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A3206 Muhlenbergia emersleyi - Muhlenbergia setifolia - Hesperostipa neomexicana Madrean Lower Montane Grassland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: Stands have a moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer dominated by perennial grasses such as Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua hirsuta, Hesperostipa neomexicana, Muhlenbergia emersleyi, or Muhlenbergia setifolia. These semi-desert grasslands are found primarily in the upper foothills and lower montane zone in desert mountains.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Bullgrass - Curly-leaf Muhly - New Mexico Feathergrass Madrean Lower Montane Grassland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Madrean Lower Montane Bullgrass - Curly-leaf Muhly - New Mexico Needlegrass Grassland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: Stands have a moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer dominated by perennial grasses such as Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua hirsuta, Hesperostipa neomexicana, Muhlenbergia emersleyi, or Muhlenbergia setifolia. If Dasylirion wheeleri is present, then it is minor when compared to lower elevation foothill grasslands. Other characteristic grasses are Bothriochloa barbinodis, Bouteloua gracilis, Lycurus phleoides, Panicum bulbosum, and many others. Forb cover is sparse, but may have high diversity. Occasional trees are often present, especially at higher elevations. Common tree species include Juniperus deppeana, Pinus edulis, and encinals such as Quercus spp. These semi-desert grasslands are found primarily in the upper foothills and lower montane zone in desert mountains in the Chihuahuan Desert and Sierra Madre, including scattered ranges in Trans-Pecos Texas, southern New Mexico and the Sky Island Mountain Archipelago of southeastern Arizona north into the Mogollon Rim in central Arizona. Stands are found on moderate to steep slopes, ridges of foothills and mesa escarpments on any aspect. The extremely rocky substrate is often derived from limestone. The soils are shallow, lithic, silty or clay loams.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This Chihuahuan Desert alliance is characterized by a moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer dominated by perennial grasses frequently with scattered shrubs. Characteristic species include Bouteloua eriopoda, Bouteloua rothrockii, Hilaria belangeri, Muhlenbergia setifolia, and Schizachyrium cirratum. An open canopy of typically mixed shrubs may be present, including Agave lechuguilla, Artemisia bigelovii, Calliandra eriophylla, Dasylirion leiophyllum, Dasylirion wheeleri, Mimosa dysocarpa, and Viguiera stenoloba.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Dasylirion spp. and Fouquieria sp. are more diagnostic of foothill grasslands than Muhlenbergia setifolia is diagnostic of lower montane grasslands. This alliance is often associated in a matrix with pinyon-juniper woodlands and encinal. Natural Heritage of New Mexico has several reports with lower montane grassland plant associations that need to be reviewed for inclusion in the USNVC and added to this alliance. More classification review in needed to refine the alliance from this complex group.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation included in this alliance has a sparse to dense graminoid layer dominated by medium-tall perennial bunchgrasses. Occasional evergreen broad-leaved and needle-leaved trees and sparse cover of shrubs (<10%) are often present. Cover of forbs is also sparse.

Floristics: Stands have a moderately dense to dense herbaceous layer dominated by perennial grasses such as Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua hirsuta, Hesperostipa neomexicana, Muhlenbergia emersleyi, or Muhlenbergia setifolia. If Dasylirion wheeleri is present, then it is minor when compared to lower elevation foothill grasslands. Other characteristic grasses are Bothriochloa barbinodis, Bouteloua gracilis, Lycurus phleoides, Panicum bulbosum, and many others. Forb cover is sparse, but may have high diversity. Common herbaceous species may include Commelina dianthifolia, Eriogonum wrightii, Gnaphalium spp., Macroptilium gibbosifolium, Viguiera spp., and the moss Selaginella spp. Shrubs are often scattered throughout stands, but rarely exceed 10% cover and are usually less than 5% in cover. The most common shrubs are Cercocarpus montanus, Dasylirion wheeleri, Ericameria laricifolia, Garrya wrightii, Nolina microcarpa, Cylindropuntia imbricata (= Opuntia imbricata), and Yucca baccata. Occasional trees are often present, especially at higher elevations. Common tree species include Juniperus deppeana, Pinus edulis, and encinals such as Quercus arizonica, Quercus emoryi, Quercus grisea, and Quercus hypoleucoides.

Dynamics:  Muhlenbergia setifolia is moderately palatable forage for grazing livestock and may increase in abundance if more palatable forage is preferentially grazed (Muldavin et al. 1998a).
Environmental Description:  These semi-desert grasslands are found primarily in the upper foothills and lower montane zone in desert mountains. Climate is semi-arid. Mean annual precipitation is approximately 30 cm, but is highly variable with drought years not uncommon. Typically, a third of the precipitation occurs in late winter, and two-thirds during July through October, often as high-intensity convective storms. Stands are found on flat areas at high elevations, or on slopes of canyons, foothills, mesas and mountains. Elevations range from 1800-2200 m. Sites are typically on moderate to steep slopes (25-50%) with southerly aspects, but may occur on flat and rolling terrain. On level sites, soils are typically loamy, moderately deep and may have an argillic horizon. On the steeper slopes, soils are shallow and loamy-skeletal (rocky). Parent materials include quartz monzonite and rhyolite. Bourgeron et al. (1993b) described the ground cover of a stand where bare soil, gravel, rock and litter was 20%, 10%, 30% and 31%, respectively. These grasslands grade into Pinus edulis - Quercus - Juniperus woodlands at higher elevations and Chihuahuan Desert shrublands at lower elevations.
Geographic Range: This grassland alliance is found in higher elevation foothill and desert mountains in the Chihuahuan Desert and Sierra Madre, including scattered ranges in Trans-Pecos Texas, southern New Mexico and the Sky Island Mountain Archipelago of southeastern Arizona north into the Mogollon Rim in central Arizona and south into Mexico.

Nations: MX,US

States/Provinces:  AZ, MXCOA, NM, TX


Confidence Level: Low

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 CEGL001644 Bullgrass - Sideoats Grama Grassland CEGL001644 3.A.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL001645 Bullgrass - Hairy Grama Grassland CEGL001645 3.A.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL001709 New Mexico Feathergrass - Sideoats Grama Grassland CEGL001709 3.A.2.Na.3.a
Association CEGL001710 New Mexico Feathergrass - Common Sotol Grassland CEGL001710 3.A.2.Na.3.a
Concept Lineage: Several old Alliance are included in this new alliance complete or in part. V.A.5.N.d. Hesperostipa neomexicana Herbaceous Alliance (A.1272) In Part, V.A.5.N.d. Muhlenbergia emersleyi Herbaceous Alliance (A.1259).

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Muhlenbergia emersleyi Herbaceous Alliance (Muldavin et al. 1998a)
> Muhlenbergia emersleyi Herbaceous Alliance (Muldavin et al. 1994a)
>< Muhlenbergia setifolia Series (Muldavin et al. 1998b)
> Bullgrass (Muhlenbergia emersleyi) Shrub Herbaceous Alliance (Wood et al. 1999)
>< Forest Meadow (Plumb 1988)
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz and E.H. Muldavin, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 12-18-14
  • Bourgeron, P. S., L. D. Engelking, H. C. Humphries, E. Muldavin, and W. H. Moir. 1993b. Assessing the conservation value of the Gray Ranch: Rarity, diversity and representativeness. Unpublished report prepared for The Nature Conservancy by the Western Heritage Task Force, Boulder, CO. (Volume I and II).
  • Bourgeron, P. S., L. D. Engelking, H. C. Humphries, E. Muldavin, and W. H. Moir. 1995a. Assessing the conservation value of the Gray Ranch: Rarity, diversity and representativeness. Desert Plants 11(2-3):3-68.
  • Faber-Langendoen, D., J. Drake, M. Hall, G. Kittel, S. Menard, C. Nordman, M. Pyne, M. Reid, M. Russo, K. Schulz, L. Sneddon, K. Snow, and J. Teague. 2013-2019b. Screening alliances for induction into the U.S. National Vegetation Classification: Part 1 - Alliance concept review. NatureServe, Arlington, VA.
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  • Muldavin, E., P. Mehlhop, and E. DeBruin. 1994a. A survey of sensitive species and vegetation communities in the Organ Mountains of Fort Bliss. Volume III: Vegetation communities. Report prepared for Fort Bliss, Texas, by New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, Albuquerque.
  • 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.
  • 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.
  • Muldavin, E., et al. 1998c. Plant community inventory for Fort Bliss. Unpublished report in preparation by the New Mexico Natural Heritage Program, Albuquerque, NM.
  • Neher, R. E., and O. F. Bailey. 1976. Soil survey of White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico, parts of Dona Ana, Lincoln, Otero, Sierra, and Socorro counties. USDA Soil Conservation Service in cooperation with U.S. Army and New Mexico Agriculture Experiment Station.
  • Plumb, G. A. 1988. An algorithmic approach to automated vegetation mapping of Big Bend National Park, Texas. Ph.D. dissertation, University of Kansas, Lawrence. 449 pp.
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