Print Report
CEGL001605 Festuca arizonica - Muhlenbergia filiculmis Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Arizona Fescue - Slim-stem Muhly Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This is an arid mixed-grass meadow association found on steep southwest slopes between 2440 and 3090 m (8000-10,120 feet) elevation. Known only from south-central mountains of Colorado, it appears to be restricted to dry, rocky south-facing steep slopes. Dominant grasses are Festuca arizonica, Muhlenbergia filiculmis, Bouteloua gracilis, Elymus elymoides, and Koeleria macrantha. Total herbaceous cover is 25-50%. Forbs consist of less than 5% foliar cover. Few scattered dwarf-shrubs may be present such as Artemisia frigida, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, and Ericameria parryi, but these species rarely exceed 5% foliar cover. The main distinction between this grassland and ~Muhlenbergia filiculmis Grassland (CEGL001780)$$ is the presence to nearly equal cover of Festuca arizonica.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: The differences between this association, ~Festuca arizonica - Muhlenbergia filiculmis Grassland (CEGL001605)$$, and ~Muhlenbergia filiculmis Grassland (CEGL001780)$$ are minor. The species composition is very similar (forbs varying the most). At Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, plots of the later were taken well within stands of the former. These stands were described as rounds or oval in shape. This is likely due to the growth form of Muhlenbergia filiculmis. One might consider it a large clone with various grasses growing in the inner circle, part of the natural variability of the grassland as a whole, rather than as its own plant association.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This arid grassland has total cover ranging from 31-70% foliar cover. Dominant graminoids are Muhlenbergia filiculmis, Festuca arizonica, Bouteloua gracilis, and Koeleria macrantha. A few dwarf-shrubs can occur scattered throughout the stand, including Artemisia frigida, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, and Ericameria parryi, but these species rarely exceed 5% foliar cover. Moss and lichen cover ranges from 3-35%, depending on the aspect of the site.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This is an arid mixed-grass meadow association found on steep southwest slopes between 2440 and 3090 m (8000-10,120 feet) elevation. Rocks and boulders can be abundant, but bare ground and litter are the predominate ground cover. Slope ranges from 5-31° (5.5-34%), with southwest slopes most common, on upper hill and ridge slopes and lower hill and ridgetops.
Geographic Range: This grassland is known only from south-central Colorado mountains: the northern low hills of the San Luis Valley, the upper Rio Grande valley near Creede, and from Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.684827
Confidence Level: Moderate
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GU
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.Nf Western North American Grassland & Shrubland Division | D022 | 2.B.2.Nf |
| Macrogroup | 2.B.2.Nf.3 Tufted Hairgrass - Licorice-root species - Mountain Muhly Subalpine-High Montane Mesic Meadow Macrogroup | M168 | 2.B.2.Nf.3 |
| Group | 2.B.2.Nf.3.a Arizona Fescue - Thurber''s Fescue - Mountain Muhly Grassland Group | G268 | 2.B.2.Nf.3.a |
| Alliance | A3953 Arizona Fescue - Mountain Muhly - Muttongrass Southern Rocky Mountain Montane Grassland Alliance | A3953 | 2.B.2.Nf.3.a |
| Association | CEGL001605 Arizona Fescue - Slim-stem Muhly Grassland | CEGL001605 | 2.B.2.Nf.3.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Habitat Type 13: Festuca filiculmis, Bouteloua gracilis, Artemisia frigida, Hymenoxys richardsonii (Shepherd 1975)
- 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.
- CNHP [Colorado Natural Heritage Program]. 2006-2017. Tracked natural plant communities. Colorado Natural Heritage Program, Colorado State University, Fort Collins. [https://cnhp.colostate.edu/ourdata/trackinglist/plant_communities/]
- Owns, T., project coordinator, et al. 2004. U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service Vegetation Mapping Program: Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument. U.S. Geological Survey and National Park Service. 390 pp.
- Shepherd, H. R. 1975. Vegetation of two dissimilar bighorn sheep ranges in Colorado. Colorado Division of Wildlife Report 4. 223 pp.
- Stewart, B. K. 1940. Plant ecology and paleoecology of the Creede Valley, Colorado. Unpublished dissertation, University of Colorado, Boulder. 154 pp.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.