Shrub Density •
<br />Shrub density data were not collected in this reference area.
<br />Sagebrush Reference Area (Photograph 20)
<br />Cover
<br />Native perennial cool season grasses were the dominant lifeform in this; reference unit with
<br />43.7 percent of total vegetation cover (Table 17). Sheep fescue contributed nearly two-thirds
<br />of this percentage. Together, slender wheatgrass and Agassiz bluegrass accounted for one-
<br />quarter. Oniongrass, Montana wheatgrass, mountain brome, thickspike wheatgrass, and Canada
<br />bluegrass were minor contributors. Canada brome, elk sedge, Junegrass ( el macrantha),
<br />big bluegrass, bluebunch wheatgrass, Letterman needlegrass, and Nelson needlegrass were
<br />present. Introduced perennial cool season grasses did not contribute to total vegetation cover
<br />measurements but three species, smooth brome, timothy, and Kentucky bluegrass, were
<br />present. Native shrubs averaged 28.7 percent of total vegetation cover. Big sagebrush
<br />contributed more than half of this percentage and mountain snowberry provided more than one-
<br />third. Saskatoon serviceberry, Douglas rabbitbrush, and alkali sagebnush (Seriphidium
<br />arbusculum ssp. longilobum) accounted for the balance. Oregon hollygrape and Gambel's oak •
<br />were also present. Lichen averaged 0.3 percent of total vegetation cover.
<br />Native perennial forbs averaged 26.3 percent of total vegetation cover. One-flowered
<br />woodsunflower and weedy milkveich each contributed roughly one-quarter of this average.
<br />Together, western yarrow and Pacific aster accounted for nearly one-quarter. Nettle-leaf giant
<br />hyssop, sharp-tip onion, arrowleaf balsamroot, fringed thistle, showy fleabane, sulphur
<br />flower, white-flowered peavine, common yampa, lambstongue groundsel, and American vetch
<br />comprised the balance. Pussy-toes (Antennaria pulcherrima ssp, na taloides), rose pussy-
<br />toes (Antennaria or sea), Gunnison mariposa-lilly (Calochortus gunnisonii), Nuttall mariposa-
<br />lily (Calochortus nuttalli), paintbrush (Castilleia sulphurea}, larkspur, willow-herb,
<br />Engelmann fleabane ( i r engelmannii), goosegrass (Galium ari ~), bigleaf avens (Geum
<br />macrophvllum var. nervosum), alumroot, silver lupine ( in araer+teus), tailcup lupine,
<br />chokecherry lupine, northwest cinquefoil, cinquefoil (Potentilla spp.), and James stanvort
<br />were present. Native annual forbs; linearleaf collomia and Douglas knotweed contributed two-
<br />thirds and one-third, respectively, of this lifeform's 0.9 percent of total vegetation cover.
<br />Fremont goosefoot, baby blue-eyes, pinnate tansymustard, and microsteris were also present.
<br />20 •
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