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The type is dominated by Vasey Big Sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata <br />. ssp. vaseyana). Common shrub associates are Snowberry, Bitterbrush <br />(Purshia tridentata), Utah Serviceberry, and Low Rabbitbrush <br />(Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus). Needle-and-thread (Stipa comata), <br />Baby Blue Eyes (Collinsia parviflora), and Indian Ricegrass (Oryz- <br />opsis hymenoides) are the common herbaceous plants. Forty-six <br />additional species are components of the herbaceous layer. Percent <br />frequency, percent cover, density and height are listed in Table <br />J14 for species of the High Elevation Big Sagebrush Shrubland. <br />The High Elevation Hig Sagebrush Shrubland is grazed and browsed <br />by domestic and wild species. Sheep are the primary domestic <br />grazing animals. Evidence of overgrazing was not present, even <br />on those sites from which the sheep had been moved only a day <br />or two prior to sampling. Throughout the High Elevation Big <br />Sagebrush Shrubland, isolated shrubs reflected overbrowsing by <br />deer, but no general pattern was visible. Occasional evidence <br />• of fire was found. It appears that recovery after fire is rapid <br />in the High Elevation Big Sagebrush Shrubland and that fire <br />does not entirely burn off the vegetation. <br />MOUNTAIN GRASSLANDS <br />The Mountain Grassland type occurs primarily on hilltop openings <br />within the High Elevation Big Sagebrush Shrubland. Dominant <br />species are Needle-and thread and Prairie Junegrass (ROeleria <br />cristata). Herbaceous species found within the type are similar <br />to those of the surrounding Big Sagebrush Shrubland. Quantitative <br />data for a stand representative of the Mountain Grassland type <br />are presented in Table J15. Height of the dominant species ranges <br />from about 30 cm to 70 cm. Land use is similar to the surrounding <br />High Elevation Big Sagebrush Shrubland. <br /> <br />J-8 <br />