22 MISC. PUBLICATION 9 0, U. S. DEPT. OP AGRICULTURE 



They are most common on open ranges that are capable of support- 

 ing a grass cover when overgrazing is not a disturbing factor. 



OAK BRUSH 



Oak brush (Quercus) must be recognized as one of the most impor- 

 tant browse plants because of its very great abundance, especially 

 toward the southern part of the State. It is not highly palatable, con- 

 siderably less than half of its available portion being taken when more 

 palatable species are grazed as heavily as they should be. Yet oak 

 brush forms the main portion of the diet on vast stretches of range 

 because it so completely dominates all other species in abundance. 



Elder (Samhucus) is among the forage plants most palatable 

 for all classes of stock. They also rank foremost in hardihood, 

 being able to grow vigorously even though grazed to the ground 

 each year. 



WEEDS 



In the mountains the presence of weeds in abundance usually 

 signifies that natural conditions have been disturbed. This does 

 not mean that weeds do not have a place in nature's scheme on the 

 ranges, for even weeds that are classed as poor competitors of grass 

 and browse may be found growing on ranges that are not grazed 

 at all. There is good reason to believe that a few weed species are 

 fairly abundant even on areas on which the vegetative cover has 

 reached a climax. Fortunately these species are among the most 

 palatable plants and outclass all other weed species in forage value. 



BLUEBELL 



There are many species of bluebells (Mertensia) and there is much 

 difference in their value as forage plants. The large, succulent 

 species are the ones that rank high in forage value. They are relished 

 highly by sheep and by other classes of stock as well. They are especi- 

 ally valuable on sheep ranges because ewes produce a good flow of 

 milk when feeding on them. As they have extensive root -stalk 

 systems they do not need to rely entirely upon seed for reproduction. 



Several members of the carrot family are valuable from the forage 

 standpoint. 



Senecio serra, which is sometimes called tall groundsel and but- 

 terweed, has a wide distribution over the ranges, and is abundant, 

 hardy, and very palatable to sheep. Other weed species that 

 are more or less palatable and grow more or less abundantly 

 over the ranges are: Horse mint (Agastache urticifolia), common 

 yarrow (Achillea lanulosa), Engelmann's aster (Aster engelmanni) , 

 the geraniums (Geranium) , and white flowered skunk weed (Polemo- 

 niwn albiflorum) . 



METHODS OF RANGE-PLANT REPRODUCTION 



Range plants have several methods of reproduction. Some of them 

 reproduce only by seeds; others produce seeds and also send out 

 stems underground from the roots. Buds are formed on these 



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