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Muhlenbergia pungens Grassland | NatureServe Biotics 2019
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Name: Muhlenbergia pungens Grassland Reference: NatureServe Biotics 2019 Description: This sandsheet association occurs in the Colorado Plateau in Utah and western Colorado and at Great Sand Dunes National Park and Preserve in south-central Colorado. <i>Muhlenbergia pungens</i> is the dominant or codominant grass, although other grasses may be important in terms of cover, including <i>Bouteloua gracilis, Achnatherum hymenoides, Sporobolus cryptandrus</i>, and <i>Aristida purpurea</i>. At Zion National Park, the community is codominated by montane grasses such as <i>Muhlenbergia montana</i> and <i>Poa fendleriana</i>. Forbs are diverse but contribute little total cover and vary widely among sites. <i>Machaeranthera canescens, Mentzelia multiflora, Senecio spartioides</i>, and <i>Heterotheca villosa</i> are common species. Scattered shrubs, such as <i>Atriplex confertifolia, Gutierrezia sarothrae</i>, and <i>Opuntia</i> spp., are often present but do not total more than 10% cover. Total vegetation cover is somewhat sparse, rarely exceeding 50% and usually closer to 25%. Stands occur locally on sand deposits, sand flats and dunes. It is dependent on a certain degree of disturbance to maintain the mid-seral species <i>Muhlenbergia pungens</i>. Elevations range from 1560 to 2256 m (5120-7400 feet), and slopes are flat to gentle. Soils are sands derived from local sandstone, eolian sands or alluvium. In areas protected from grazing, the unvegetated ground surface supports cryptobiotic crusts; in disturbed areas, bare ground cover is high.  Accession Code: urn:lsid:vegbank.org:commConcept:31271-{5F91B02D-0E93-43F4-8EC7-83B0BB107A77} Plot-observations of this Community Concept: 0
	Party Perspective according to: NatureServe (organization) Perspective from: 09-Aug-2016 to: ongoing
	status: accepted Community's Parent: Achnatherum hymenoides - Pseudoroegneria spicata - Muhlenbergia pungens Grassland Alliance This Community's Level: Association This Community's Children: [none]		Names:   UID: ELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.769173 NatureServe Explorer   Code: CEGL002363   Translated: Sandhill Muhly Grassland   Scientific: Muhlenbergia pungens Grassland (convergence) and Synonyms: (similar) Muhlenbergia pungens Herbaceous Vegetation