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CEGL001606 Festuca arizonica - Muhlenbergia montana Grassland

Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Arizona Fescue - Mountain Muhly Grassland

Colloquial Name: No Data Available

Hierarchy Level:  Association

Type Concept: This association occurs from 2135-3050 m (7000-10,000 feet) in elevation on gently to steeply sloping rocky sites at all aspects in forest openings or on mesa tops in Colorado, Texas, and possibly New Mexico and Arizona. This grassland community is dominated by Festuca arizonica and Muhlenbergia montana. Open Pinus ponderosa woodlands with similar understory species composition often occur adjacent to this association. Common graminoids and forbs present in lower abundance are Bouteloua gracilis, Muhlenbergia filiculmis, Koeleria macrantha, Schizachyrium scoparium, Hymenoxys richardsonii, Antennaria parvifolia, and Arenaria fendleri. Festuca arizonica, Muhlenbergia montana, and Schizachyrium scoparium are preferentially grazed and will be replaced by Bouteloua gracilis, Artemisia frigida, and Hymenoxys richardsonii with repeated heavy grazing. This association can be differentiated from ~Muhlenbergia montana Grassland (CEGL001646)$$ by the presence and often near equal abundance of Festuca arizonica.

Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: The classification is based on quantitative data from several classification and range analysis studies, and recent qualitative data.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available

Floristics: This grassland community is dominated by Festuca arizonica and Muhlenbergia montana. Open Pinus ponderosa woodlands with similar understory species composition often occur adjacent to this association. A few dwarf-shrubs may be present, particularly Artemisia frigida, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, and Ericameria parryi, but these species rarely exceed 5% foliar cover. Common graminoids and forbs present in lower abundance are Bouteloua gracilis, Muhlenbergia filiculmis, Koeleria macrantha, Schizachyrium scoparium, Hymenoxys richardsonii, Antennaria parvifolia, and Arenaria fendleri. Festuca arizonica, Muhlenbergia montana, and Schizachyrium scoparium are preferentially grazed and will be replaced by Bouteloua gracilis, Artemisia frigida, and Hymenoxys richardsonii with repeated heavy grazing.

Dynamics:  Many occurrences have been degraded by heavy livestock grazing. Festuca arizonica, Muhlenbergia montana, and Schizachyrium scoparium are preferentially grazed and will be replaced by Bouteloua gracilis, Artemisia frigida, and Hymenoxys richardsonii with repeated heavy grazing. Much of the non-forested rangeland on the Rio Grande National Forest in Colorado (where the association is not uncommon) is considered to be in mid-seral stage or less. Some stands may have converted to nearly closed-canopy coniferous forests with fire suppression and/or heavy grazing (Johnston 2001).
Environmental Description:  This association occurs from 2135-3050 m (7000-10,000 feet) in elevation on gently to steeply sloping rocky sites at all aspects in forest openings or on mesa tops. In Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument it occupies deep soils (10 cm) on flats, gentle to steep slopes, hills, ridges, and drainage sides. More mesic exposures support Festuca arizonica and the drier exposures favor Muhlenbergia montana.
Geographic Range: The association is reported from Texas and southern Colorado, and possibly occurs in northern New Mexico with isolated localities in central New Mexico, and in northern and eastern Arizona.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AZ?, CO, NM, TX


Confidence Level: Low

Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3

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 CEGL001606 Arizona Fescue - Mountain Muhly Grassland CEGL001606 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: = Festuca arizonica - Muhlenbergia montana Habitat Type / Association (Komarkova 1986)
= Festuca arizonica / Muhlenbergia montana Plant Association (Johnston 1987)
= Habitat Type 35: Festuca arizonica, Muhlenbergia montana, Symphoricarpos palmerii (Shepherd 1975)
Concept Author(s): S. Kettler

Author of Description: S. Kettler and G. Kittel

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 07-12-02
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