The distribution of phytosynthetic pathway types on a mixed-grass prairie hillside.

An Agropyron smithii-dominated community was found at the hilltop. A Poa-Hordeum-dominated community was located at the base of the slope. Midslope areas supported a Bouteloua-Agropyron-dominated community. Each topographic location had different soil moistures and textures. Grasses with the C₄ photosynthetic pathway had highest importance values on well- drained sites where soil moisture was lowest and soils were coarsest. C₃ graminoids predominated on the relatively moist upper and lower portions of the hillside.-from Author