Natural Resources
Conservation Service
Ecological site R109XY001MO
Claypan Summit Prairie
Accessed: 03/28/2024
General information
Provisional. A provisional ecological site description has undergone quality control and quality assurance review. It contains a working state and transition model and enough information to identify the ecological site.
Figure 1. Mapped extent
Areas shown in blue indicate the maximum mapped extent of this ecological site. Other ecological sites likely occur within the highlighted areas. It is also possible for this ecological site to occur outside of highlighted areas if detailed soil survey has not been completed or recently updated.
MLRA notes
Major Land Resource Area (MLRA): 109X–Iowa and Missouri Heavy Till Plain
The Iowa and Missouri Heavy Till Plain (area outlined in red on the map) is an area of rolling hills interspersed with interfluve divides and alluvial valleys. Elevation ranges from about 660 feet along the lower reaches of rivers, to about 980 feet on stable interfluve summits in southern Iowa. Relief is about 80 to 160 feet between major streams and adjacent interfluve summits. Most of the till plain drains south to the Missouri River via the Grand and Chariton River systems, but the northeastern portion drains southeast to the Mississippi River. Loess caps the pre-Illinoisan aged till on interfluves, whereas the till is exposed on side slopes. Mississippian aged limestone and Pennsylvanian aged sandstone and shale crop out on lower slopes in some areas.
Classification relationships
Terrestrial Natural Community Type in Missouri (Nelson, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to a Hardpan Prairie.
National Vegetation Classification System Vegetation Association (NatureServe, 2010):
The reference state for this ecological site is most similar to Schizachyrium scoparium - Bouteloua curtipendula - Agrostis hyemalis - Eleocharis spp. Hardpan Herbaceous Vegetation (CEGL002249).
Geographic relationship to the Missouri Ecological Classification System (Nigh & Schroeder, 2002):
This ecological site occurs in several Land Type Associations, primarily within the following Subsections:
Chariton River Hills
Claypan Till Plains
Grand River Hills
Wyaconda River Dissected Till Plains
Ecological site concept
NOTE: This is a “provisional” Ecological Site Description (ESD) that is under development. It contains basic ecological information that can be used for conservation planning, application and land management. As additional information is collected, analyzed and reviewed, this ESD will be refined and published as “Approved”.
Claypan Summit Prairies are within the green areas on the map. Sites are on broad summit interfluves, particularly in the northern and northeastern parts of the MLRA. Soils have a silty clay subsoil that perches water in the spring, and affects rooting depth. The reference plant community is prairie dominated by Indiangrass, big bluestem, little bluestem and sideoats grama, with a wide variety of prairie wildflowers and wetness-tolerant sedges.
Associated sites
R109XY002MO |
Loess Upland Prairie Loess Upland Prairies are adjacent to this site, on convex summits and shoulders. |
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R109XY006MO |
Till Upland Prairie Till Upland Prairies are downslope. |
Similar sites
R109XY001MO |
Claypan Summit Prairie There are no similar ecological sites in this MLRA. |
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Table 1. Dominant plant species
Tree |
Not specified |
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Shrub |
(1) Amorpha canescens |
Herbaceous |
(1) Schizachyrium scoparium |
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