Name:
Bouteloua eriopoda - Bouteloua gracilis Grassland
Reference:
NatureServe Biotics 2019
Description:
This grassland association occurs on tablelands in a transition zone between the Southern Great Plains, within Bandelier National Monument in north-central New Mexico, within Salinas Pueblo Missions National Monument in central New Mexico, and in the Chihuahuan Desert in southern New Mexico. It likely extends into adjacent Texas and northern Mexico. Stands have also been described from colluvial slopes in northwestern New Mexico and from valley bottoms, slopes and benches in isolated desert mountains in southwestern New Mexico. In north-central New Mexico, this association is known from low- to mid-elevation mountain slopes and foothills, but can form more extensive stands on the upper alluvial fan piedmonts. Elevations range from 1430-1950 m. Sites are often flat to gently sloping, but range to moderately steep with variable aspects. Soils are often gravelly or sandy loam derived from gravely and sandy alluvium parent materials. On mesatops the soils are finer-textured sandy and silty loam. This desert grassland also occurs on piedmonts (bajadas) in Lower Creek watershed, San Bernardino and Animas valleys, and on cindercones of the San Bernardino Malpai. It is found in small occurrences at low to mid elevations (1500-1600 m [4900-5300 feet]). The largest occurrences are found near Red Hill in the Animas Valley and along the Mexican border in the Deer Creek watershed. This association is characterized by sparse to moderate cover of perennial bunchgrasses, of which <i>Bouteloua eriopoda</i> (1-20% cover) and <i>Bouteloua gracilis</i> (1-12% cover) are the most abundant and characteristic species. Other perennial grasses that may be present include several <i>Aristida</i> spp., <i>Bouteloua curtipendula, Bouteloua hirsuta, Eragrostis intermedia, Pleuraphis jamesii</i>, and <i>Pleuraphis mutica</i>. The forb component is variable and may be diverse, but total forb cover is less than 10% and often less than 5%. Forb species typical of these desert grasslands may include species of <i>Croton, Eriogonum, Sida, Solanum, Sphaeralcea, Talinum</i>, or <i>Zinnia</i>. Some stands have scattered shrubs present, typically with less than 5% cover. Species include <i>Ephedra trifurca, Gutierrezia sarothrae, Cylindropuntia imbricata, Prosopis glandulosa</i>, and <i>Yucca elata</i>. The diagnostic characteristics of this sparse to moderately dense grassland are the codominance of <i>Bouteloua eriopoda</i> and <i>Bouteloua gracilis</i> often with scattered shrubs.
Accession Code:
urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:30657-{1DA311BC-D8B0-4050-B8A6-E13160AFA4FE}
Plot-observations of this Community Concept:
0
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