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perennial forbs were 19.1 percent of total vegetation cover; the largest contributors to this total <br />is were western yarrow, tailcup lupine and silver lupine (Lupinus argenteus). Other common species <br />were pasture sage (Artemisia /udoviciana) and Pacific aster. A total of thirty -five species of native <br />perennial forbs were observed in the affected area samples. Native annual and biennial forbs <br />accounted for 1.3 percent of total vegetation cover. Most of the 1.7 percent of total vegetation <br />cover accounted for by introduced annual forbs was attributable to the noxious weed hounds <br />tongue (Cynoglossum officina/e). <br />Total vegetation cover in the affected portion of the Sagebrush vegetation type was 49.6 percent <br />(Table 3), while standing dead, litter, bare soil, and rock 2.5, 26.9, 20.7 and 0.24 percents, <br />respectively. By comparison, in the Seneca IlSagebrush Reference Area, total vegetation cover <br />was 67.1 percent (Table 13), while standing dead, litter, bare soil, and rock 3.4, 12.1, 17.4 and <br />0.0 percents, respectively. <br />Herbaceous biomass production averaged 979.6 pounds oven -dry per acre in the affected area <br />(Table 4) and 961.8 pounds oven -dry per acre in the reference area (Table 14). <br />Vegetation Descriptions — Qualitatively Described Types <br />• ALKALI MEADOW <br />(Photograph 44) <br />This vegetation type is found in alkaline drainage bottoms between hills largely dominated by the <br />Western Wheatgrass / Alkali Sagebrush vegetation type. Although soils within this mapping unit <br />are alkaline- affected, herbaceous biomass production is high. Native perennial graminoids are <br />the most abundant lifeform, and in particular these include those species adapted to / tolerant of <br />moderately high soil salt content. The most common among these species are western <br />wheatgrass, slender wheatgrass, foxtail barley (Criterion jubatum), Agassiz bluegrass, big <br />bluegrass (Poa ampla), and Nuttall alkaligrass (Puccinellia airoides). Introduced perennial <br />grasses are modestly abundant; they include meadow barley ( Criterion brachyantherum) and <br />common timothy. Some introduced annual and biennial forbs occur, these include burning -bush <br />(Bassia sieversiana) and tumbling orach (Atrip/ex rosea). <br />ALKALI SAGE / GREASEWOOD <br />(Photograph 45) <br />• 17 <br />