172 MISC. PUBLICATION 101, U. S. DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE 
Estafiata has been analyzed in the Bureau of Chemistry and Soils, 
as follows: 
Per cent 
Moisture 2222 ae a 5. 31 
ASPs oh ee a oe 4. 94 
Either ‘ex tracts a Se ee 6. 32 
Crude fiber 22S a ple Rs cn 382. 05 
Crude protein: 22-22 52. Se a ie een 9 22 
Nitrogen-fréeerextract._ 3352535232 8 eS Se eee 42.16 
BSG pe no ss Sc 2) ee ee os 100. 00 
Pentosams2- 2228 ee eet 15. 58 
If the above analysis is compared with average analyses, say, 
of alfalfa and timothy hay, estafiata appears rather low in ash and 
nitrogen-free extract, fair but much below alfalfa in protein, rather 
high in crude fiber, and high in ether extract. In other words, 
Artemisia frigida is a moderately nutritious feed, and probably one 
of a more fattening than of a body-building or energy-producing 
sort. 
Estafiata is perhaps our nearest American relative to the Old 
World common wormwood (A. absinthium), from which commer- 
cial oil of wormwood and the intoxicant absinthe are derived. 
Apparently, however, there is no reason for listing our American 
species as a poisonous plant. Schneider (21S) states that this shrub 
is “much used in the Rocky Mountain region, as a diuretic, 
diaphoretic and mild cathartic,’ and that “it perhaps contains a 
glucoside.” 
Bud sagebrush (A. spinescens, syn. Picrothamnus desertorum) 1s 
a unique species of the genus variously known as bud brush, bud- 
sage (the term bud referring to the conspicuous bud or buttonlke, 
clustered flower heads), button sage(brush), desert sage(brush), 
horse sage(brush), and spiny sage(brush). It is a low rounded 
aromatic prickly or spiny twigged shrub or undershrub, about 4 to 
90 inches high, occurring in desert habitats of the Great Basin, 
Southwest, eastern borders of California, southeastern Oregon, and 
southern Idaho. 
Bud sagebrush occurs in neutral, calcareous or somewhat alkaline 
soil, and probably never grows in acid situations. The dark green 
delicately dissected foliage, tender young stems, and yellowish buds 
and inflorescence form an important item in the forage crop of the 
arid wastes of the regions it typically inhabits. It is about the 
earliest feed accessible on some of these ranges and is. particularly 
esteemed on lambing grounds and as early sheep feed. W. C. 
Barnes quotes sheepmen to the effect that bud sagebrush makes the 
lambs’ mouths sore until they get a little hardened to it. It has been 
noted in the Challis National Forest region of Idaho as high as 5,400 
feet, and is there reported to be fairly common on the lower range 
and a fairly good or good horse browse. In parts of the Wasatch 
Mountains region it is deemed to be the premier winter sheep for- 
age. ‘The plant has a remarkable root system, and it is almost 
impossible for drought or overgrazing to kill it out. Aven Nelson 
(92) regards it as one of the main sheep browses of the Red Desert. 
Despite the browse value of this species, above stated, investiga- 
tions by Fleming (35) indicate that bud sagebrush, if fed in quan- 
SA tN Dy i Sa A ae ac a a tiny te ea el 2. 
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