Participant Info

Species

Muhlenbergia montana [Muhlenbergia trifida] [Calycodon montanum]

Family

Poaceae

CommonName

mountain muhly

Presence

yes

Status

native

EarliestDate

1892

LatestDate

2024

Ecosystem

foothill, montane, subalpine

Geobotanical

SSawatch, Garitas, SSanjuans, NCristos

Counties

Alamosa, Conejos, Costilla, Hinsdale, Mineral, Rio Grande, Saguache

Passes

Cumbres, La Veta, Wolf Creek

WildlifePreserves

Other Localities

La Botica

PhotoRecords

Comments

NEED IN SITU PHOTOS. Mountain muhly is by far the most commonly collected species of Muhlenbergia from the Watershed. It has been observed from foothill to subalpine on both sides of the Valley, from all mountain ranges except for the Culebras (although most certainly present there, judging from New Mexico locations). It prefers dry rocky slopes and forest openings—a staple forage grass in conifer habitats. For its abundance in the Watershed, Muhlenbergia montana has a limited USA range, found mainly in southern Utah, Colorado, Arizona, and New Mexico. There are also scattered locations in California, and only a few in southern Montana (the specific epithet does not refer to the USA state). The species follows the Rio Grande drainage through New Mexico to the Big Bend region of Texas, no farther down stream.

Annotation