BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Muhlenbergia cuspidata | Plains Muhly 



GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS : 
Plains muhly is a densely tufted, warm-season, native bunchgrass arising
from thickened culm bases.  Plants reach 16 inches (42 cm) in height.
They have tillers and are nonrhizomatous.  Roots reach a maximum depth
of 15 to 20 inches (40-50 cm) [4,8,9,10,18].

A study of the growth and morphological response to irradiance on an
open prairie in Linn County near Hiattville, Kansas, showed that plains
muhly can adjust morphologically to shaded environments.  Plants
produced more biomass at higher photosynthetic photo flux densities in
shaded areas [8].


RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM : 
   Hemicryptophyte


REGENERATION PROCESSES : 
Plains muhly regenerates by tillering and seeds.


SITE CHARACTERISTICS : 
Plains muhly grows on uplands and hillsides.  In Nebraska it is
particularly abundant on lime uplands and thin loess range sites.  It is
commonly intermixed with little bluestem (Schizachyrium scoparium) and
sideoats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula).  Plains muhly occurs throughout
mesic Midwestern prairies [5,6,21].

Elevational ranges vary as follows [2]:

    from 5,000 to 9,100 feet (1,500-2,800 m) in CO
         3,500 to 3,900 feet (1,100-1,200 m) in MT
         4,000 to 6,000 feet (1,200-1,800 m) in WY

Growth of plains muhly on various soil textures is rated as follows [5]:

               CO      MT      ND      WY
Gravel        Fair    Fair    Fair    Good
Sand          Poor    Good    Fair    Fair
Sandy loam    Good    Good    Good    Good
Loam          Good    Good    Good    Good
Clay loam     Good    Good    Good    Good
Clay          Poor    Fair    Fair    Fair
Dense clay    Poor    Poor    Poor    Poor


SUCCESSIONAL STATUS : 
Facultative Seral Species

For the most part plains muhly occurs only occasionally in climax
vegetation [3].  At Wind Cave National Park, South Dakota, plains muhly
is part of the bluestem (bunch-grass) subclimax with little bluestem and
big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii var. gerardii) [15].


SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT : 
Plains muhly usually begins growth during the first 2 weeks of April.
Flowering occurs from the end of June to July.  Seeds ripen from early
August to October [4,5,8].

Related categories for Species: Muhlenbergia cuspidata | Plains Muhly