KEY TO IMPORTANT WOODY PLANTS 207 



are not maintained by a winter diet of mostly sagebrush, despite its 

 rather high phosphorus and protein content. 



Artemisia tripartita 



Value of this species for domestic stock is very low. 



Atriplex spp. 



Flowers, leaves, and twigs of A. canescens have a good palatability 

 rating for all classes of livestock except horses. The seeds are highly 

 palatable. Deer freely use this shrub, especially on winter range. 

 A. canescens is considered as one of the better spring and winter feeds 

 for antelope. Nutritive value is high. There is speculation that elk 

 would use A. canescens and .4. confertifolia if the animals ever again 

 get into the sagebrush plains. 



Betula spp. 



The western species appear to be fairly palatable to livestock and 

 big game. 



Cassiope mertensiana 



This alpine plant may furnish forage for mountain goats. Known 

 to be nibbled by mountain sheep. 



Ceanothus integerrimus 



This species is good to excellent summer browse for domestic 

 livestock and probably a year-round food item for deer. Protein 

 content is fairly good, but declines about the time seed matures. 



Ceanothus prostratus 



Is of little forage value for any class of domestic livestock, but is one 

 of the species preferred by deer. Its protein content in summer is 

 rather good. 



Ceanothus sanguineus 



Both leaves and twigs are considered to have a fair to good palat- 

 abilitv for livestock. It is probably equal or better in palatability 

 than C. velvtinus for big game, but it is of lesser importance because 

 of its tendencv to grow out of reach of browsers and its lesser abun- 

 dance. Proper-use level suggested by some Idaho studies for C. 

 sanguineus is 60 percent where the shrub is grazed in late summer and 

 early fall. 

 Ceanothus velutinus 



Although this species is purported to be worthless for cattle and 

 horses and of onlv slight palatability for goats and sheep, domestic 

 livestock will consume it in fall and winter during a feed shortage. 

 Protein content of snowbrush, at least in the summer, is relatively 

 high. Deer will eat C. velutinus at any season and it is part of the elk 

 diet from late summer to spring. According to studies in eastern 

 Oregon and eastern Washington, the three most important species in 

 the winter diet of deer and elk are C. velutinus, Purshia tridentata, and 

 Cercocarpus ledifolius. According to clipping studies made in eastern 

 Oregon, the level of use for maximum sustained production of C. 

 velutinus on winter ranges is 35 to 40 percent. 



Celtis reticulata 



Is eaten by livestock where it occurs on then winter ranges. 



471H4 O-60-14 



