6G 



SEDGE8. 



TLe list of sedges is a long oue, more tbau a liumlred different kinds 

 being found in tlie IJoek}^ Mountain region. Tliej- furnisli a better 

 quality of forage, as a rule, than that obtained from the rushes. Some 

 of the species grow on dry prairies and hillsides, but the majority pre- 

 fer the moister soils of the valleys and lowlands. Sedges form a con- 

 spicuous part of the vegetation of the meadows and moist mountain 

 sides at the higher altitudes. Some of the species are small and are of 

 value only as pasturage, but many others are of sufficient size to yield a 

 large amount of hay which compares favorably in cjuality with that 

 obtained from grasses growing in similar situations. 



On the dry uplands, thread-leafed sedge [Corcv ^fili/oJia). often also 

 called "wire-grass," and dwarf sedge (C steuophyUa) furnish pastur- 

 age, the former being very abundant on dry ridges in some localities 

 and highly prized by stockmen. Dwarf sedge is often plentiful in dry 

 meadows, where it is larger than on the uplands. In swales and dry 

 meadows silvery-top sedge (C. Hccata), clustered lield-sedge {C. mar- 

 eid(t), and Douglas sedge {C. floiif/Jasii) are of considerable value for 

 both hay and pasturage. There are a great many different forms of 

 the Douglas sedge, some of them large and affording a good yield of 

 hay, and others too small for anything but pasturage. The species 

 is one of the most abundant in the sections nearer the mountains and 

 also ascends to the higher altitudes. Brown-top sedge {C. /est ic a) is 

 also abundant and valuable, but usually occurs in moister situations 

 than the last. In wet, boggy meadows tlie sedges sometimes compose 

 more of the vegetation than do the grasses. This is particmlarly the 

 case at the higher altitudes or above 7,000 or 8,000 feet. The species 

 most commonly found in these meadows are tussock sedge {C. strlcta), 

 bottle sedge (C. utricnlata, and var. minor), Nebraska sedge {C. nehras- 

 liensis), woolly-fruited sedge (C. lannr/inosa), and giant sedge {C. aris- 

 fata). All produce a relatively large amount of leafage, and when cut 

 in proper season aft'ord hay of average quality. 



MISCELLANEOUS NATIVE FORAGE PLANTS. 



There are many miscellaneous plants native to this region that lielp 

 to make up the general forage supply. These are mostly plants that 

 the uninforn)ed individual would regard as weeds, but Avhich. under 

 the conditions prevailing on the range, form an important part of the 

 annual supply of stock feed. On the i)lains and foothills this vegeta- 

 tion consists very largely of the various kinds of "sage'' and saltworts, 

 j)lants characteristic of the arid and semiarid West. In the mountains 

 it consists mainly of shrubby willows, mountain mahogany, shrubby 

 ciniiuefoil, and i)urshia. There is a great variety of plants called 

 "sage" on the range, as, for example, the bitter sages, or "sage-brush" 

 {Artemisia S])p.)| green sages, or "rabbit-brush" {Bigelovia spp.); salt- 

 sage {Atriple.v spp.); sweet sage, or winterfat {Eurotia Janata), etc. 



