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A3953 Festuca arizonica - Muhlenbergia montana - Poa fendleriana Southern Rocky Mountain Montane Grassland Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This grassland alliance is characterized by an open to dense perennial graminoid layer composed of bunchgrasses Festuca arizonica and Muhlenbergia montana, which are widespread dominants. It occurs largely in the southern Rocky Mountains extending west to the mountains and high plateaus of Arizona, Utah and Nevada and northeast to the Black Hills. Stands occur primarily in the montane zone (2440-3050 m [8000-10,000 feet]), but may extend down into the foothills.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Arizona Fescue - Mountain Muhly - Muttongrass Southern Rocky Mountain Montane Grassland Alliance

Colloquial Name: Southern Rocky Mountain Montane Arizona Fescue - Muhly Grassland

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: Vegetation of this grassland alliance is characterized by an open to dense perennial graminoid layer composed of bunchgrasses Festuca arizonica and Muhlenbergia montana, which are widespread dominants, with Achnatherum lettermanii, Blepharoneuron tricholepis, Carex duriuscula, Carex rossii, Carex siccata, Elymus lanceolatus, Hesperostipa comata, Muhlenbergia filiculmis, Poa fendleriana, Pseudoroegneria spicata, or Schizachyrium scoparium often present to codominant. Forb species such as Potentilla hippiana may be present to codominant. This alliance occurs largely in the southern Rocky Mountains extending west to the mountains and high plateaus of Arizona, Utah and Nevada and northeast to the Black Hills. It primarily occurs in the montane zone (2440-3050 m [8000-10,000 feet]), but may extend down into the foothills. Stands are typically found in xeric forest openings or parks in the ponderosa pine zone with southern aspects on moderately steep slopes and ridgetops. Occasionally the stands occupy rolling parklands. The xeric nature of sites appears to be an important environmental factor. Soils are moderately deep Mollisols, with high coarse-fragment content, sandy loam textures, and a distinct clay horizon. Parent materials are primarily colluvium derived from granite and gneiss. Bare soil, exposed gravels, and small rocks account for as much as 50% of the ground surface area. These large-patch grasslands are intermixed with matrix stands of ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir and aspen forests. In limited circumstances (e.g., South Park in Colorado), they form the "matrix" of high-elevation plateaus and inter-montane valleys.

Diagnostic Characteristics: Dominant/diagnostic species of this montane grassland alliance are Festuca arizonica and Muhlenbergia montana. Other species with high fidelity include Blepharoneuron tricholepis, Carex rossii, Hesperostipa comata, Muhlenbergia filiculmis, Poa fendleriana, or Pseudoroegneria spicata.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: Some characteristic species such as Danthonia parryi and Achnatherum lettermanii have wide ecological amplitudes occurring in subalpine also. Associations are classified as a best fit.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Vegetation included in this alliance has a sparse to moderately dense graminoid layer dominated by medium-tall and short, bunch and sod grasses. Forbs usually have sparse cover (<10%), although degraded sites may exhibit higher cover. Lichen ground cover ranges from 2-12%.

Floristics: Vegetation is characterized by an open to dense perennial graminoid layer composed of bunchgrasses Festuca arizonica and Muhlenbergia montana, which are widespread dominants, with Achnatherum lettermanii, Achnatherum richardsonii, Blepharoneuron tricholepis, Carex duriuscula, Carex rossii, Carex siccata, Elymus lanceolatus, Festuca calligera, Geranium caespitosum, Hesperostipa comata, Muhlenbergia filiculmis, Poa fendleriana, Pseudoroegneria spicata, Schizachyrium scoparium, or Sporobolus heterolepis often present to codominant. Other common graminoids include Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua gracilis, Carex inops ssp. heliophila, Carex obtusata, Carex occidentalis, Danthonia parryi, Festuca brachyphylla, Koeleria macrantha, Pascopyrum smithii, Poa secunda, and Schizachyrium scoparium. The non-native perennial grass Poa pratensis is common in some of these stands. The typically sparse forb layer may be diverse with a variety of taxa, such as Achillea millefolium, Agoseris glauca, Allium geyeri, Antennaria parvifolia, Antennaria rosea, Arenaria fendleri, Castilleja flava, Castilleja integra, Eriogonum racemosum, Eriogonum umbellatum, Harbouria trachypleura, Heterotheca villosa, Hymenoxys richardsonii, Hymenoxys subintegra, Lupinus argenteus, Mertensia lanceolata, Opuntia polyacantha, Penstemon secundiflorus, Phlox diffusa, Potentilla concinna, Potentilla hippiana. Pseudocymopterus montanus, Ranunculus cardiophyllus, Sphaeralcea coccinea, Solidago nana, and Vicia americana. Except for the abundant dwarf-shrub Artemisia frigida, scattered Amelanchier utahensis, Artemisia tridentata, Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Ericameria nauseosa, Ericameria parryi, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Ribes cereum, Symphoricarpos oreophilus, and Tetradymia canescens shrubs, or occasional Pinus ponderosa trees, woody species are sparse (<10% cover) or absent. Selaginella densa is common, and lichens are important on the soil surface, sometimes providing abundant cover (about 25%).

In stands in the Black Hills, Achnatherum richardsonii, Danthonia intermedia, and Sporobolus heterolepis are prominent with a rich diversity of grasses and forbs, including Astragalus alpinus, Balsamorhiza sagittata, Delphinium bicolor, Hesperostipa curtiseta, Hesperostipa spartea, Iris missouriensis, Lupinus sericeus, Nassella viridula, and Oryzopsis asperifolia.

Dynamics:  Historically, much of the area where this alliance occurs was heavily grazed by livestock, primarily sheep and cattle (Shepherd 1975). Under moderate grazing, the shorter grass Muhlenbergia filiculmis may have had a competitive advantage over the taller and more palatable Festuca arizonica (West 1992). Season of use is also important. In stands with cool-season Festuca arizonica or Hesperostipa comata and warm-season Muhlenbergia montana, fall grazing will favor the cool-season grasses over the later-blooming, warm-season Muhlenbergia montana (Clary 1978). The reverse is true if grazing is always limited to late summer. Overgrazing will reduce or eliminate Festuca arizonica, Hesperostipa comata, Muhlenbergia filiculmis, Muhlenbergia montana, and the other palatable species, leaving the more grazing-tolerant Bouteloua gracilis and less palatable plants such as Hymenoxys, Artemisia and Chrysothamnus species to dominate the site (West 1992). Clary (1978) reported that complete natural recovery of montane Festuca arizonica range may require over 100 years, based on areas where recovery had reached only the "half-shrub" stage after 10 years. Because of the long time needed for recovery, much of the range may be in a seral state. If the range is properly managed, Muhlenbergia and Festuca arizonica grasslands could potentially become more common.
Environmental Description:  This alliance primarily occurs in the montane zone (2440-3050 m [8000-10,000 feet]), but may extend down into the foothills to 1600 m (5250 feet). Stands are typically found in xeric forest openings or parks in the ponderosa pine zone with southern aspects on moderately steep slopes and ridgetops. Occasionally the stands occupy rolling parklands. Climate is cool temperate. Summers are warm and winters are cold with freezing temperatures and often heavy snow. Summer precipitation peaks during the monsoon in July and August. The mean annual precipitation is 25-90 cm. Sites are gentle to moderately steep (5-30%) slopes with southern and western aspects. Rocks and boulders are common, especially on the steeper slopes The xeric nature of sites appears to be an important environmental factor in maintaining the grassland. Soils are moderately deep Mollisols, with high coarse-fragment content, sandy loam textures, and a distinct clay horizon. Parent material includes alluvium, colluvium and residuum from a variety of igneous, metamorphic and sedimentary rocks such as andesite, basalt, cinder, gneiss, granite, limestone, rhyolite, sandstone, schist, shale and tuff. Bare soil, exposed gravels, and small rocks account for as much as 50% of the ground surface area. These large-patch grasslands are intermixed with matrix stands of ponderosa pine, Douglas-fir and aspen forests. In limited circumstances (e.g., South Park in Colorado), they form the "matrix" of high-elevation plateaus and inter-montane valleys.
Geographic Range: This grassland alliance occurs largely in the southern Rocky Mountains extending west to the mountains and high plateaus of Utah and Arizona and northeast to the Black Hills.

Nations: US

States/Provinces:  AZ, CO, MT, NM, NV, SD, TX, UT, WY


Confidence Level: Moderate

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.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 CEGL001605 Arizona Fescue - Slim-stem Muhly Grassland CEGL001605 2.B.2.Nf.3.a
Association CEGL001606 Arizona Fescue - Mountain Muhly Grassland CEGL001606 2.B.2.Nf.3.a
Association CEGL001646 Mountain Muhly Grassland CEGL001646 2.B.2.Nf.3.a
Association CEGL001647 Mountain Muhly - Needle-and-Thread Grassland CEGL001647 2.B.2.Nf.3.a
Association CEGL001660 Bluebunch Wheatgrass Grassland CEGL001660 2.B.2.Nf.3.a
Association CEGL001676 Bluebunch Wheatgrass - Muttongrass Grassland CEGL001676 2.B.2.Nf.3.a
Association CEGL001780 Slim-stem Muhly Grassland CEGL001780 2.B.2.Nf.3.a
Association CEGL001874 Needleleaf Sedge Grassland CEGL001874 2.B.2.Nf.3.a
Association CEGL001925 Muttongrass Grassland CEGL001925 2.B.2.Nf.3.a
Association CEGL002240 Prairie Dropseed - Richardson''s Needlegrass - Timber Oatgrass Grassland CEGL002240 2.B.2.Nf.3.a
Association CEGL002588 Thick-spike Wheatgrass Grassland CEGL002588 2.B.2.Nf.3.a
Association CEGL004508 Arizona Fescue - Pine-dropseed Grassland CEGL004508 2.B.2.Nf.3.a
Association CEGL005354 Letterman''s Needlegrass Grassland CEGL005354 2.B.2.Nf.3.a
Association CEGL005381 Mountain Muhly - Little Bluestem Grassland CEGL005381 2.B.2.Nf.3.a
Association CEGL005388 Dry-spike Sedge - Ross'' Sedge Grassland CEGL005388 2.B.2.Nf.3.a
Association CEGL005500 (Southwest Fescue, Arizona Fescue, Alpine Fescue) Grassland CEGL005500 2.B.2.Nf.3.a
Concept Lineage: A.1260 and A.1245. This new alliance includes associations from Old Alliance V.A.5.N.c. Elymus lanceolatus Herbaceous Alliance (A.1242), Old Alliance V.A.5.N.c. Poa (fendleriana, nemoralis ssp. interior) - Sporobolus heterolepis Herbaceous, Alliance (A.1220), Old Alliance V.A.5.N.d. Achnatherum lettermanii Herbaceous Alliance (A.2524), Old Alliance V.A.5.N.d. Festuca arizonica Herbaceous Alliance (A.1245), Old Alliance V.A.5.N.d. Muhlenbergia montana Herbaceous Alliance (A.1260), Old Alliance V.A.5.N.d. Pseudoroegneria spicata Herbaceous Alliance (A.1265), Old Alliance V.A.5.N.e. Carex duriuscula Herbaceous Alliance (A.1283), and Old Alliance V.A.5.N.e. Muhlenbergia filiculmis Herbaceous Alliance (A.1288), Old Alliance V.A.5.N.g. Carex siccata Herbaceous Alliance (A.1298).

Predecessors: No Data Available

Obsolete Names: No Data Available

Obsolete Parents: No Data Available
Synonomy: > Festuca arizonica Series (Johnston 1987)
> Muhlenbergia montana Series (Johnston 1987)
> Muhlenbergia montana Series (Muldavin 1994) [includes Muhlenbergia montana/Trisetum montanum Plant Association that is not yet included in this alliance.]
> Stipa comata-Muhlenbergia montana Habitat Type (Hess 1981)
= Fescue Series (Dick-Peddie 1993) [includes Festuca arizonica-Muhlenbergia montana Vegetation Type]
> Habitat types #13 and #35 (Shepherd 1975)
> Pine Dropseed-Mountain Muhly Series (Dick-Peddie 1993)
Concept Author(s): K.A. Schulz, in Faber-Langendoen et al. (2013)

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 03-14-14
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