surrounding slopes, such as Clematis liqusticifolia . Parietaria 

 pennsylvanica , and Ribes spp. This is an aggregate summary; no 

 single spring or stream necessarily contains all the species 

 listed. Also, many springs have been heavily trampled by cattle, 

 and the meadows, especially dry meadow, have been intensively 

 grazed so that Poa pratensis has replaced much of the native 

 vegetation. A grazed alkali meadow is present along a drainage in 

 North Cave Hills, dominated by Juncus balticus, Agrostis 

 stolonifera , and Triglochin concinnum . A few springs, e.g. Picnic 

 Spring, have well developed wet and dry meadows, but most are 

 heavily grazed. 



By contrast, some arid slopes in the Long Pines and south fringes 

 of the Slim Buttes contain badlands communities on barren, clay and 

 shale ridges and slumps. These sparsely-vegetated settings are 

 constantly eroding and do not have well-developed plant 

 associations, but Chrysothamnus nauseosus, Artemisia tridentata . 

 and Atriplex nuttallii are frequent shrubs. Sparse grass cover is 

 contributed by Aqropyron dasy stachyum , Distichlis stricta, and 

 occasionally Hordeum jubatum . Forbs include Eriogonum paucif lorum , 

 Oenothera caespitosa , Grindelia squarrosa . and Atriplex dioica. 

 This is an infrequent community in the study area that is more 

 widespread outside of National Forest boundaries. 



In a few areas, outcrops of soft sandstone are present on ridge 

 slopes and as abrupt tableland rims, with loose sand slopes below 

 that contain sparse amounts of Rumex yenosus, Lupinus pusillus , 

 Oryzopsis hymenoides . Yucca glauca , and Tradescantia occidentalis . 

 Portions of the summit of North Cave Hills contain rocky, gravelly 

 slopes and claypan balds with Chrysothamnus nauseosus , Hymenoxys 

 acaulis , Erigeron compositus , and Haplopappus armerioides . 

 Limestone outcrops have distinct communities that include 

 calciphilic forbs like Astragalus vexillif lexus , Senecio canus and 

 Hymenoxys acaulis . 



