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This vegetation type is located in small toeslope areas where alkaline conditions prevail. It has <br />40 relatively sparse plant cover. Alkali sagebrush is the most abundant shrub. Black greasewood <br />(Sarcobatus vermiculatus) has limited cover. Native perennial grasses include western <br />wheatgrass and smaller amounts of Junegrass (Koeleria macrantha) and Agasssiz bluegrass. <br />Native perennial forbs are less important and they include western yarrow, groundsmoke, <br />curlycup gumweed, stemless goldenweed and meadow aster (Virgulus campestris). The <br />introduced perennial (orbs encountered in this vegetation type include devil's shoestrings <br />(Polygonum aviculare) and common dandelion (Taraxacum officinale. Native annual and biennial <br />forbs are represented by Douglas knotweed (Polygonum douglasii). <br />ASPEN FOREST <br />(Photographs 67 -68) <br />Within the area potentially to be affected by surface facilities development and operation, the <br />Aspen Forest vegetation type is small and hence is described qualitatively here. The mapping <br />unit is dominated by the deciduous, clonal tree quaking aspen. The native shrub component is <br />extensive and is usually comprised primarily of Saskatoon serviceberry, black chokecherry, and <br />mountain snowberry. Other commonly occurring shrubs include Rocky Mountain maple (Acer <br />• glabrum) and gooseberry (Ribes inerme). As is typical of aspen in western Colorado, the native <br />perennial forbs lifeform (comprising most of the understory) is relatively abundant and diverse, <br />including western yarrow, nettle -leaf giant hyssop (Agastache urticifolia), white - flower peavine <br />(Lathyrus leucanthus), chiming bells (Mertensia ciliata), western aniseroot (Osmorhiza <br />occidentalis), cutleaf coneflower (Rudbeckia ampla), meadow -rue (Thalictrum fendlen), edible <br />valerian (Valeriana edulis), and American vetch (Vicia americana). The native perennial cool <br />season grass component is often comprised of elk sedge, blue wildrye (Elymus glaucus), and <br />Agassiz bluegrass. Other common native perennial cool season grasses include onion -grass <br />(Bromelica spectabilis), Porter brome (Bromopsis porter), slender wheatgrass, and fowl <br />bluegrass. Introduced perennial cool season grasses are usually only erratically present, being <br />mostly confined to a few stands where horses or other livestock may have been quartered and <br />fed with hay from meadows planted to European species. Common timothy is the most common, <br />but occasional occurrences of smooth brome or orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata) are <br />encountered. Annual forbs in this heavily shaded area are also relatively sparse, but may include <br />Richardson tansymustard (Descurainia incana) or oak -leaf goosefoot (Chenopodium foliosum). <br />• 18 <br />