Print Report
CEGL001766 Bouteloua hirsuta - Hesperostipa neomexicana Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Hairy Grama - New Mexico Feathergrass Grassland
Colloquial Name: Hairy Grama - New Mexico Feathergrass Shortgrass Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This is a major community of Chupadera Mesa and the Oscura and San Andres mountains in New Mexico. Stands are found on moderately steep to steep colluvial slopes of the San Andres and Oscura mountains at elevations between 1370 and 2130 m (4500-7000 feet). Aspects tend to be hot and warm at high elevations, becoming northerly and cool at lower elevations. Substrates are generally Paleozoic limestones and/or sandstones and occasionally include igneous granitic rocks. The association is typically bound by rock outcrops on escarpment faces and ridge sideslopes. It also occurs on the mid and upper portions of even dip slopes. The ground surfaces are gravelly with scattered rocks and little exposed soil. Soils vary from coarse loams to clays. At depth, soils can have well-developed caliche layers of calcium carbonate accumulation. This grassland is characterized by a luxuriant grass cover of Hesperostipa neomexicana with Bouteloua hirsuta as a codominant. Bouteloua curtipendula and Aristida purpurea are often present and may occasionally codominate. Other bunchgrasses include Bouteloua eriopoda, Eragrostis intermedia, Muhlenbergia setifolia, and Bouteloua gracilis. Shrub are common to well-represented with Yucca baccata, Rhus microphylla, Opuntia phaeacantha, Nolina microcarpa, Dalea formosa, Ephedra aspera, and Viguiera stenoloba some of the most prevalent associates. At higher elevations, conifers (pinyon and juniper) are conspicuous but scattered. Forbs, when present, grow in open spaces between the grasses. Lesquerella fendleri, Croton dioicus, Chamaesyce fendleri, Paronychia jamesii, and Melampodium leucanthum are often present.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: No Data Available
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This grassland is characterized by a luxuriant grass cover of Hesperostipa neomexicana (= Stipa neomexicana) with Bouteloua hirsuta as a codominant. Bouteloua curtipendula and Aristida purpurea are often present and may occasionally codominate. Other bunchgrasses include Bouteloua eriopoda, Eragrostis intermedia, Muhlenbergia setifolia, and Bouteloua gracilis. Shrub are common to well-represented with Yucca baccata, Rhus microphylla, Opuntia phaeacantha, Nolina microcarpa, Dalea formosa, Ephedra aspera (= Ephedra nevadensis var. aspera), and Viguiera stenoloba some of the most prevalent associates. At higher elevations, conifers (pinyon and juniper) are conspicuous but scattered. Forbs, when present, grow in open spaces between the grasses. Lesquerella fendleri, Croton dioicus, Chamaesyce fendleri, Paronychia jamesii, and Melampodium leucanthum are often present.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: Stands are found on moderately steep to steep colluvial slopes of the San Andres and Oscura mountains at elevations between 1370 and 2130 m (4500-7000 feet). Aspects tend to be hot and warm at high elevations, becoming northerly and cool at lower elevations. Substrates are generally Paleozoic limestones and/or sandstones and occasionally include igneous granitic rocks. The association is typically bound by rock outcrops on escarpment faces and ridge sideslopes. It also occurs on the mid and upper portions of even dip slopes. The ground surfaces are gravelly with scattered rocks and little exposed soil. Soils vary from coarse loams to clays. At depth, soils can have well-developed caliche layers of calcium carbonate accumulation.
Geographic Range: This is a major community of Chupadera Mesa and the Oscura and San Andres mountains in New Mexico.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.686434
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
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 | CEGL001766 Hairy Grama - New Mexico Feathergrass Grassland | CEGL001766 | 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: = Stipa neomexicana / Bouteloua hirsuta PA (Muldavin and Mehlhop 1992)
= New Mexico Needlegrass-Hairy Grama PA (Muldavin et al. 2000b) [(Stipa neomexicana-Bouteloua hirsuta; STINEO-BOUHIR)]
= New Mexico Needlegrass-Hairy Grama PA (Muldavin et al. 2000b) [(Stipa neomexicana-Bouteloua hirsuta; STINEO-BOUHIR)]
- 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.