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Rare, Endangered and Threatened plants of Saline Prairies by Jason Singhurst May 17, 2013 TORCH Saline Prairies Conference, East Texas Natural History Collection, Hawkins, Texas. Why are Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas scientists interested in saline prairies?
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Rare, Endangered and Threatened plants of Saline Prairies\by Jason Singhurst May 17, 2013 TORCH Saline Prairies Conference, East Texas Natural History Collection, Hawkins, Texas
Why are Arkansas, Louisiana, and Texas scientists interested in saline prairies? 1. Globally rare plants, endemics, and peripherals plant species 2. Plant communities are globally rare
Saline Prairies Physical Setting, Geology, and Soils • Fluvial terraces adjacent to active floodplains • Soils formed on loamy late Pleistocene sediments • In Louisiana and Texas the soil series include Bonn, Brimstone and Lafe Saline Prairie General Appearance • Short to medium in height grass canopy • Density of grasses is variable but usually sparse • Broad flats and wet depressions • Slicks that are devoid of vegetation (natric horizon that is characterized by high levels of exchangeable Na – often associated with arid or semi-arid environments) • Cryptogramic crust composed of algae, mosses, and lichens
Saline Prairies Plant Communities Bottomland Prairies Plantago pusilla - Sporobolus pyramidatus- Phemeranthusparviflorus–Cleomella angustifolia (Sedum nuttallianum) Association (Keith et al.2004) Silveus Dropseed Prairies Plantago hybrida - Sporobolus pyramindatus - Iva angustifolia - Phemeranthusparviflorus (Hymenoxysperpygmaea) Association (Mink et al. 2012) Coastal Prairies Sporoboluspyramidatus – Spergularia echinosperma – Iva angustifolia – Hymenoxys texana – (Thurovia triflora) (Singhurst et al. – unpublished ms)
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