Print Report
CEGL001760 Bouteloua gracilis Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Blue Grama Grassland
Colloquial Name: Blue Grama Grassland
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This plant association occurs in the intermountain western U.S. and is reported from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. It does not occur in the western Great Plains. The vegetation is characterized by a moderate to dense (25-80% cover) herbaceous layer that is strongly dominated by the warm-season, perennial shortgrass Bouteloua gracilis. Associated grasses are Bouteloua curtipendula, Elymus elymoides, Muhlenbergia spp., Pascopyrum smithii, Pleuraphis jamesii, Sporobolus cryptandrus, and the introduced annual grass Bromus tectorum. Forb cover is sparse but may be diverse over the range of the type. Scattered Ericameria nauseosa, Tetradymia canescens, and Gutierrezia sarothrae shrubs and an occasional Pinus edulis, Juniperus spp., or Pinus ponderosa tree (in montane stands) may be present. Sites are flat to gently sloping and include plains, plateaus and montane meadows at elevations ranging from 1660 to 2780 m (5420-9115 feet). Substrates are variable and range from coarse-textured soils derived from sand, gravel, old lava flows, kipukas, alluvium, limestone, sandstone, granite or cinder to silty clay loam soils.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This association is largely known and described from National Park Service inventory efforts in the Colorado Plateau and Southern Rocky Mountains. It is a low-confidence association that often represents disturbed semi-arid grasslands in the intermountain western U.S. and degraded montane grasslands and Bouteloua gracilis-dominated grasslands that lack other diagnostic species. Bouteloua gracilis is often able to persist after other species are eliminated because it is an extremely drought- and grazing-tolerant species.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association is characterized by a moderate to dense (10-80% cover) herbaceous layer that is strongly dominated by the warm-season, perennial shortgrass Bouteloua gracilis. Associated grasses are Achnatherum hymenoides, Bouteloua curtipendula, Elymus elymoides, Koeleria macrantha, Muhlenbergia montana, Muhlenbergia richardsonis, Muhlenbergia torreyi, Pascopyrum smithii, Pleuraphis jamesii (= Hilaria jamesii), Sporobolus cryptandrus, and the introduced annual grass Bromus tectorum. Forb cover is sparse but may be diverse over the range of the type. Associated forbs include Artemisia carruthii, Artemisia dracunculus, Eriogonum spp., and Sphaeralcea coccinea. Scattered Ericameria nauseosa, Tetradymia canescens, and Gutierrezia sarothrae shrubs and an occasional Juniperus spp., Pinus edulis, or Pinus ponderosa tree (in montane stands) may be present.
Dynamics: Bouteloua gracilis is an extremely drought- and grazing-tolerant shortgrass species. It is one of the most widely distributed grasses in the interior 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. Bouteloua gracilis is a warm-season grass and relatively unaffected by spring grazing while it is dormant. Montane Bouteloua gracilis-dominated stands are often seral to midgrass associations dominated by species of Achnatherum, Danthonia, Festuca, Hesperostipa, or Muhlenbergia and are the result of inappropriate stocking rates or season of use by large herbivores.
Environmental Description: This minor plant association is reported from Arizona, western Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. Elevation ranges from 1660-2780 m (5420-9115 feet). Sites are flat to moderately sloping and include plains, old lavaflows, kipukas, valley bottoms, sand and limestone hills, plateaus, and montane meadows and parks. Substrates are variable and range from coarse-textured soils derived from sand, gravel, granite or cinder to silty clay loam soils. Montane Bouteloua gracilis-dominated grasslands included in this association are typically the result of heavy grazing by wildlife and/or livestock that select out less grazing-tolerant midgrasses.
Geographic Range: This plant association occurs in the intermountain western U.S. and is reported from Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Utah and Wyoming. It is not the widespread Great Plains shortgrass prairie community.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: AZ, CO, NM, UT, WY
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685307
Confidence Level: High
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G4Q
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 3 Desert & Semi-Desert Class | C03 | 3 |
| Subclass | 3.B Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Subclass | S11 | 3.B |
| Formation | 3.B.1 Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Formation | F033 | 3.B.1 |
| Division | 3.B.1.Ne Western North American Cool Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Division | D040 | 3.B.1.Ne |
| Macrogroup | 3.B.1.Ne.1 Yellow Rabbitbrush - Blackbrush / Indian Ricegrass Dry Shrubland & Grassland Macrogroup | M171 | 3.B.1.Ne.1 |
| Group | 3.B.1.Ne.1.c James'' Galleta - Indian Ricegrass - Needle-and-Thread Semi-Desert Grassland Group | G311 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.c |
| Alliance | A1287 James'' Galleta Grassland Alliance | A1287 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.c |
| Association | CEGL001760 Blue Grama Grassland | CEGL001760 | 3.B.1.Ne.1.c |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Blue Grama/Monotypic Stand PA (Muldavin et al. 2000b) [(Bouteloua gracilis/Monotypic: BOUGRA/MONTYP)]
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