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CEGL001763 Bouteloua gracilis - Hesperostipa neomexicana Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Blue Grama - New Mexico Feathergrass Grassland
Colloquial Name: Blue Grama - New Mexico Feathergrass Shortgrass Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This desert grassland occurs in the northern San Andres Mountains and the Oscura Mountains in the northern Chihuahuan Desert and extends into the southwestern Great Plains and south-central and central New Mexico. Stands occur on generally cool aspects on gentle dipslopes and moderately steep escarpments at elevations ranging from 1670-2130 m (5500-7000 feet). Soils range from loam to silty clays, but can be shallow and rocky and contain caliche layers derived from limestone and/or sandstones. The ground surfaces are generally gravelly, with scattered rocks and little exposed soil. Vegetation is characterized by a dense grass layer of both Hesperostipa neomexicana and Bouteloua gracilis, with sparsely scattered shrubs. Other grass species include Aristida purpurea, Bouteloua eriopoda, Bouteloua curtipendula, and Lycurus setosus. The forb layer can be variable and commonly includes Lesquerella fendleri and Melampodium leucanthum. Subshrubs or succulents such as Artemisia bigelovii, Gutierrezia sarothrae, and Opuntia polyacantha are common. Taller shrubs include Chrysothamnus pulchellus, Dalea formosa, Nolina microcarpa, Cylindropuntia imbricata, Opuntia phaeacantha, Rhus trilobata, Thymophylla acerosa, and Yucca baccata. Occasional Juniperus monosperma (live or standing dead) are common. The presence of desert species is characteristic of this grassland.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The related concept Stipa neomexicana / Bouteloua gracilis (Muldavin et al. 2000b) is a minor association found in the northern San Andres Mountains and the Oscura Mountains within White Sands Missile Range in south-central New Mexico and is considered synonymous. This association is closely related with two similar associations described in the NVC: ~Hesperostipa neomexicana Mixed Prairie Grassland (CEGL001711)$$, which occurs in New Mexico plains but differs in that it is more species-rich and generally not so heavily dominated by Hesperostipa neomexicana and ~Hesperostipa neomexicana Grassland (CEGL001708)$$, which occurs on breaks in the Great Plains in southeastern Colorado and along the adjacent Rocky Mountain foothills, and in the San Luis Valley of south-central Colorado; it is also dominated by Hesperostipa neomexicana with Bouteloua gracilis nearly always present.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Within Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, this plains grassland is codominated by Hesperostipa neomexicana and Bouteloua gracilis with Bouteloua eriopoda also well-represented. Tall shrubs are absent or accidental, but subshrubs or succulents such as Artemisia bigelovii, Gutierrezia sarothrae, and Opuntia polyacantha are common. Trees such as Juniperus monosperma are accidental or absent. Within White Sands Missile Range, stands are characterized by a dense grass layer of both Hesperostipa neomexicana and Bouteloua gracilis, with sparsely scattered shrubs. Other grass species include Aristida purpurea, Bouteloua eriopoda, Bouteloua curtipendula, and Lycurus setosus. The shrub layer contains Chrysothamnus pulchellus, Dalea formosa, Nolina microcarpa, Cylindropuntia imbricata (= Opuntia imbricata), Opuntia phaeacantha, Rhus trilobata, Thymophylla acerosa, and Yucca baccata. Juniperus monosperma (live or standing dead) are common, although usually sparsely scattered. The species composition of the forb layer can be variable and commonly includes Lesquerella fendleri and Melampodium leucanthum.
Dynamics: Bouteloua gracilis is an extremely drought- and grazing-tolerant shortgrass species. It is one of the most widely distributed grasses in the western U.S. and is present in many different grassland, shrubland and woodland communities. It evolved with grazing by large herbivores and generally forms a short sod. However, in some stands ungrazed plants develop the upright physiognomy of a bunchgrass.
Environmental Description: This association is found at 1975 m (6480 feet) elevation on a northeasterly aspect of a moderately sloped low hill within Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument in central New Mexico. Soils are derived from limestones of the Permian San Andres Formation. Ground cover is characterized by scattered bunch grasses and associated litter intermixed with soil and gravel. A related type, Hesperostipa neomexicana / Bouteloua gracilis, is a minor association found in the northern San Andres Mountains and the Oscura Mountains within White Sands Missile Range in south-central New Mexico. However, it is an established, widespread association in the Southwest and across the Short Grass Prairie states. Within White Sands Missile Range, stands typically occur on gentle dipslopes and moderately steep escarpments. Aspects are generally cool, and elevations range from 1670-2130 m (5500-7000 feet). Substrates are Paleozoic limestone and/or sandstones (Abo Formation). Surface soils range from loam to silty clays, but can be shallow and rocky and contain caliche layers. The ground surfaces are generally gravelly, with scattered rocks and little exposed soil. (Muldavin et al. 2000b).
Geographic Range: This desert grassland occurs in the northern Chihuahuan Desert in the northern San Andres Mountains and the Oscura Mountains within White Sands Missile Range in south-central New Mexico and extends into the southwestern Great Plains on low hills and central New Mexico within Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, as well as the Black Mesa region of western Oklahoma.
Nations: MX?,US
States/Provinces: NM, OK, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684350
Confidence Level: Low
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNRQ
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 2 Shrub & Herb Vegetation Class | C02 | 2 |
| Subclass | 2.B Temperate & Boreal Grassland & Shrubland Subclass | S18 | 2.B |
| Formation | 2.B.2 Temperate Grassland & Shrubland Formation | F012 | 2.B.2 |
| Division | 2.B.2.Nb Central North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D023 | 2.B.2.Nb |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nb.3 Blue Grama - Buffalograss Shortgrass Prairie Macrogroup | M053 | 2.B.2.Nb.3 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nb.3.a Blue Grama - Buffalograss - James'' Galleta Shortgrass Prairie Group | G144 | 2.B.2.Nb.3.a |
| Alliance | A4002 Blue Grama - Hairy Grama - New Mexico Feathergrass Shortgrass Prairie Alliance | A4002 | 2.B.2.Nb.3.a |
| Association | CEGL001763 Blue Grama - New Mexico Feathergrass Grassland | CEGL001763 | 2.B.2.Nb.3.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Bouteloua gracilis - Stipa neomexicana PA (Muldavin and Mehlhop 1992)
= New Mexico Needlegrass-Blue Grama PA (Muldavin et al. 2000b) [(Stipa neomexicana-Bouteloua gracilis: STINEO-BOUGRA)]
= New Mexico Needlegrass-Blue Grama PA (Muldavin et al. 2000b) [(Stipa neomexicana-Bouteloua gracilis: STINEO-BOUGRA)]
- Bourgeron, P. S., and L. D. Engelking, editors. 1994. A preliminary vegetation classification of the western United States. Unpublished report. The Nature Conservancy, Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. 175 pp. plus appendix.
- Muldavin, E., Y. Chauvin, A. Kennedy, T. Neville, P. Neville, K. Schulz, and M. Reid. 2012a. Vegetation classification and map: Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SCPN/NRTR--2012/553. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Muldavin, E., Y. Chauvin, and G. Harper. 2000b. The vegetation of White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico: Volume I. Handbook of vegetation communities. Final report to Environmental Directorate, White Sands Missile Range. New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. 195 pp. plus appendices
- Muldavin, E., and P. Mehlhop. 1992. A preliminary classification and test vegetation map for White Sands Missile Range and San Andreas National Wildlife Refuge, New Mexico. University of New Mexico, New Mexico Natural Heritage Program.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.