Distribution and habitat: Winterfat is most abundant on lower foothills, plains, 

 and valleys with dry subalkaline soils in Utah, Nevada, Arizona, and New Mexico. In 

 the Great Basin, it often occurs in pure stands over thousands of hectares (Benson and 

 Darrow 1944), and is an important component over millions of hectares of the salt desert 

 shrub type (fig. 32). Winterfat ranges from Canada through the Great Basin and Rocky 

 Mountain States to Mexico, and from California and Washington eastward to Texas and 

 North Dakota (Branson 1966). It also grows over a wide range of altitudes. In Utah, 

 it occurs from the lower Sonoran zone to the Alpine ridges. Dwarf forms usually occur 

 on desert floors, on areas of high salt concentration, and on high mountain tops. The 

 larger forms occur on alluvial fans, foothills, and mesas on ponderosa pine and 

 juniper-pinyon sites. 



Use: Winterfat is a superior nutritious winter browse for livestock and big game. 

 Sheep, cattle, antelope, elk, deer, and even rabbits utilize it (fig. 33). Except for 

 the woody base and larger stems, the plant is edible. Oi'ergrazing has greatly reduced 

 and even eliminated winterfat on some areas, even though it is relatively tolerant to 

 grazing. Winterfat is potentially one of the most useful shrubs for planting to in- 

 crease cover and forage on alkaline soils of desert ranges in Utah and adjacent States 

 where the average annual precipitation is less than 25 cm (10 inches) . Sampson and 

 Jespersen (1965) give vvFinterfat a browse rating of excellent to good for cattle and 

 sheep; excellent to fair for goats; good to fair for deer; and fair for horses. 



The species is a good natural increaser and should be highly useful for stabiliza- 

 tion in areas where it naturally occurs. Good stands have resulted from broadcasting 

 utricles on such areas. 



Figtcfe 32. — Pure stand of winterfat on a fine silty soil at Desert Eange Experiment 

 Station, Millard County, Utah. 



26 



