THE GRASSES OF UPLANDS

In the last issue of The Native Grass Manager we discussed the grasses of lowlands. I feel it only proper in this issue to discuss the grasses of uplands to provide a balance of information. Once again, as I did in the last issue, I will be using the reference: North American Prairie, by J.E. Weaver, Johnsen Publishing Company, Lincoln, NE, 1954. In addition, I will be referencing Pasture and Range Plants, Phillips Petroleum Company, Bartlesville, OK, 1963.

Little bluestem is the dominant grass of upland communities. Little bluestem shared its extent and dominance with big bluestem, as the two major prairie grass communities. However, little bluestem was at one time probably the most abundant native warm season grass nationwide where: it is widely distributed throughout the true prairie; it inhabited the uplands eastward to the Atlantic coast, where early accounts report the Indians inhabiting Long Island referred to its presence; it is common among glades and savannas; especially significant on uplands through the south; while it extends far west into the mixed prairie. Weaver reported, "This species easily exceeds in importance all other upland grasses combined."

Side-oats grama is another grass of uplands. Side-oats' distribution is, for all practical purposes, the same as for little bluestem, though not as dominant. Weaver reported that side-oats grama normally composes only 1 to 3 percent of the plant cover, but that on dry ridges or slightly disturbed places it could be from 10 to 60 per cent of the plant cover.

When planted in a mixture with other grasses side-oats grama is typically one of the first grasses to "show" and usually in the planting year. In a majority of plantings I use side-oats as an indicator of planting success. Though other grasses may be hard to find, my experience is that if side-oats "show" the planting will be a success. It is also my experience that in a mixed planting side-oats decreases in abundance as the planting matures, which should be no surprise given the information related above.

Both little bluestem and side-oats grama are somewhat shade tolerant. I believe there are some local genotypes which may be more shade tolerant than others. I have seen good stands of little bluestem in open pine stands in the south and little bluestem widely distributed throughout the Ozark region of Missouri. Other warm season native grasses of uplands are prairie dropseed, tall dropseed, blue and hairy gramas and buffalo grass along with several panicums (switchgrass is a panicum, though not considered an upland grass). None of these grasses constitute a significant amount over the prairie region, though there may be locally dominant stands. Prairie dropseed is most abundant on the driest uplands. It occurs more commonly in scattered bunches with little bluestem. Tall dropseed is relatively insignificant. Tall drop is an indicator of poor pasture management as it occurs where there is slight disturbance or low vigor stands of other grasses. Blue and hairy grama are both short grasses and found endemic only to the mixed and short grass prairies. They do not tolerate shade and therefore can't compete with the taller grasses of the true prairie. Buffalo grass occurs throughout the true prairie though generally in isolated stands, usually limited in size. Buffalo grass is adapted to clay soils. For a number of years it has been used as a turf grass through the Great Plains. In recent years it has been promoted as a turf grass in the Midwest, and though it grows well, competition creates problems for this sun loving grass. Seeded buffalo grass east of Kansas is difficult to manage to maintain an attractive lawn, however sodded buffalo grass provides an attractive alternative. It is interesting to note here, though buffalo grass is an upland grass, where it has been planted in public use areas at Truman Reservoir, MO, and inundated for lengthy times as the result of the Flood of '93, it was the only turf grass to survive.

When thinking of upland grasses, naturally, warm season grasses and drought tolerant come to mind. It is therefore somewhat surprising to find there are several cool season native grasses adapted to uplands. Maybe not surprising but we usually don't think in terms of cool season grasses when talking about native and particularly uplands. This is probably the fault of the resource community more than anyone. Fescue and smooth brome are both introduced cool season grasses and therefore all cool season grasses tend to be ignored through simple association. In addition, with a few exceptions, seeds for seeding native cool season grasses are not commercially available.

Junegrass is common on uplands in the northern and central prairie regions, though it only composes from 1 to 3 percent of the vegetative cover. Needlegrass is also common, but is most abundant in the Dakotas. On thin, sandy or gravelly soil, needlegrass is most abundant. Here it may comprise 50 to 80 percent of the vegetation present.

In relating the adaptation of native grasses along a slope (moisture gradient) Weaver looked at the composition of vegetation of several quadrants along the slope. On the upper slope, Weaver reported little bluestem ranged from 81 to 40 percent while big bluestem ranged 8 to 10 percent. On the mid-slope little bluestem ranged from 52 to 75 percent and big blue from 20 to 30 percent. The lower slope showed little bluestem from 15 to 18 percent and big bluestem from 60 to 63 percent. Finally at the lower base little bluestem was from 5 to 16 percent and big blue from 80 to 89 percent.This rather graphically shows a good example of how each of these grasses is adapted to its own niche and where each is best adapted. It was interesting to also note that foliage cover on the upper slope ranged from 50 to 60 percent, mid-slope 75 to 80 percent, lower slope 90 to 100 and level base 100 percent. Basal area through the entire slope ranged from 10 to 18 percent. This not only shows a change in the composition of the vegetation from upper slope to lower base but also a change in vegetative structure.

FORBS OF UPLANDS

Weaver listed 75 forb species that occurred in at least 10 percent of 100 different prairies examined. I will list just a few of the more familiar ones for your reference. Lead plant Amorpha canescens, Stiff sunflower Helianthus laetiflorus, Daisy fleabane Erigeron strigosus, Missouri goldenrod Solidago missouriensis, White and purple prairie clover Dalea candidum and D. purpureum, Pale purple coneflower Echinacea pallida, Large button snakeroot Liatris scariosa, Prairie rose Rosa suffulata, Tickseed Coreopsis palmata, Tick trefoil Desmodium canadense and D. illinoense, Bush Clover Lespedeza capitata and Pitcher's sage Salvia pitcheri.
It is important to keep in mind Weaver's studies took place on native, virgin prairie. Both the listings, grasses of lowlands in the last issue of The Native Grass Manager and the grasses of uplands in this issue are based upon what he found. Anyone would expect to find the same vegetation today on native, virgin prairie. Planted prairies present a totally different look and composition than do native. Hopefully by reviewing the plants historical adaptations we can become better land managers and plant what would have historically grown on any lowland or upland site. My intent of the last two issues was to get you away from thinking, this is a lowland so switchgrass is best suited or this is an upland so little bluestem is best suited and direct you towards thinking these are the grasses best adapted to a lowland or upland and these are the grasses and forbs I should be planting. Keep in mind there are many more options than just a single species.

For additional discussion on mixed plantings and how they adapt refer to The Native Grass Manager, Summer '93, The Physiogeographic Argument For A Mixed Planting.