VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Balsamorhiza sagittata | Arrowleaf Balsamroot 



WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE : 
NO-ENTRY


IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE : 
Arrowleaf balsamroot provides some degree of forage for cattle, sheep,
horses, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, and mule deer.  On spring ranges it is
an important and palatable forage because it greens up early [28].
Flowering heads are often preferred over the foliage [10].  Arrowleaf
balsamroot is utilized year-round but is more palatable during spring
and early summer when the foliage is succulent [31].


PALATABILITY : 
Arrowleaf balsamroot has fair palatability for all classes of livestock
and when green is especially palatable to domestic sheep [10,13,27,33].
Mule deer use arrowleaf balsamroot year-round [16].  It is a valuable
winter and spring forage for Rocky Mountain elk [15].  Deer mice prefer
the seeds [7].

The relish and degree of use shown by livestock and wildlife species for
arrowleaf balsamroot in several western states is rated as follows
[5,15,16,19]:

                          CO         MT         UT         WY    

Cattle                   Fair       Fair       Fair       Fair    
Sheep                    Good       Good       Good       Good
Horses                   Fair       Good       Poor       Good
Pronghorn                ----       ----       Fair       Poor
Elk                      ----       Excel.     Good       Good
Mule deer                ----       Excel.     Good       Good
White-tailed deer        ----       ----       ----       Good   
Small mammals            ----       Fair       Good       Fair
Small nongame birds      ----       Good       Good       Poor
Upland game birds        ----       Good       Good       Poor
Waterfowl                ----       ----       Poor       Poor


NUTRITIONAL VALUE : 
Arrowleaf balsamroot has been rated fair in energy value and poor in
protein value [5].  On a summer range in the River of No Return
Wilderness Area of Idaho, arrowleaf balsamroot was found to have
sufficient protein to meet requirements for domestic sheep during June
and July but was declining in August.  It exceeded required calcium
levels but did not meet the phosporus levels set by the National
Research Council [6].


COVER VALUE : 
The degree to which arrowleaf balsamroot provides environmental
protection during one or more seasons for wildlife species has been
rated as follows [5]:

                       MT      UT     WY

Pronghorn             ----    Poor   Poor
Elk                   Poor    Poor   Poor
Mule deer             Poor    Poor   Poor   
White-tailed deer     ----    ----   Poor
Small mammals         Fair    Good   Poor
Small nongame birds   Good    Good   Poor
Upland game birds     Good    Fair   Poor
Waterfowl             ----    Poor   Poor 


VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES : 
Arrowleaf balsamroot is rated as having high potential for revegetation
of oil shale or coal mined land, and stabilization of roadsides and
other critical areas [33].  In the Intermountain region it has only low
value for soil stabilization [24].

Arrowleaf balsamroot seed is commonly harvested by hand, but a combine
is often used if the terrain permits [22].  Seeds are usually cleaned
and sold at 95 percent purity with 40 percent germination [28].  Seeds
average 55,000 per pound (121,000/kg) at 100 percent purity [28].  Seeds
may be stored for 4 years with good viability [24].

Seed of arrowleaf balsamroot can be broadcast or drilled [24].  However,
because arrowleaf balsamroot is very slow growing, Wasser [33]
recommended drilling to separate it from more competitive species.  The
seedbed should be firm, and the seeds should be covered after planting
[28].  Fall or winter seeding is recommended [24].

Seedlings of arrowleaf balsamroot are persistant on adapted sites [24].
Seeds from a similar source should be used due to regional variation in
cold tolerance [33].
 
Following seeding, sites should not be grazed for at least two growing
seasons [28].  Establishment may take 5 to 10 years [24].  On the best
sites, plants may require 3 to 4 years to flower, and 7 to 8 years on
more arid sites [28].  When established, arrowleaf balsamroot is
competitive and compatible with other species [33].


OTHER USES AND VALUES : 
In the past, young stalks, roots, and seeds were used as food by Native
Americans [20].


MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS : 
Recently established stands of arrowleaf balsamroot or stands used for
seed collection should be protected from grazing [28].  Grazing reduces
the seed production for natural spread and also retards seedling
development [24].

Established balsamroot is strongly tolerant of grazing [33].  Plummer
and others [22] recommended grazing only 50 percent of its foliage.

Related categories for Species: Balsamorhiza sagittata | Arrowleaf Balsamroot