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CRYSTAL PIT <br />other "wildflowers" including Indian Paintbrush CCastilleaia sp.), <br />• Wild Rose (Rosa woodsii), Fringed Sage CArtemisia fripida), Harebell <br />(Campanula rotundifolia), and, locally, dense concentrations of <br />Prairie Sage CArtemisia ludoviciana). <br />Cover in the grassland areas ranges from about 80% where <br />Arctostaohvlos dominates to about 30% to 50% where grasses dominate. <br />The pattern of the vegetation ranges from a strongly bunched pattern <br />in the grasses to a uniform pattern where the Arctostaphvlos <br />dominates. Overall, the grassland vegetation cover would be 50% to <br />60%, including duff or about 20% to 50% if duff is not included. <br />Notably absent from the grassland vegetation are cacti. At this <br />elevation and in this type of vegetation, it is not unusual to find <br />some Prickly Pear COountia sp.), Echinocereus, and Mammillaria. But <br />in the course of the vegetation survey, not a single cactus was noted. <br />If any cacti are present they would form a very minor component of the <br />vegetation. <br />The other major unit of vegetation includes the forests. These <br />forests are divided into three units. On the tops of the dry, south <br />• facing hillsides and generally outside the mining areas, but adjacent <br />to them, is a generally open forest composed mostly of Ponderosa Pine <br />(Pinus ponderosa) and smaller amounts of Douglas Fir (Pseudotsuaa <br />taxifolia or Pseudotsuaa menzezii - depending upon the taxonomy used). <br />The trees in this unit are generally less than 25 feet in height and <br />form a canopy cover which ranges from about 20% to about 50%. <br />As the moisture gradient becomes more favorable for conifer <br />growth (generally on more northerly facing slopes), this forest tends <br />to dramatically alter the numerical composition from a Ponderosa Pine <br />dominance to a Douglas Fir dominance. Density also increases <br />producing a canopy cover of about 60% to 90%. The species diversity <br />changes, as well, to include small amounts of Blue Spruce CPicea <br />punaens), Englemann Spruce CPicea enolemanni), Lodgepole Pine (Pinus <br />contorta), and, most interesting, occasional individuals of Limber <br />Pine (Pinus flexilis - noted by its 5 fascicled needles). <br />The understory of this forest unit is sparse to rare at best. In <br />• locations which are slightly more open, Juniperus communis can cover <br />large areas, but where the canopy cover is more dense even this shade <br />J <br />