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COi:DITION CLASS SC",•2_Cr,n^ <br />MOUhlTAIiJ BUNCHGRASS <br />Cattie) <br />Mountain Buncharass climax is identified by the dominance of Thurber <br />fescue. It occurs between about 8,500 feet and timberline throughout <br />Co]orado and to same extent on the Medicine Bow National Forest. <br />Soecies List = The list shown below represents the more important - <br />species considered in judging range condition in the mountain bunch- <br />grass type. _ <br />Svmbol Scientific ;lame Common ;Jame <br />• <br />r1 <br />U <br />Desirable AGR Agropyron spp. (except Agsm) Wheatgrass _ _ <br />BRO Bromus spp. ~Brome - <br />-- - Dapa Danthonia parryi Parry danthonia <br />Deca Deschampsia caespitosa Tufted hairgrass <br />FES Festuca spp." ~ ~ Fescue - . <br />PHL Phleum spp. Timothy <br />Intermediate Aasm Agropyron smithii Western whe~etgrass <br />~Dain Danthonia intermedia Timber danthonia <br />- ELY Elymus spp. Wildrye; <br />Koer Koeleria cristata Prairie Junegrass <br />__: MEL Melica spp. Oniongrass <br />- - POA Poa spp. . -- - B1 uegrass <br />_ _ Siti,y 5itanion hystrix = Bottlebrush.. <br />-- - ~ squirrel tail <br />STI Stipa spp. Needlegrass <br />CAR Carex: -__ Sedae <br />- TRI Trifolium spp. Clover <br />Least Desirable Agsb Agrostis scabra Winter bentgrass <br />Muri Muhlenbergia richardsonii Mat muhly <br />NOTE: The mountain bunchgrass type is a very complex community of grass, <br />browse and weeds. In excellent condition, it is predominatly <br />thurber fescue in mixture with secondary grasses and relatively <br />few brovrse and weed species present. As condition declines, the <br />secondary grasses replace the dominants and tiith continued retro- <br />gression, weeds and/or browse species take over the site. It <br />should be reco^nized that even in top condition a certain amount <br />of forbs and browse will be present. -In fact, if they are lacking, <br />there is a strong indication of'improper balance due to disturbanc=. <br />To prcperly classify these forbs an d. browse species as to desirability <br />whicn will fit every condition of site, elevation, clir^ate, etc., is <br />not only impossible, but imprzctical. <br />C <br />-a_ <br />