The Subalpine Tall Grass, Festuca thurberi, Community of Sierra Blanca, New Mexico

Cover and frequency data are given for major plants of the Festuca thurberi Association in the subalpine region of Sierra Blanca Peak, southern New Mexico. Festuca thurberi dominates these meadows with cover values between 43 and 81 percent. Festuca arizonica and Muhlenbergia montana are usually subdominants having maximum cover values of 32 and 26 percent respectively. The association is floristically rich with about 90 herbaceous species. The stands occur on a variety of sites from 10,000-11,100 feet on the Sierra Blanca massif, but are especially conspicuous on ridges above the closed subalpine forest whose tree dominants are Picea engelmanni, Abies lasiocarpa, or pure Populus tremuloides. Data are also given for subalpine meadows dominated by Poa pratensis, and the possibility that this type is derived from the Festuca thurberi community by the grazing of domestic animals is discussed.