during this project. Habitats range from relatively dry 

 montane grasslands on the flats above the canyon walls to 

 wetter forests and shady canyon walls, and include ecotones 

 between these extremes. The flora of the upper rock walls and 

 canyon rim is characterized by limestone loving plants such as 

 Chielanthes feei (lipfern) , Happlopappus acaulis (cushion 

 goldenweed) , and Selaginella densa (selaginella) . The 

 woodlands range from moist Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas fir) 

 dominated forests with an understory of Physocarpus malvaceous 

 (ninebark) and mosses, to dryer more open woods with a mixture 

 of Pseudotsuga and Pinus flexilis with an understory of shrubs 

 and grasses. These dry woods grade into pristine grasslands, 

 (perhaps the most significant botanical feature of the park) , 

 dominated by Elymus spicatus (bluebunch wheatgrass) , Festuca 

 idahoensis (Idaho fescue) , Oryzopsis hymenoides (Indian 

 ricegrass) , and Stipa comata (needle and thread) . These 

 grasslands host a large number of native plant species. 

 Wetter montane meadows in juxtaposition with the Pseudotsuga 

 forests are dominated by forbs such as Campanula rotundifolia 

 (harebell) , Geranium spp. (geraniums) , Monarda fistulosa (bee 

 balm) , Helianthella quinquenervis (little sunflower) , and 

 Perideridia gairdneri (yampah) . Weeds are not a big problem 

 at the park except around the parking area, trails, and picnic 

 tables where the following exotic species were seen (some of 

 them undoubtedly planted) : Alyssum desertoirum (alyssum) , 

 Bromus inermis (smooth brome) , Bromus secalinus (cheat) , 

 Bromus tectorum (downy brome) , Dactylis glomerata 

 (orchardgrass) , Glycyrrhiza lepidota (licorice), Lactuca 

 seriola (prickly lettuce) , Melilotus officinale (sweetclover) , 

 Phleum pratense (timothy) , Sisymbrium altissimum (tumble 

 mustard) , Lychnis alba (white campion) , and Verbascum thapsus 

 (mullein) . Although no MPSSC were located there may be some 

 potential of the wetter forests hosting Cypripedium calceolus 

 or Adoxa moschatellina , species found in these habitats 

 elsewhere in Stillwater County. Due to the high quality 

 native habitats in the park it is suggested that weed control 

 be confined to the weedy developed areas (Figure 4) where a 

 carefully implemented program (including seeding with native 

 species) could help enhance the native flora. A complete 

 floristic inventory of the park would be useful for 

 determining the status of the above mentioned MPSSC and as a 

 tool for public interpretation of this scenic area. 



Pictograph Caves State Par)c 



This is another example of a park with a significant (if 

 not pristine) native plant community. Located along sandstone 

 rimrock, the site has a spectrum of microhabitats ranging from 

 shady and cool to open and hot. The cliffs host tree species 

 including Acer negundo (boxelder) , Pinus ponderosa (ponderosa 

 pine) , and Populus deltoides (cottonwood) with a somewhat 

 troublesome understory of Clematis ligusticifolia (virgin's 

 bower) , Hummulus lupulus (hops) , and Toxicodendron rydbergii 



19 



