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CEGL002708 Panicum obtusum Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Vine-mesquite Grassland
Colloquial Name: No Data Available
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This herbaceous association is found in New Mexico, Texas, and Colorado. It is described from Lake Meredith National Recreation Area in Texas as well as El Paso, Otero, and Huerfano counties in southeastern Colorado. The composition and structure of this community are influenced by climate, soils (texture, depth, and overflow), slope, natural fire and grazing pressure. It occurs on broad, gently sloping overflow sites along major drainages. The soils are deep, medium- to moderately fine-textured with moderately high fertility. Infiltration is moderately rapid and runoff is moderate. The soils are formed from colluvial deposits and are considered uplands, although overflow can occasionally occur. The productive capacity is greater than the adjoining upland communities due to receiving extra runoff from surrounding upland sites. Natural fire helped to shape the natural plant community and probably occurred every 8 to 10 years in presettlement times. This community is attractive to domestic grazing animals and has been subject to overgrazing in past decades. This grassland is dominated by Panicum obtusum. There are several other species of grass occurring in lesser amounts, including Pascopyrum smithii, Sporobolus compositus var. compositus, Bouteloua curtipendula, and Bothriochloa laguroides. Forbs are variable in composition depending on moisture conditions. The major species include Solanum elaeagnifolium, Ambrosia psilostachya, Centaurea americana, Grindelia papposa, Oenothera cinerea, and Sphaeralcea angustifolia. There are usually few shrubs present. Prosopis glandulosa occurs but is usually sparse. Cacti are rare, although Opuntia phaeacantha and Opuntia macrorhiza are both present. Trees are rare except for occasional Celtis laevigata var. reticulata. The associated graminoid species documented within the Colorado stands include Lycurus phleoides, Sporobolus airoides, Sporobolus cryptandrus, Muhlenbergia asperifolia, Pascopyrum smithii, and Distichlis spicata. Forbs are typically weedy species with low cover, such as Bassia scoparia, Salsola kali, Symphyotrichum falcatum, and Grindelia squarrosa, Shrubs are scant and include Juniperus monosperma, Tamarix chinensis, Elaeagnus angustifolia, Salix amygdaloides, Salix exigua, and occasionally Populus deltoides ssp. monilifera in the tree layer.
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 dominated by Panicum obtusum. There are several other species of grass occurring in lesser amounts, including Pascopyrum smithii, Sporobolus compositus var. compositus (= Sporobolus asper var. hookeri), Bouteloua curtipendula, and Bothriochloa laguroides. Forbs are variable in composition depending on moisture conditions. The major species include Solanum elaeagnifolium, Ambrosia psilostachya, Centaurea americana, Grindelia papposa (= Prionopsis ciliata), Oenothera cinerea (= Gaura villosa), and Sphaeralcea angustifolia. There are usually few shrubs present. Prosopis glandulosa occurs but is usually sparse. Cacti are rare, although Opuntia phaeacantha and Opuntia macrorhiza are both present. Trees are rare except for occasional Celtis laevigata var. reticulata (= Celtis reticulata). The associated graminoid species documented within the Colorado stands include Lycurus phleoides, Sporobolus airoides, Sporobolus cryptandrus, Muhlenbergia asperifolia, Pascopyrum smithii, and Distichlis spicata. Forbs are typically weedy species with low cover (<5%), such as Bassia scoparia (= Kochia scoparia), Salsola kali, Symphyotrichum falcatum (= Virgulus falcatus), and Grindelia squarrosa, Shrubs are scant with <1% cover and include Juniperus monosperma, Tamarix chinensis, Elaeagnus angustifolia, Salix amygdaloides, Salix exigua, and occasionally Populus deltoides ssp. monilifera in the tree layer.
Dynamics: The productive capacity is greater than the adjoining upland communities due to receiving extra runoff from surrounding upland sites. Natural fire helped to shape the natural plant community and probably occurred every 8 to 10 years in presettlement times. This community is attractive to domestic grazing animals and has been subject to overgrazing in past decades.
Environmental Description: The composition and structure of this community are influenced by climate, soils (texture, depth, and overflow), slope, natural fire and grazing pressure. It occurs on broad, gently sloping overflow sites along major drainages. The soils are deep, medium- to moderately fine-textured with moderately high fertility. Infiltration is moderately rapid and runoff is moderate. The soils are formed from colluvial deposits and are considered uplands, although overflow can occasionally occur.
Geographic Range: This herbaceous association is known from Lake Meredith National Recreation Area in Texas and from New Mexico. In Colorado the association is documented in three counties, El Paso, Otero, and Huerfano.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, NM, TX
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.741458
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: G3?
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.d Tobosa Grass - Alkali Sacaton - Vine-mesquite Semi-Desert Lowland Grassland Group | G489 | 3.A.2.Na.3.d |
| Alliance | A3186 Alkali Sacaton - Big Sacaton - Vine-mesquite Lowland Desert Grassland Alliance | A3186 | 3.A.2.Na.3.d |
| Association | CEGL002708 Vine-mesquite Grassland | CEGL002708 | 3.A.2.Na.3.d |
Concept Lineage: No Data Available
Predecessors: No Data Available
Obsolete Names: No Data Available
Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: = Panicum obtusum Herbaceous Vegetation (Bell 2005)
= Panicum obtusum Monotypic PA (Muldavin et al. 1998a)
= Panicum obtusum Monotypic PA (Muldavin et al. 1998a)
- Bell, J. R. 2005. Vegetation classification at Lake Meredith NRA and Alibates Flint Quarries NM. A report for the USGS-NPS Vegetation Mapping Program prepared by NatureServe, Arlington, VA. 172 pp. [http://www.usgs.gov/core_science_systems/csas/vip/parks/lamr_alfl.html]
- 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/]
- Muldavin, E., V. Archer, and P. Neville. 1998a. A vegetation map of the Borderlands Ecosystem Management Area. Final report submitted to USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Experiment Station, Flagstaff, AZ, by the New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM. 58 pp.
- NHNM [Natural Heritage New Mexico]. No date. Unpublished data on file. Natural Heritage New Mexico, University of New Mexico, Albuquerque.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.