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TDB' <br />As the base of the hills is approached the vegetation turns mixed and <br />_, <br />afeedy, figures TDo' and ;D~1. This condition persists up to the base of the <br />calcined clay and into the va3es beto-!e~n the ridges. The vegetation in these <br />areas is'deminated by t;vo shrubs, t`,ao grasses and one forb, Table TD3. The <br />grasses are the better forage. <br />The "iithic entosoi" layer where the calcined clay outcrops supports an <br />impoverished vegetation dominated by ponderosa pine, four shrubs and one forb, <br />Table TD3, Figures TD72 and TD13. The shrub cover is quite good on north <br />slopes, Figure TD13, but it is thin on Crest exposures. The mountain mahogany <br />is an excellent browse plant. <br />A total of 68 species of plants were identified at Da~rlson. 'these included <br />t.•rc trees, 11 shrubs, 17 grasses and sedges and 38 fortis, Table TG4. The .list <br />includes one tentatl4el~' identified as I echla, 4'lh;Ch ;S rare i ~O1:;i"ado <br />(r'ootnote to Table TD4). <br />Here, as elsewhere, the extended search required to assure that unique, <br />rare or endangered plants e•~ere not present, could not be made. It should be <br />pointed out, however, that calcined clay layers are not common. Furthermore, <br />there is evidence elsewhere that underground fires nay encourane genetic <br />changes in plants. The iithic entosol on the calcined clay must therefore be <br />regarded as a potential habitat for rare or unique plants, even though none <br />was found. <br />Productivity of the range at Da~•rson ~;ras rated poor by Dr. ldai}ace Johnson. <br />He estimated average yeild of -'orage plants at not more than 400 pounds per acre <br />-'or the grasslands, excluding the shrub type on the iithic entascl. Each area <br />Cf grassland taken Out o-" production therefore represents a present loss of <br />about II cotid-days cf grazinc annually. <br />The shrub (ands are important for trinter range., As these lands are <br />being grayed in the summer, they likely are not beina used r"or ;rimer gra~;ng <br />of livestock. <br />