Figure 15. — Fenceline 



contrast which illus- 

 trates sheep browsing 

 on alkali sagebrush 



Utah. 



(A. longilobaj in Echo 

 Canyon, Summit Co., 



Distribution and habitat . --Unlike other sagebrushes, alkali sagebrush character- 

 istically grows in heavy, highly impermeable soils derived from highly alkaline shales, 

 but also it is frequently found on the lighter, limy soils. It occurs between 1,800 

 and 2,450 meters in elevation (5,900 to 8,000 feet) over 1,325,000 hectares (5,120 

 square miles) along the foothills of the ranges forming the Continental Divide from 

 southwestern Montana, south through Wyoming to northwestern Colorado, and scattered 

 westward to Utah, Nevada, Idaho, and Oregon (Beetle 1960) . 



Use. --Beetle (1960) reports that alkali sagebrush ranges are often used for lamb- 

 ing grounds. We have found this shrub heavily grazed in Echo Canyon, Utah, and around 

 Evanston, Wyoming (fig. 15). In this area A. longiloba is referred to as "sweet sage." 

 Brunner (1972) reported this species is not heavily used by browsing animals or sage 

 grouse in Nevada. 



Alkali sagebrush may be useful in rehabilitating basic mine spoils like those 

 produced from oil shale works. We have observed it invading road cuts in Echo Canyon, 

 Utah, and borrow pits near Kemmerer, Wyoming. 



Black sagebrush is a small, spreading, aromatic shrub 1.5 to 4.5 dm tall with a 

 dull grayish-tomentose vestiture that causes most populations to appear darker than 

 big sagebrush and low sagebrush (fig. 16) . However, some forms may be as light in 

 color as A. tridentata or A. arbusoula (Beetle 1960). Numerous erect branches arise 

 from a spreading base, but this shrub had not been observed to layer or stump sprout 

 (Beetle 1960) . However, we noted some layering of black sagebrush on a roadcut near 

 Kolob Reservoir, Washington Co., Utah. 



Typical leaves are evergreen, cuneate, viscid from a glandular pubescence, 0.5 to 

 2 cm long, 2 to 8 mm wide, and 3-toothed at the apex (fig. 5c). The uppermost leaves, 

 particularly on the flowering stems, may be entire. 



Flower heads are grouped into tall, narrow, spikelike panicles that extend above 

 the herbage (figs. 5c, 16, 17). The inflorescence stalks are red-brown and persistent. 

 The heads usually contain from 3 to 5 disc flowers with corollas 1.8 to 3 mm long. 

 The 8 to 12 involucral bracts are greenish-yellow and nearly glabrous. 



Artemisia nova Nelson (black sagebrush) 



17 



