The 15 species that contribute the most to the compositional differences between early and late-season surveys based on Bray-Curtis SIMPER analysis, their common names, functional groups (based on sowing and growth form), origin (native or nonnative), percent contributions to the compositional differences between seasons (% Cont.), abundance ranks based on average percent cover across both surveys (Cover Rank), and which season they are most abundant (Season). Symphyotrichum* refers to a mix of S. pilosum (frost aster) and S. ericoides (heath aster).
| Genus and Species | Common Name | Functional Group | Origin | % Cont. | Cover Rank | Season |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Symphyotrichum* | Aster | Nonsown forb | Native | 5.20 | 7 | Late |
| Poa pratensis | Kentucky bluegrass | Nonsown grass | Nonnative | 5.15 | 4 | Late |
| Bromus inermis | Smooth brome | Nonsown grass | Nonnative | 5.03 | 5 | Early |
| Torilis arvensis | Spreading hedgeparsley | Nonsown forb | Nonnative | 4.90 | 11 | Early |
| Tripsacum dactyloides | Eastern gammagrass | Sown grass | Native | 4.09 | 10 | Late |
| Monarda fistulosa | Wild bergamot | Sown forb | Native | 3.59 | 1 | Early |
| Andropogon gerardii | Big bluestem | Sown grass | Native | 3.59 | 2 | Late |
| Bromus tectorum | Cheatgrass | Nonsown grass | Nonnative | 3.57 | 16 | Early |
| Helianthus grosseserratus | Sawtooth sunflower | Sown forb | Native | 3.38 | 8 | Late |
| Sorghastrum nutans | Indian grass | Sown grass | Native | 3.15 | 9 | Late |
| Penstemon digitalis | Smooth beardtongue | Sown forb | Native | 2.68 | 3 | Early |
| Ratibida pinnata | Grey-head prairie coneflower | Sown forb | Native | 2.65 | 6 | Late |
| Vernonia baldwinii | Western ironweed | Sown forb | Native | 2.58 | 13 | Early |
| Symphyotrichum novae-angliae | New England aster | Sown forb | Native | 2.55 | 15 | Late |
| Eupatorium altissimum | Tall boneset | Nonsown forb | Native | 2.35 | 14 | Late |