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C~ <br /> <br />has a much different understory composed of species more typical of <br /> <br />Montane forests. The difference indicates the distinctive character <br />• of the communities. <br />The shrublands contain grasses which include Needle-and-Thread <br />Grass (Stipa comata), Arizonal Fescue (Festuca arizonica) Mountain <br />Muhly (Muhlenbergia montana), Indian Ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides), <br />Sideoats Grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), and Little Bluestem (Andropogon <br />scoparius). Some Mountain Mahogany (Cercoparpus montanus) and Skunkbrush <br />Sumac (Rhus trilobata) also can be found in minor quantities on some of <br />the drier slopes. <br />Understory in the forest is much more sparse due to the depth <br />of shading that occurs on the forest floor. Grasses are few and mainly <br />represented by small quantities of Bluegrass (POa sp.), Sideoats Grama <br />(Bouteloua curtipendula), and fescue (Festuca sp.). The predominant <br />• understory species is broadleaved evergreens like Oregon Grape (Mahonia <br />repens) and various heaths. A small amount of Mountain Mahogany and <br />Gambel's Oak as well as numerous small Junipers can be found in the <br />somewhat more open areas of the forest and is commonly associated with <br />an understory similar to that found on the southslope shrublands. <br />The lower area where the processing facilities are currently <br />found is an area with a comparatively gentle, east-facinq slope. Trees <br />in this area are very uncommon. For the most part, then, this area was <br />inhabited by a shrub and grass community not very different from that <br />found on the south facing slopes of the quarry face. More Mountain <br />Mahogany is found here. Understory species composition is basically <br />the same as the south facing slopes except that here Blue Grama is much <br />. more common. The vegetation pattern is more discontinuous with much <br />more clumping of the shrubs. <br />P-J-3 <br />