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CEGL001710 Hesperostipa neomexicana - Dasylirion wheeleri Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: New Mexico Feathergrass - Common Sotol Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This is a major community of the southern San Andres Mountains, New Mexico, but is expected to occur throughout most montane areas on White Sands Missile Range. This association typically occurs on steep to very steep colluvial slopes. Aspects are generally cool, and elevations are approximately 1520 to 1980 m (5000-6500 feet). Substrates are limestone and occasionally mixed sedimentary types occurring within the San Andres and Oscura mountains. The type also occurs on interior valley slopes and along mountain escarpments. Overall, the landscape is characterized by steep, rocky, caprock-bounded slopes. Between the rocks, ground surfaces are usually covered with gravel, leaving little exposed soil. Soils are generally shallow and rocky with a loamy matrix. This grassland is characterized by a grass layer dominated by Hesperostipa neomexicana and a strong Chihuahuan shrub component dominated by Dasylirion wheeleri. Aristida purpurea is typically present. Other associated grasses include Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua eriopoda, and Sporobolus cryptandrus. The shrub layer is very open and low-lying with Dalea formosa a constant associate. Diversity is high; other associates include Ephedra aspera, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Opuntia phaeacantha, Viguiera stenoloba, Fouquieria splendens, Parthenium incanum, Rhus microphylla, and Yucca baccata. The forb layer is generally scattered, poorly represented and moderate in diversity. Species may include Melampodium leucanthum, Croton spp., Evolvulus nuttallianus, and Astrolepis cochisensis.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: Lower slopes generally give way to Chihuahuan Desert shrubland (~Larrea tridentata / Bouteloua eriopoda Shrubland (CEGL001265)$$ or arroyo riparian PA) or grassland (~Parthenium incanum / Bouteloua eriopoda Shrub Grassland (CEGL001734)$$ or Black Grama/Skeletonleaf Goldeneye PA (Muldavin et al. 2000b)). Areas upslope or on cooler aspects grade into Quercus turbinella or Cercocarpus montanus shrublands, or montane grassland (~Hesperostipa neomexicana - Bouteloua curtipendula Grassland (CEGL001709)$$ or ~Bouteloua eriopoda - Bouteloua hirsuta Grassland (CEGL001749)$$). This foothill grassland type has the potential to carry fire readily, ones hot enough to kill shrubs. Hence, fire, depending on frequency, may sustain dense, open grassland with scattered sotols.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This grassland is characterized by a grass layer dominated by Hesperostipa neomexicana (= Stipa neomexicana) and a strong Chihuahuan shrub component dominated by Dasylirion wheeleri. Aristida purpurea is typically present. Other associated grasses include Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua eriopoda, and Sporobolus cryptandrus. The shrub layer is very open and low-lying with Dalea formosa a constant associate. Diversity is high; other associates include Ephedra aspera (= Ephedra nevadensis var. aspera), Gutierrezia sarothrae, Opuntia phaeacantha, Viguiera stenoloba, Fouquieria splendens, Parthenium incanum, Rhus microphylla, and Yucca baccata. The forb layer is generally scattered, poorly represented and moderate in diversity. Species may include Melampodium leucanthum, Croton spp., Evolvulus nuttallianus, and Astrolepis cochisensis.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This association typically occurs on steep to very steep colluvial slopes. Aspects are generally cool, and elevations are approximately 1520 to 1980 m (5000-6500 feet). Substrates are limestone and occasionally mixed sedimentary types occurring within the San Andres and Oscura mountains. The type also occurs on interior valley slopes and along mountain escarpments. Overall, the landscape is characterized by steep, rocky, caprock-bounded slopes. Between the rocks, ground surfaces are usually covered with gravel, leaving little exposed soil. Soils are generally shallow and rocky with a loamy matrix.
Geographic Range: This is a major community of the southern San Andres Mountains, New Mexico, but is expected to occur throughout most montane areas on White Sands Missile Range.
Nations: MX?,US
States/Provinces: NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.685416
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
Greasons: No Data Available
| Type | Name | Database Code | Classification Code |
|---|---|---|---|
| Class | 3 Desert & Semi-Desert Class | C03 | 3 |
| Subclass | 3.A Warm Desert & Semi-Desert Woodland, Scrub & Grassland Subclass | S06 | 3.A |
| Formation | 3.A.2 Warm Desert & Semi-Desert Scrub & Grassland Formation | F015 | 3.A.2 |
| Division | 3.A.2.Na North American Warm Desert Scrub & Grassland Division | D039 | 3.A.2.Na |
| Macrogroup | 3.A.2.Na.3 Black Grama - Bullgrass - Tobosa Grass Chihuahuan Semi-Desert Grassland Macrogroup | M087 | 3.A.2.Na.3 |
| Group | 3.A.2.Na.3.a Black Grama - Chino Grama - Bush Muhly Semi-Desert Grassland Group | G490 | 3.A.2.Na.3.a |
| Alliance | A3206 Bullgrass - Curly-leaf Muhly - New Mexico Feathergrass Madrean Lower Montane Grassland Alliance | A3206 | 3.A.2.Na.3.a |
| Association | CEGL001710 New Mexico Feathergrass - Common Sotol Grassland | CEGL001710 | 3.A.2.Na.3.a |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Stipa neomexicana - Dasylirion wheeleri PA (Muldavin and Mehlhop 1992)
= New Mexico Needlegrass/Common Sotol PA (Muldavin et al. 2000b) [(Stipa neomexicana/Dasylirion wheeleri; STINEO/DASWHE)]
= New Mexico Needlegrass/Common Sotol PA (Muldavin et al. 2000b) [(Stipa neomexicana/Dasylirion wheeleri; STINEO/DASWHE)]
- 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, 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.