Biological characteristics 



1. Vegetation physiognomy and community structure—Sagebrush 

 grassland, generally with relatively dense cover of 

 sagebrush. There is usually much bare ground and occasionally 

 other shrub species are dominant. Before the advent of 

 grazing sagebrush was probably less common and the 

 bunchgrasses were dominant. 



2. Regional vegetation type--Sagebrush steppe (Kuchler 1364). 



3. Frequently associated species—Sagebrush ( Artemisia 

 tridentata ) is present at all sites. Rabbi tbrush 

 ( Chrysothamnus nauseosus ) is common at the Agency Creek site. 

 Black sagebrush ( Artemisia nova ) is common at the Bon Accord 

 site. Bluebunch wheatgrass ( Agropyron spicatum ), western 

 wheatgrass ( Agropyron smithii ) , needle-and-thread ( Stipa 

 comata ) , and Indian ricegrass ( Oryzopsis hymenoides ) are 



common associated grasses. Prickleypear ( Opuntia polyacantha ) , 

 snakeweed ( Gutierrezia sarothrae ), phlox ( Phi ox hoodii ) , and 

 fringed sage ( Artemisia figida ) are common associated forbs. 



4. Dominance and frequency— Astragalus sea pho ides is generally not 

 dominant, but at the Sheep Corral Gulch site it might be 

 considered a codominant forb. 



5. Successional phenomena— Unknown . 



6. Dependence on dynamic factors—None evident. A^_ scaphoides 

 seems to be a member of stable communities. 



7. Other endangered species — Penstemon lemhiensi s , a candidate for 

 federal status, occurs in the same general area but was ne\/ev 

 observed near populations of A. scaphoides . 



