Comments: SCHSCO/CARFIL has been documented from northeastern Montana (DeVelice et al. 

 1995), and from southeastern Montana, western and southwestern North Dakota, and northwestern 

 South Dakota (Hansen et al. 1984, Jensen et al. 1992. Hansen & Hoffman 1988). It appears to favor 

 steep upper slopes of moderate to high erosion potential but, it occurs on a variety of topographic 

 positions and aspects. Plots across its range demonstrate a remarkable compositional similarity. 

 Within the study area, as in northeastern Montana, stands are usually small, but more extensive 

 stands are found in North Dakota. Hansen et al. (1984) consider SCHSCO/CARFIL a topoedaphic 

 climax but Schizachyrium scoparium may also be a seral dominant following erosion events and 

 possibly fire. The community composition of clearly seral stands was not documented by this study 

 (except see PINPON/SCHSCO), and seral stage of the documented stands is uncertain. Jensen et al. 

 (1992) provide the best documentation of this plant association recognizing Ecological Types that 

 are either grazing-induced seral community types or that represent edaphic condition that differ from 

 the modal potential natural vegetation. 



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