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• (15.8 cover). The major contributors to perennial forb cover were mule's ear (Wvethia <br />amolericaulis, 5.8~ cover), arrowleat balsamrooi (4.0~ cover), and timber milkvetch <br />( ~ r I ~ miser 1 6~ cover). Other frequently occurring perennial forbs included western <br />yarrow, iaiicup lupine, end lenceleaf figwort (Scroohularia lanceolsia). The Sagebrush <br />vegetation type has, over a long period, sustained more grazing pressure than any of the other <br />vegetation types with the clear exception of the Meadow vegetation type. Consequently the <br />presence of annual and biennial forbs is slighilygreater than n~ligible (2.0 ~ cover), <br />comprised mainly of thistles (mostly Cirsium coloredense, C eatonii, end C. vul re) end <br />hound's tongue. <br />Perennial graminoid cover was dominated by Kentucky bluegrass (9.2~ cover), Agassiz <br />bluegrass (1.6~ cover), slender wheaigrass (1.4~ cover), blue wildrye (1.4~ cover), and <br />western wheatgrass (Agropyron smithii, 1.0 ~ Cover). <br />Herbaceous biomass production in the Sagebrush vegetation type (Table 15) averaged i 24.4 gm <br />/ sq.m. (1 108 lb /acre). Of this amount, 71.7 gm / sq.m. came from perennial graminoid <br />• production, which in turn was mostly Kentucky bluegrass (43.4 gm / sq.m.). Other major <br />graminoid contributors included western wheatgrass, bluebunch wheatgress, slender <br />wheatgrass, nodding end wooly bromes, end beardless wildrye (Elvmus triticoides). Perennial <br />forbs constituted 46.9 gm / sq.m. of production, major individual species components of which <br />were Lousiana sagewort (Artemisia ludoviciana), showy daisy, tailcup lupine, and mule's ear. <br />Annual and biennial forbs contributed 5.8 gm / sq.m. to the total production, most of which was <br />biennial thistles. <br />Total shrub density in the Sagebrush vegetation type (Table 16) averaged 57.9 stems / 50 sq.m. <br />(4686 stems /acre). The major contributors io this total were mountain snowberry (25.2 <br />stems / 50 sq.m. ), silver sa~brush { 13.5 stems / SO sq.m. ), end bip sagebrush (9.4 stems / <br />50 sq.m.). Other species with more than negligible contributions included Saskaiaon <br />serviceberry, mountain mahogany, Douglas rabbitbrush, and chok~herry. <br />3.1.6 MOUNTAIN BRUSH REFERENCE AREA <br />• Although the Seneca I I Mine Mountain Brusti reference area (Figure 9) has mere total ve~tation <br />cover (89.8 ~ cover) than the same vegetation type in the study area (74.0 ~ cover ), the total <br />-19- <br />