NATIVE WOODY PLANTS OF THE UNITED STATES 63 
an indicator of overgrazing; direct seeding experiments with this species were 
unsuccessful in New Mexico; not poisonous to livestock. 
Observations: An important food of sage grouse; important winter food for 
elk, bighorn. Of high rank as forage for stock, the forage value increasing 
southward. 
Artemisia nova Nels. Small sagebrush. 
A. tridentata nova (Nels.) Hall and Clem. 
Range: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 18. 
Site: Dry, sun. 
Fruit: Achene. 
A small shrub; often occurs on shallow, stony soils. Of importance southward 
as forage for livestock. 
Artemisia parishii Gray. 
A. tridentata parishii (Gray) Hall and Clem. 
Range: 9, 10. 
Site: Dry, sun. 
Fruit: Achene. 
A small to usually large shrub; very much like A. tridentata and perhaps not 
specifically distinct ; resembles that species in practically all ecological aspects. 
For browse value refer to A. tridentata. 
Artemisia petrophila, see Artemisia bigelovit. 
Artemisia rigida (Gray) Nutt. Stiff sagebrush. 
A. trifida rigida Nutt. 
Range: 7, 8, 12. 
Site: Dry, sun. 
Fruit: Achene. 
A small shrub; very often occurs on lava outcrops. 
A locally valuable browse plant, particularly palatable to horses; fair sheep 
forage. 
Artemisia rothrockii Gray. 
A. tridentata rothrockii (Gray) Hall and Clem. 
Range: 4, 7, 8, 9, 10, 12, 138. 
Site: Dry, well-drained, sun. 
Fruit: Achene. 
A small shrub, usually confined to higher zones in the mountains. Browse 
value for livestock similar to that of A. tridentata. 
Artemisia spinescens Eaton. Bud sagebrush. 
Picrothamnus desertorum Nutt. 
Range: 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12. 
Site: Dry, well-drained, sun. 
Fruit: Achene. 
A small, spiny, much-branched, rigid shrub with crowded stems; occurs on 
alkaline soil and indicates alkali in the soil; root system very extensive; ex- 
tremely resistant to drought and overgrazing. An important forage for live- 
stock, but poisonous or fatal to calves when eaten in quantity. 
Artemisia tridentata Nutt. (pl. 4, B). - Big sagebrush, 
Range: As. 6, 76, 9.10) 1) 12, 13, 15. 
Site: Dry, well-drained, sun. 
Fruit: Achene, available in October. 
A small to large shrub, or in very good soil with plenty of water, a small 
tree; root system two storied with shallow fibrous, and deep-spreading roots; 
an indicator of deep soils largely free from aikali; seldom occurs on granitic 
soils; forms root sprouts to some extent; fairly rapid growing; direct seeding 
experiments with this species in New Mexico were unsuccessful; germination of 
seed 35 percent or less. 
Stomach records: Dusky grouse, sage grouse; black-tailed deer. Observa- 
tions: Columbian sharp-tailed grouse; mule deer, bighorn. A most important 
stock browse of special value in autumn and winter; variously reported as 
poor to excellent forage; however, it enables stockmen to carry enormous 
numbers of cattle through the winter months. Reported as mildly poisonous 
to sheep and horses but there appears to be no direct evidence of its toxicity. 
Artemisia trifida, see Artemisia tripartita. 
33772°—38——-5 
