This good condition example of Juniperus scopulorum/ Artemisia nova plant association, 

 a relatively uncommon vegetation type for Montana, has Agropyron spicatum as the 

 herbaceous layer dominant. 



Looking down the slope of an alluvial fan on east slope of Ruby Range in the vicinity of 

 Porier Canyon mouth; vast expanses of the fan's upper portion are composed of 

 calcai-eous outwash and support Artemisia nova/Agropyron spicatum in fair to good range 

 condition. 



An upper elevation, rolling teiTain stand of Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana/Festuca 

 idaJwensis in good to exellent condition, with F. idahoensis cover ranging from 40 to 

 60% and average A. tridentata cover about 25%. 



Artemisia tridentata ssp. tridentata/Agropyron smithii community type on subirrigated 

 teiTace; the low cover values for Elymus cinereus (and high values for weedy and 

 increaser species) point to it being a putative remnant on a site heavily impacted by past 

 and ongoing cattle use. 



Conditions of this high-elevation and windswept site approximate those of the high 

 subalpine as indicated by the presence of the Festuca idahoensis/Potentilla diver sifolia 

 plant association; F. idahoensis , Carex obtusata, and Koeleria macrantha are the 

 dominant graminoids. 



&' 



In the foreground is a site burned five years ago and supporting a lush Festuca 

 idahoensis-Agropyron spicatum c.t.; in the background is the unbumed climax 

 association, Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana/Festuca idahoensis. 



This marly, subirrigated wetland is dominated by Carex simuJata and C. praegracilis. 

 The next outer vegetation zone is characterized by Juncus balticus and Deschampsia 

 cespitosa and marked cattle induced hummocks. Standing water constitutes about 20% 

 of the surface. 



Close-up photograph of Townsendia florifer 



Habitat of Townsendia florifer and Oryzopsis contracta 



