(Willd.) B.S.P.
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.159778
Element CodePMPOA481Q0
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderCyperales
FamilyPoaceae
GenusMuhlenbergia
Other Common NamesMuhlenbergie ténue (FR) Slim-flowered Muhly (EN) slimflower muhly (EN)
Concept ReferenceKartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Taxonomic CommentsA different species from Muhlenbergia tenuifolia of the southwestern U.S.
Conservation Status
Rank Method Rank calculation - Biotics v2
Review Date2024-06-12
Change Date1984-06-08
Edition Date2024-06-12
Edition AuthorsSoteropoulos (2024)
Threat ImpactUnknown
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank ReasonsMuhlenbergia tenuiflora is a perennial grass in forests and disturbed areas occurring in eastern North America from Ontario and Quebec, Canada south to Georgia and Oklahoma in the United States. Threats include development, rights-of-way maintenance activities, logging, recreational activities, succession, and invasive species. Little is known about threats or trends, but with a large range extent and large number of occurrences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities, this species is considered secure.
Range Extent CommentsMuhlenbergia tenuiflora occurs in eastern North America from Ontario and Quebec, Canada south to Georgia and Oklahoma in the United States (FNA 2003). Range extent was estimated to be over 1.5 million square kilometers using herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024 (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024).
Occurrences CommentsBy applying a 1 km separation distance to herbarium specimens, photo-based observations, and NatureServe Network occurrence data documented between 1993 and 2024, it is estimated that there are over 150 occurrences rangewide (GBIF 2024, iNaturalist 2024, NatureServe 2024, SEINet 2024). This diminutive grass is likely overlooked in photo-based observations, underrepresented in herbaria collections, not all collections are georeferenced, and anecdotal comments support the likelihood that there are over 300 occurrences rangewide.
Threat Impact CommentsAlthough threats are not widely documented, this species is potentially threatened by development, rights-of-way maintenance activities, logging, recreational activities, succession, invasive species, and other threats in some places. However, their overall impact is likely negligible given the species' broad range, large number of occurrences, and no obvious intrinsic vulnerabilities.