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CEGL004607 Muhlenbergia capillaris Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Hair-awn Muhly Grassland
Colloquial Name: Houston Coastal Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This community is an upland coastal prairie of the West Gulf Coastal Plain. It occurs in areas of at least 50 acres on rolling to flat upland sites. Muhlenbergia capillaris is the strong dominant; Spartina spartinae may also be prevalent. Other species include local endemics, such as Hymenoxys texana, Rayjacksonia aurea, Chloris texensis, and Thurovia triflora, which occur in small grass-free openings in the community. These grass-free openings are apparently highly saline, while the community as a whole is saline, but not as strongly so. Baccharis halimifolia may occur as scattered individuals to moderately dense patches as an invader of disturbed or overgrazed sites. More detailed information is needed.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Nomenclatural notes on Muhlenbergia (C. Nordman/M. Pyne 10-07): NatureServe Ecology varies from Kartesz (1999) on the nomenclature of three related southeastern Muhlenbergia taxa. The names in Kartesz (1999) for these plants are Muhlenbergia capillaris (Lam.) Trin. var. capillaris; Muhlenbergia capillaris (Lam.) Trin. var. filipes (M.A. Curtis) Chapman ex Beal; and Muhlenbergia capillaris (Lam.) Trin. var. trichopodes (Ell.) Vasey. We have chosen to treat all three of these at the specific level, as (respectively) Muhlenbergia capillaris Lam.; Muhlenbergia filipes M.A. Curtis; and Muhlenbergia expansa (Poir.) Trin. A more recent innovation, which we will adopt at some point, is the recent recognition that Muhlenbergia sericea (Michx.) P.M. Peterson is the correct name (based on nomenclatural priority) for the plant formerly known as Muhlenbergia filipes M.A. Curtis (= Muhlenbergia capillaris var. filipes) (Gustafson and Peterson 2007). Examples are known from various private lands in Harris and Fort Bend counties, Texas. Additional information about this community type is needed.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: Muhlenbergia capillaris is the strong dominant; Spartina spartinae may also be prevalent. Other species include local endemics, such as Hymenoxys texana, Rayjacksonia aurea (= Machaeranthera aurea), Chloris texensis, and Thurovia triflora, which occur in small grass-free openings in the community. These grass-free openings are apparently highly saline, while the community as a whole is saline, but not as strongly so. Baccharis halimifolia may occur as scattered individuals to moderately dense patches as an invader of disturbed or overgrazed sites.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This community occurs in areas of at least 50 acres on rolling to flat upland sites, in the upland coastal prairies of the West Gulf Coastal Plain.
Geographic Range: This association is known only from the Coastal Plain of Texas.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684458
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G1G2
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.4 Temperate to Polar Scrub & Herb Coastal Vegetation Formation | F005 | 2.B.4 |
| Division | 2.B.4.Na Eastern North American Coastal Scrub & Herb Vegetation Division | D026 | 2.B.4.Na |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.4.Na.2 American Beachgrass - Sea-oats - Seaside Goldenrod Dune & Grassland Macrogroup | M057 | 2.B.4.Na.2 |
| Group | 2.B.4.Na.2.a Wax-myrtle - Sea-oats - Shore Little Bluestem Dune & Grassland Group | G494 | 2.B.4.Na.2.a |
| Alliance | A4061 Gulf Cordgrass - Little Bluestem - Bracted Blazingstar Saline Coastal Prairie Alliance | A4061 | 2.B.4.Na.2.a |
| Association | CEGL004607 Hair-awn Muhly Grassland | CEGL004607 | 2.B.4.Na.2.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: No Data Available
- Gustafson, D. J., and P. M. Peterson. 2007. Re-examination of Muhlenbergia capillaris, M. expansa and M. sericea (Poaceae: Muhlenbergiinae). Journal Botanical Research Institute of Texas 1(1):85-89.
- Southeastern Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Durham, NC.