Mountain muhly, also known as mountain bunchgrass and pine 

 bunchgrass, is a bright green, perennial grass growing in very dense 

 bunches, commonly 4 to 12 inches in diameter. It ranges from 

 Wyoming to California and western Texas and south into Mexico. 



The common habitat of this bunchgrass is under open ponderosa 

 pine and in dry parks, parklike draws, and open hillsides of the 

 ponderosa pine and spruce-fir belts, where it sometimes grows 

 abundantly and becomes the dominant herbaceous plant. Its main 

 altitudinal distribution is between about 7,000 ancl 10,000 feet, al- 

 though it sometimes grows even higher, and not infrequently also at 

 considerably lower elevations where moisture and temperature con- 

 ditions are. propitious for its growth. This species occurs on all 

 slopes. Its soil preferences are varied, from dry adobe clays to 

 black loams, but it is especially characteristic of gravelly or sandy 

 loams. Mountain muhly apparently thrives on soils of both granitic 

 and limestone formation. It is often associated with pine dropseed 

 (Blepkaronewon tricholepis) , Arizona fescue (Festwca) arizcmica} , 

 blue grama (Boutelvw gracilis}, needlegrasses (Stip spp.), and 

 wild-daisies (Erigeron spp.). 



In general, the palatability of mountain muhly is fairly good, but 

 it is grazed chiefly while the foliage is young and succulent. The 

 leaves become rather less tender at maturity and are not relished as 

 much as some of the better grasses. If grazed closely, it retains a 

 fairly high palatability throughout the growing season. All classes 

 of livestock graze it freely if more palatable species are not avail- 

 able. The large volume of foliage produced enhances its value. 

 Because of its great abundance this grass is the most important 

 species in the higher ponderosa pine types in many areas of the 

 Southwest and Colorado. 



Mountain muhly is a long-lived grass, with rhizomelike roots well 

 adapted to withstand grazing. An abundance of seed is produced 

 and since, because of the awns, the seed heads are not generally eaten 

 by livestock, satisfactory reproduction is favored. The usual flower- 

 ing period is July and August, though the plants occasionally head 

 out before the middle of June. Seed is usually disseminated by the 

 end of October, or the period may begin as early as August or ex- 

 tend into November. Mountain muhly is easily distinguished from 

 other muhlenbergias upon close examination since it is the only 

 native muhly with a three-toothed second glume. 



