Laserfiche WebLink
<br /> Grassland Types: <br /> <br /> The grassland type of vegetation is the most widespread and <br /> the most diverse type of vegetation in the study site. The F~rincipal <br /> grass species here are needle grass( Stipd occidentalis), mo~.ntain <br /> muhly (Muhlenbergia montana), side-oats grama (Bouteloua curtipendula), <br /> blue-grama (Bouteloua gracilis), and cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum). <br /> Other major graminoid species include the sedges (Carex filifolia, C. <br /> foenea, and C. heliophila). <br /> The grassland-type is also populated in part by mountain mahogany <br /> (Cercocarpus montanus) and skunkbrush Rhus trilobata). These shrubs <br /> are more abundant where the ecotones between grassland and moutain ma- <br /> hogany stands merge. Scattered throughout grassland areas are the <br /> principal fortis, pasture sage (Artemisia frigida), prairie sage <br />• (Artemisia ludoviciana), and snakeweed (Gutierrezia sarothrae). <br /> Generally, the grassland is less than one meter in height for <br /> the principal grasses; very often the height of grassland vegetation <br /> is less than 0.33m. Grazing animals have made little impact on the <br /> vegetation at present. Approximately 15-20% of the area in grassland <br /> vegetation stands is bare ground. <br /> Mountain-Mahogany Type: <br /> This stand type is dominated by the shrub, mountain mahogany <br /> ( Cercocarpus montanus). In addition, the same species present in the <br /> grassland type are found to a lesser extent in mountain mahogany stands. <br /> Height of Cercocarpus stands average 1.2m ~ range: 0.3-2.2m). Ponderosa <br /> pine (Pinus ponderosa), red cedar (Juniperus scopulorum), Buckbrush <br /> (Symphoricarpos occidentalis), skunkbrush (Rhus trilobata) and chokecherry <br />• (Prunus vir9iniana var. melanocarpa) are other principal woody plant <br />J- 6 <br />