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A4002 Bouteloua gracilis - Bouteloua hirsuta - Hesperostipa neomexicana Shortgrass Prairie Alliance

Type Concept Sentence: This mixedgrass alliance is characterized by a moderately dense grass layer of midgrass Hesperostipa neomexicana with a shortgrass layer composed of codominant Bouteloua gracilis and/or Bouteloua hirsuta. It is found from the northern Chihuahuan Desert north into the southwestern Great Plains on gentle to moderately steep slopes in foothills and escarpments.

Common (Translated Scientific) Name: Blue Grama - Hairy Grama - New Mexico Feathergrass Shortgrass Prairie Alliance

Colloquial Name: Blue Grama - Hairy Grama - New Mexico Feathergrass Shortgrass Prairie

Hierarchy Level:  Alliance

Type Concept: Vegetation of this grassland alliance is characterized by a moderately dense midgrass layer of bunchgrass Hesperostipa neomexicana over a shortgrass layer composed of Bouteloua gracilis and/or Bouteloua hirsuta. Other grass species include Aristida purpurea and Bouteloua curtipendula, but stands are not codominated by desert grasses such as Bouteloua eriopoda, Eragrostis intermedia, Muhlenbergia emersleyi, or Muhlenbergia setifolia. The forb layer is variable and commonly includes Lesquerella fendleri and Melampodium leucanthum. Scattered shrubs, subshrubs or succulents may be present, but do not form a layer. This alliance occurs from the northern San Andres Mountains, Chupadera Mesa and the Oscura Mountains in the northern Chihuahuan Desert and extends north into the foothills of central New Mexico and Colorado and east on escarpments in the southwestern Great Plains. Stands occur on generally cool aspects on gentle to moderately steep slopes. The ground surfaces are generally gravelly, with scattered rocks and little exposed soil.

Diagnostic Characteristics: This alliance is characterized by dominant and diagnostic species Hesperostipa neomexicana with a shortgrass layer composed of Bouteloua gracilis and/or Bouteloua hirsuta and sparsely scattered shrubs. Desert grasses may be present but do not codominate, especially Bouteloua eriopoda, Eragrostis intermedia, Muhlenbergia emersleyi, and Muhlenbergia setifolia.

Rationale for Nominal Species or Physiognomic Features: No Data Available

Classification Comments: This alliance includes grasslands that also occur in the Chihuahuan Desert. Currently they are placed in a Great Plains group. If a stand has lots of desert grasses present, such as Bouteloua eriopoda, Bouteloua radicosa, Digitaria californica, Eragrostis intermedia, Muhlenbergia emersleyi, Muhlenbergia setifolia, or is codominated by them, it may be better classified as a desert grassland.

~Hesperostipa neomexicana Grassland (CEGL001708)$$ and ~Hesperostipa neomexicana Mixed Prairie Grassland (CEGL001711)$$ from the archived Hesperostipa neomexicana Southwestern Great Plains Alliance (A4041) are now included here. The current description needs revision to reflect this merge.

Similar NVC Types: No Data Available
note: No Data Available
Physiognomy and Structure: Stands in this mixedgrass alliance are composed of a moderately dense to dense, medium-tall, bunchgrass layer with an open to moderately dense shortgrass layer composed of perennial grasses. Low cover of forbs is often present. Sparse scattered shrubs may be present but do not form a layer.

Floristics: This grassland alliance is characterized by a moderately dense to dense perennial grass layer composed of midgrass Hesperostipa neomexicana over an open to moderately dense shortgrass layer composed of Bouteloua gracilis and/or Bouteloua hirsuta. Other grasses may be present to codominant such as Aristida purpurea and Bouteloua curtipendula, but stands are not codominated by desert grasses such as Bouteloua eriopoda, Eragrostis intermedia, Muhlenbergia emersleyi, or Muhlenbergia setifolia. Scattered shrubs and dwarf-shrubs present may include Artemisia bigelovii, Chrysothamnus pulchellus, Dalea formosa, Gutierrezia sarothrae, and Rhus trilobata. Forb cover is generally sparse (<10%), but may be diverse. Common forbs include Astragalus spp., Gaura coccinea, Lesquerella fendleri, Machaeranthera pinnatifida ssp. pinnatifida, Melampodium leucanthum, Plantago patagonica, Psoralidium tenuiflorum, Ratibida columnifera, and Sphaeralcea coccinea. Succulents such as Opuntia polyacantha and Opuntia phaeacantha are common. Occasional Juniperus monosperma (live or standing dead) are common. Southern stands may have scattered Agave palmeri, Dasylirion wheeleri, Nolina microcarpa, or Prosopis glandulosa present.

Dynamics:  No Data Available
Environmental Description:  . Stands occur on generally cool aspects on gentle to moderately steep slopes at elevations ranging from 1525-2130 m (5000-7000 feet). Soils range from coarse loams to silty clays, but can be shallow and rocky and contain caliche layers derived from limestone and/or sandstones. The ground surfaces are generally gravelly, with scattered rocks and little exposed soil.
Geographic Range: This grassland alliance occurs in the northern San Andres Mountains, Chupadera Mesa and the Oscura Mountains in the northern Chihuahuan Desert and extends north into foothills of central New Mexico and the Colorado Front Range extending east out on escarpments and mesas in the southwestern Great Plains, including the Black Mesa region of Oklahoma.

Nations: MX?,US

States/Provinces:  CO, NM, OK, TX


Confidence Level: Low

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 A4002 Blue Grama - Hairy Grama - New Mexico Feathergrass Shortgrass Prairie Alliance A4002 2.B.2.Nb.3.a
Association CEGL001708 New Mexico Feathergrass Grassland CEGL001708 2.B.2.Nb.3.a
Association CEGL001711 New Mexico Feathergrass Mixed Prairie Grassland CEGL001711 2.B.2.Nb.3.a
Association CEGL001763 Blue Grama - New Mexico Feathergrass Grassland CEGL001763 2.B.2.Nb.3.a
Association CEGL001766 Hairy Grama - New Mexico Feathergrass Grassland CEGL001766 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: > Bouteloua gracilis - Stipa neomexicana PA (Muldavin and Mehlhop 1992)
> Stipa neomexicana / Bouteloua hirsuta PA (Muldavin and Mehlhop 1992)
= Grama-Feathergrass Series (Dick-Peddie 1993) [This series includes semi-desert grasslands in both the Chihuahuan Desert and Great Plains.]
> New Mexico Needlegrass-Blue Grama PA (Muldavin et al. 2000b)
> New Mexico Needlegrass-Hairy Grama PA (Muldavin et al. 2000b)
= Ridge (Beavis et al. 1982) [Ridge topographic was codominated by Hesperostipa neomexicana and Bouteloua gracilis.]
Concept Author(s): W.A. Dick-Peddie (1993)

Author of Description: K.A. Schulz

Acknowledgements: No Data Available

Version Date: 01-08-14
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