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• many cases, [he shrubby specimens also eventually attain treelike proportions by <br />[he gradual growth of a few central and erect stems, and the subsequent dying out <br />of [he short and bushy growth. <br />Common serviceberry merits its position among the more valuable browse plants on <br />the western range, due to its wide distribution, palatability, and ready availa- <br />bility to Livestock. Throughout most of [he West, this plant ranks as fair to <br />fairly good forage for cattle and good for sheep, although in Colorado and on the <br />eastern side of the Rockies generally, it is usually poor [o fair feed for cattle <br />and fair to fairly good Eor sheep. On the average range, it is browsed chiefly <br />after midsummer, when the more palatable grasses and weeds have already been uti- <br />lized or matured, but on browse ranges, where it consi[utes a portion of the more <br />palatable forage, it is usually among the first species grazed. Common service- <br />berry withstands close use remarkable well. Repeated nipping of the shoot ends <br />induces a rather dense and bushy growth, which tends to protect the inner fol- <br />iage, and also permits the central stems to grow beyond the grazing height of <br />• ,livestock. After this height is attained, continued close use results in an <br />enlarged or treelike crown and [he gradual death of the bushy basal growth. Small <br />shrubs, entirely within grazing range are, of course, killed by continued close <br />use. <br />Deer and elk are particularly fond of common serviceberry. The juicy fruit is <br />palatable to man and eagerly devoured by birds, rodents and such larger wildlife <br />as bears. <br />Artemisia tridenta[a <br />(Big sagebrush) <br />Big sagebrush, locally known as black sage or blue sage, and often called simply <br />sage, or sagebrush, is a large deciduous shrub with silvery green leaves. It is <br />one of [he most widespread and most familiar species of Artemisia, i n addition to <br />being probably the most abundant shrub in western North America. The specific <br />name tridentata refers to [he three teeth at the apex of [he Leaf. The species <br />~• ranges from western Nebraska to Montana, British Columbia, easter n California, <br />Lower California, and northern New Mexico. Big sagebrush occurs as a major part <br />2-87 <br />