30 



wheatgrass, Idaho fescue, needle-and-thread, blue grama, 

 prairie sand reedgrass {Calamovlt^a toYiglf^otla.] , sedges and 

 Junegrass were common grasses. Forbs included low ragweed 

 [Kmbfiodla. afitzm^A-i^oZ-ia) , yarrow, sweet clover {HzZ-llotui 

 o^^-icyinate.) fringed sagewort and many others. 



Riparian Series 



This vegetation type was found primarily along creekbottoms, 

 river bottoms, and coulee bottoms. Four subtypes were 

 defined within the riparian or creekbottom vegetation type. They 

 were deciduous tree, deciduous shrub, riparian grass and 

 pioneer forb subtypes. This vegetation type, because of its 

 small size, abundant vegetation for food and cover, and proximity 

 to water, is without doubt the single most important vegetation 

 type found in these study areas. 



(1) Deciduous Tree Subtype 



All areas which contained any of the three tree soecies, plains 

 Cottonwood {?opatu6 dzttold2.i>) , boxelder [Kczn. nQ.Qando] or 

 green ash {V fiax-inai> pQ.nn6(jlvan-ica] , were designated deciduous 

 tree subtypes (Figure 29). Understory vegetation Included 

 hawthorn {Cfiatazga-i iuacu^^znta] , chokecherry, buffaloberry 

 [Shzpe-fidia afigzntia] , snowberry, rose, currants (R^beA spp.) 

 and many grasses and forbs. 



(2) Deciduous Shrub Subtype 



This subtype occurred as dense shrub thickets (Figure 30). 

 Willow {Sallx spp.), chokecherry, wild plum {Pfianui ame/i-ccana) , 

 hawthorn, buffaloberry, snowberry, rose, and currant were the 

 primary species. None of the major tree species were present 

 in this vegetation subtype. A variety of grasses and forbs 

 were found. 



(3) Riparian Grass Subtype 



This vegetation type (Figure 31) had no tree or shrub overstory. 

 It occurred in creekbottoms, river bottoms and other mesic 

 areas. These grassy swales had many grass and forb species 

 including Kentucky bluegrass, sedges, Canada wild-rye [Elymai 

 canade.n6i6) and other EZymuA species, foxtail barley [Ho^dzam 

 j'ubatam) , several rushes (JuncuA spp.), several Poa spp. and 

 common cattail {Tijpha tatl^^otla] . 



(4) Pioneer Forb Subtype 



The "weed" community (Figure 32) was found in disturbed mesic 

 areas. It tended to be best developed along river bottoms but 

 was also found in washed out ponds in upland areas. Type of 

 sites include roadsides, coal spoil piles, abandoned gravel pits 

 and exposed mud flats. The species composition varies but 



c 



