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Total vegetation cover was estimated at 60.6 percent (Table 2.04.10-9). The cover of litter and <br />bare ground was 88.5 and 0.7 percent, respectively. Hydrophytic graminoids comprised most <br />of the vegetal cover (54.4 percent total cover) followed by perennial (orbs (2.6 percent total <br />cover), annual forbs (1.9 percent total cover) and shrubs (1.9 percent total cover). The <br />dominant graminoids in terms of both cover and frequency of occurrence included western <br />sedge (Carex occidentalis), threesquare (Scirous ounaens) and common spikerush (Eleocharis <br />macrostachva). Other graminoids, such as redtop (Aorostis alba), Parry rush (Juncus oarrvi) <br />and alkali muhly (Muhlenbergia asoerifolia) were frequently encountered in the sample, but <br />contributed relatively less to total vegetation cover. A total of 14 species of perennial <br />graminoids were encountered in the sample. Cattail did not occur in any of the randomly <br />located sample plots, although this species occurs in the graminoid component as scattered <br />monotypic stands that range in size from approximately 0.1 to 2 acres. <br />Eight species of perennial forbs occurred in the cover and frequency sample (Table 2.04.10-9). <br />The dominant perennial forb was white prairie aster {Aster adscendens). This species <br />comprised nearly one-half of the perennial forb cover and occurred in 50 percent of the cover <br />plots. Only three species of annual forbs and one shrub species were represented in the <br />samples. <br />The mean herbaceous production in the graminoid component of the swale/drainage type is <br />presented in Table 2.04.10-10. Individual plot data used to derive the summary may be found <br />in Peabody Appendix 10-2 (Table 2-12). Table 2.04.10-10 expresses production on a dry <br />weight basis by morphological class as grams per 0.25m2 (plot size), pounds per acre and <br />percent composition by weight. The results indicate that perennial graminoids dominated the <br />type component in terms of biomass (97.8 percent of the total above-ground plant biomass). <br />Perennial and annual forbs contributed only minor amounts to total herbaceous production. <br />Total production exceeded that of any vegetation type sampled (3,500.2 pounds/acre). <br />The willow component of the swale/drainage type occurs on shallow, slightly elevated sites that <br />are better-drained than areas supporting vegetation that can tolerate standing or flowing water, <br />and completely saturated conditions. No attempt was made to sample cover in the willow <br />component because of the extremely high shrub densities encountered. Qualitative evaluation <br />• (REVISED 9/99) 2.04.10 - 41 <br />