PLANT SUCCESSION AND RANGE MANAGEMENT. 



59 



dominating plants of the early-weed stage were practically identical 

 witli those reported in zone 2. Of the late- weed stage species the fol- 

 lowing were conspicuous : tongue-leaved violet, evening primrose, low 

 pea vine, Mexican dock, butterweed, plantain, sneezeweed, and false 

 cymopterus. These species, it will be recalled, have been listed as 

 characteristic forerunners of the more permanent species of the late- 



Yellow Brash and Meedle Grass 

 I I Mountain Elder 



Fig. 24. — Bed ground used for several successive years, showing zones of vegetation and 



range depletion. 



w^eed stage, a fact which is strongly substantiated in this instance. 

 While they are distinctly second-weed stage species, they may be 

 classed as transitional successionally between the early-weed stage 

 and the second-weed stage when the latter is characterized by 

 turfed plants, such as blue foxglove, sweet sage, and yarrow. 

 Only a small portion of the herbage in this belt is relished by sheep. 

 The feed is low in quality and unless cropped early in the season 

 has practically no forage value. 



