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CEGL005389 Bouteloua gracilis - Muhlenbergia torreyi - Aristida purpurea Grassland
Type Concept Sentence: No Data Available
Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Blue Grama - Ring Muhly - Purple Three-awn Grassland
Colloquial Name: Blue Grama - Ring Muhly - Purple Three-awn Shortgrass Prairie
Hierarchy Level: Association
Type Concept: This ruderal shortgrass association is described from eastern and central New Mexico, but likely extends into eastern Colorado and throughout much of the southern shortgrass steppe. This association occurs between 1835 and 2020 m (6000-6630 feet) in elevation on gentle slopes of low-lying hills of variable aspect. Stands typically occur on substrates derived from sandstones, though occasionally on limestone or Quaternary alluvium. Ground cover is characterized by scattered bunchgrasses with exposed soil and gravel in the inter-grass spaces. The vegetation is characterized by a short, moderately dense (25-60% cover) grass layer dominated by Bouteloua gracilis with ruderal Aristida purpurea and/or Muhlenbergia torreyi codominant. Tall shrubs are absent or accidental, but ruderal subshrubs or succulents such as Gutierrezia sarothrae and Cylindropuntia imbricata are common but at low cover (usually <5%). Forbs are variable and generally low in cover. The most frequent and abundant forbs are Ratibida tagetes, Heterotheca villosa, Gaura coccinea, Stephanomeria pauciflora, Astragalus spp., and Sphaeralcea coccinea. Trees such as Juniperus monosperma are accidental or absent.
Diagnostic Characteristics: No Data Available
Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available
Classification Comments: This is seral shortgrass prairie type that is common on disturbed ranges. This association is similar to ~Gutierrezia sarothrae / Bouteloua gracilis Dwarf-shrub Grassland (CEGL005382)$$ in that it is seral; although Gutierrezia sarothrae may be present, it does not dominate or form a distinct dwarf-shrub layer and is usually <5% cover and always <10% cover. More classification and survey work are needed to distinguish this type from closely related grasslands over its relatively broad geographic range and to inventory its extent and condition.
Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: No Data Available
Floristics: This association is characterized by a short, moderately dense (25-60% cover) grass layer dominated by Bouteloua gracilis with ruderal Aristida purpurea and/or Muhlenbergia torreyi codominant. Tall shrubs are absent or accidental, but ruderal subshrubs or succulents such as Gutierrezia sarothrae and Cylindropuntia imbricata are common but at low cover (usually <5%). Forbs are variable and generally low in cover. The most frequent and abundant forbs are Ratibida tagetes, Heterotheca villosa, Gaura coccinea, Stephanomeria pauciflora, Astragalus spp., and Sphaeralcea coccinea. Trees such as Juniperus monosperma are accidental or absent.
Dynamics: No Data Available
Environmental Description: This ruderal shortgrass association is described from eastern and central New Mexico, but likely extends into eastern Colorado and throughout much of the southern shortgrass steppe. This association occurs between 1835 and 2020 m (6000-6630 feet) in elevation on gentle slopes of low-lying hills of variable aspect. Stands typically occur on substrates derived from sandstones, though occasionally on limestone or Quaternary alluvium. Ground cover is characterized by scattered bunch grasses with exposed soil and gravel in the inter-grass spaces.
Geographic Range: This shortgrass association is described in eastern and central New Mexico, but likely extends into eastern Colorado and throughout much of the southern shortgrass steppe. Stands have been sampled in Fort Union National Monument, Pecos National Historical Park, Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument, Sevilleta National Wildlife Refuge and White Sands Missile Range.
Nations: US
States/Provinces: CO, NM
Plot Analysis Summary:
http://vegbank.org/natureserve/ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.829158
Confidence Level: Low - Poorly Documented
Confidence Level Comments: No Data Available
Grank: GNR
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 | A4001 Blue Grama - Hairy Grama - Sideoats Grama Shortgrass Prairie Alliance | A4001 | 2.B.2.Nb.3.a |
| Association | CEGL005389 Blue Grama - Ring Muhly - Purple Three-awn Grassland | CEGL005389 | 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: No Data Available
- Muldavin, E., Y. Chauvin, A. Kennedy, T. Neville, P. Neville, K. Schulz, and M. Reid. 2012a. Vegetation classification and map: Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SCPN/NRTR--2012/553. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Muldavin, E., Y. Chauvin, P. Neville, T. Neville, L. Arnold, P. Arbetan, and A. Fettes. 2012b. A vegetation classification and map: Pecos National Historical Park. Natural Resource Technical Report NPS/SOPN/NRTR--2012/601. National Park Service, Fort Collins, CO.
- Western Ecology Working Group of NatureServe. No date. International Ecological Classification Standard: International Vegetation Classification. Terrestrial Vegetation. NatureServe, Boulder, CO.