IMPORTANT WESTERN BROWSE PLANTS . 9 
In California one of the species, bluebrush (C. integerrimus), is prac- 
tically without question the most important browse plant in the 
State. 
The oak family (Fagaceae) is of western forage significance 
primarily because of the vast stretches of shrubby or low-arborescent 
oaks that form distinct types on numerous western ranges. While 
not of the highest palatability, perhaps on account of the large per- 
centage of tannin, these low oaks because of sheer abundance become 
of great importance in the carrying capacity of not a few ranges. 
The honeysuckle family (Caprifoliaceae) provides a large num- 
ber of woody genera that are more or less grazed, perhaps the most 
important of which are the snowberries and coralberries (Symphori- 
carpos spp.) and the elders (Sambucus spp.). The former are of 
especial importance on sheep range, particularly in the Rocky Moun- 
tain and Great Basin regions; the elders are chiefly palatable in the 
fall, after frost. 
The willow family (Salicaceae) contains two genera only, the 
willows (Salix) and poplars, cottonwoods, and aspens (Populus). 
This coterie of woody plants is especially characteristic of the 
moister soils and furnishes a great amount of palatable browse. 
The heath family (Ericaceae) is a large and important group of 
shrubs and trees occurring on western ranges. It is confined, how- 
ever, to acid soils and range interest is primarily in the genera that 
are poisonous to livestock. Here belong the azaleas, rhododendrons, 
menziesias, Labrador-teas, staggerbushes, and various other toxic 
genera popularly and promiscuously termed “laurels.” Two genera, 
the manzanitas (Arctostaphylos) and the madrones, or true arbu- 
tuses (Arbutus) have a certain degree of forage value in some re- 
stricted localities. A related family (united to the heaths by the 
older botanists), the huckleberry (Vacciniaceae), seems to be quite 
innocuous, and a few huckleberries have a slight local forage 
importance. 
Other plant groups that furnish shrubs of forage value on some 
western ranges include the jointfir family (Gnetaceae), to which 
the jointfirs, or Mormon-teas (Ephedra) belong; dragon-tree (Dra- 
caenaceae) (which includes the yuccas and which many botanists 
prefer to merge in the Liliaceae or ily family) and the cacti (Cacta- 
ceae), of value as emergency stock feed in the arid Southwest; birch 
family (Betulaceae), the birches, hazels, and alders furnishing sec- 
ondary browse on some ranges; buckwheat family (Polygonaceae), 
the flower clusters, dry fruits, and occasionally leaves and young 
stalks of some shrubby eriogonums being palatable to sheep; hydran- 
gea family, including cliffbush (Edwinia) and the fendleras (espe- 
cially of the Southwest), the latter genus (Fendlera) being cropped 
considerably on goat and cattle ranges; the gooseberry family 
(Grossulariaceae), currants and gooseberries being abundant, widely 
distributed, and not infrequently moderately palatable; the box fam- 
ily (Buxaceae) on account of the important southwestern shrub 
jojoba (Simmondsia) ; the cashew family (Anacardiaceae) because 
of the fair palatability of some sweet sumachs (Schmaltzia, or Rhus 
spp.) ; the maples (Acer spp.) ; the shrubby bushmints (Hyptis) and 
sages (Salvia) of the mint family (Menthaceae) occurring in Cali- 
fornia, the Great Basin, and the Southwest; and the figwort family 
