Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS
Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS
Vegetation Classification and Mapping Project Report - USGS
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<strong>Vegetation</strong> <strong>Classification</strong> <strong>and</strong> Distribution <strong>Mapping</strong> <strong>Report</strong>: Petrified Forest National Park<br />
C.4 Herbaceous<br />
C.4.3. Bouteloua gracilis - Pleuraphis jamesii Herbaceous <strong>Vegetation</strong><br />
Base map class<br />
NatureServe common name<br />
NatureServe code<br />
Blue.Grama.-.Galleta.Herbaceous.<strong>Vegetation</strong><br />
Blue.Grama.-.James’.Galleta.Herbaceous.<strong>Vegetation</strong><br />
CEGL001759<br />
Summary:<br />
These grassl<strong>and</strong>s occur on alluvial flats, mesas, <strong>and</strong> plains in the semi-arid southwestern Great Plains<br />
<strong>and</strong> the Colorado Plateau in southeastern Colorado, New Mexico, northern Arizona <strong>and</strong> southern<br />
Utah. Elevation ranges from 1625-1890 m (5330-5654 ft) on the Colorado Plateau <strong>and</strong> extends<br />
below 1525 m (5000 ft) in the southwestern Great Plains. Sites are flat to undulating, with shallow to<br />
moderately deep, loam to silty clay loam-textured soil. St<strong>and</strong>s are codominated by the graminoids<br />
Bouteloua gracilis <strong>and</strong> Pleuraphis jamesii (= Hilaria jamesii). These short <strong>and</strong> medium-tall perennial<br />
bunch grasses may form a sod-like ground cover with patches of bare ground, especially where grazing<br />
by livestock encourages a prostrate growth form. Canopy cover is relatively sparse to moderately<br />
dense (20-80% cover). Other grasses include Buchloe dactyloides, Muhlenbergia torreyi, Sporobolus<br />
crypt<strong>and</strong>rus, Aristida spp., Achnatherum hymenoides (= Oryzopsis hymenoides), Pascopyrum smithii,<br />
Hesperostipa comata (= Stipa comata), or Hesperostipa neomexicana (= Stipa neomexicana). Forb cover<br />
is generally sparse but may be diverse. Characteristic species include Sphaeralcea coccinea, Grindelia<br />
squarrosa, Cryptantha spp., Machaeranthera pinnatifida, Ratibida spp., <strong>and</strong> Zinnia gr<strong>and</strong>iflora. Scattered<br />
dwarf-shrubs, shrubs, <strong>and</strong> cacti, such as Gutierrezia sarothrae, Artemisia bigelovii, Artemisia<br />
frigida, Krascheninnikovia lanata, Prosopis gl<strong>and</strong>ulosa, Yucca glauca, Opuntia imbricata, <strong>and</strong> Opuntia<br />
polyacantha, are not uncommon. Codominance of Bouteloua gracilis <strong>and</strong> Pleuraphis jamesii distinguishes<br />
this vegetation from several closely related grassl<strong>and</strong>s.<br />
<strong>Classification</strong> confidence: 2 - Moderate.<br />
<strong>Classification</strong> comments:<br />
Globally. More classification <strong>and</strong> survey work are needed to distinguish this type from closely<br />
related grassl<strong>and</strong>s over its relatively broad geographic range, <strong>and</strong> to inventory its extent <strong>and</strong><br />
condition.<br />
Petrified Forest National Park. This association tends to have low total vegetation cover<br />
<strong>and</strong> correspondingly low total herbaceous cover. Bouteloua gracilis consistently occurred in<br />
every relevé but with low cover (
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