also includes forbs such as Aphanostephus ramosissimus (plains lazy daisy), Gaillardia pulchella (Indian blanket), Dimorphocarpa candicans (Palmer's spectaclepod), Oenothera grandis (largeflower eveningprimrose), and Eriogonum annuum (annual wildbuckwheat).
Ecological Mapping Systems
High Plains: Active Sand Dunes
Areas on deep sand and sandhill site types lacking significant vegetative cover.
Distribution Map
Photos
Public Land Occurrence
High Plains: Sandy Shinnery Shrubland
Shrublands of sandy substrates but not on deep sand or sandhills, though these sites may be nearby. Quercus havardii (Havard’s shin oak) is typically dominant but other shrub species are commonly encountered.
Distribution Map
Photos
Public Land Occurrence
High Plains: Sandhill Shinnery Duneland
Shrubland on deep sand or sandhill sites where Quercus havardii (Havard’s shin oak) is the dominant or at least makes up a significant portion of the cover. Other shrub species are also commonly encountered.
Distribution Map
Photos
Public Land Occurrence
High Plains: Sandy Deciduous Shrubland
Shrublands on sandy substrates but no on deep sand or sandhills, though these sites may be nearby. Common species dominating the sites are Artemisia filifolia (sand sage), Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite), Prunus angustifolia (Chickasaw plum), and/or Rhus trilobata (skunkbush sumac). Quercus havardii (Havard's shin oak) may be present, but is typically not dominant.
Distribution Map
Photos
High Plains: Sandhill Deciduous Shrubland
Shrublands on deep sand or sandhill sites that typically lack Quercus havardii (Havard’s shin oak) as the dominant, though this species may be present. Species such as Artemisia filifolia (sand sage), Prunus angustifolia (Chickasaw plum), Prosopis glandulosa (honey mesquite), Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii (western soapberry), and Rhus trilobata (skunkbush sumac) dominate the shrub layer.
Distribution Map
Photos
Public Land Occurrence
High Plains: Deep Sand Woodland
Deciduous woodlands occurring on deep sands or sandhills or nearby sandy soils. These woodlands may be dominated by species such as Sapindus saponaria var. drummondii (western soapberry), Celtis laevigata var. reticulata (netleaf hackberry), Quercus havardii (Havard’s shin oak), Quercus stellata (post oak), or a hybrid of these two oak species.
Distribution Map
Photos
