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Wildlife, Animals, and Plants
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Introductory
SPECIES: Artemisia bigelovii | Bigelow Sagebrush
ABBREVIATION :
ARTBIG
SYNONYMS :
Artemisia petrophila
SCS PLANT CODE :
NO-ENTRY
COMMON NAMES :
Bigelow sagebrush
flat sagebrush
slender gray sagebrush
TAXONOMY :
The fully documented scientific name of Bigelow sagebrush is Artemisia
bigelovii Gray [1,12,15,20,23]. There are no recognized subspecies,
varieties, or forms.
LIFE FORM :
Shrub
FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS :
NO-ENTRY
OTHER STATUS :
NO-ENTRY
COMPILED BY AND DATE :
D. Tirmenstein, September 1986
LAST REVISED BY AND DATE :
D. Tirmenstein, January 1988
AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION :
NO-ENTRY
DISTRIBUTION AND OCCURRENCE
SPECIES: Artemisia bigelovii | Bigelow Sagebrush
GENERAL DISTRIBUTION :
Bigelow sagebrush occurs from western Texas to southern California and
northward into Colorado and Utah [12,20,23]. It grows discontinuously
within this region, mainly in the Colorado River drainage and in
portions of the San Juan, Little Colorado, upper Rio Grande, Pecos,
Canadian, and Arkansas River drainages [1].
ECOSYSTEMS :
FRES29 Sagebrush
FRES30 Desert shrub
FRES35 Pinyon - juniper
FRES40 Desert grasslands
STATES :
AZ CA CO NM NV TX UT
ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS :
ARCH CACH CANY CARE CHCU COLO
DEVA GLCA GRCA LAME NABR WUPA
BLM PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS :
6 Upper Basin and Range
7 Lower Basin and Range
11 Southern Rocky Mountains
12 Colorado Plateau
13 Rocky Mountain Piedmont
KUCHLER PLANT ASSOCIATIONS :
K023 Juniper - pinyon woodland
K038 Great Basin sagebrush
K039 Blackbrush
K040 Saltbush - greasewood
K055 Sagebrush steppe
K057 Galleta - three awn shrubsteppe
Disturbed areas
SAF COVER TYPES :
238 Western juniper
239 Pinyon - juniper
SRM (RANGELAND) COVER TYPES :
NO-ENTRY
HABITAT TYPES AND PLANT COMMUNITIES :
Bigelow sagebrush has not been reported as a climax indicator in
sagebrush (Artemisia spp.)-grassland or other habitat types. However,
it is a common constituent of several climax sagebrush-grassland and
pinyon (Pinus spp.)-juniper (Juniperus spp.) habitat types [1,11].
Bigelow sagebrush is typically associated with big sagebrush (Artemisia
tridentata), black sagebrush (A. nova), rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus
spp.), shadscale, (Atriplex confertifolia), and broom snakeweed
(Gutierrezia sarothrae) [9].
VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Artemisia bigelovii | Bigelow Sagebrush
WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE :
NO-ENTRY
IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE :
Bigelow sagebrush is palatable to wildlife and livestock wherever it
occurs. It is a valuable browse plant, especially on winter and early
spring ranges [6,9]. Bigelow sagebrush is more herbaceous, has a milder
odor, and tastes less bitter than most other species in the big
sagebrush complex [9]. It is not normally an important food source
because plants are typically scattered [11].
PALATABILITY :
Bigelow sagebrush is palatable to most livestock and wildlife species.
The palatability and degree of use by livestock and wildlife for Bigelow
sagebrush in Utah is as follows [3]:
Cattle Fair
Sheep Good
Horses Poor
Pronghorn Fair
Elk Poor
Mule deer Fair
Small mammals Fair
Small nongame birds Fair
Upland game birds Good
Waterfowl Poor
NUTRITIONAL VALUE :
Bigelow sagebrush is rated as fair in both energy and protein value [3].
COVER VALUE :
The low-growing Bigelow sagebrush provides some cover for smaller birds and
mammals. Cover value ratings for Utah wildlife are as follows [3]:
Pronghorn Poor
Elk Poor
Mule deer Poor
Small mammals Fair
Small nongame birds Fair
Upland game birds Fair
Waterfowl Fair
VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES :
Bigelow sagebrush has low potential for use in long- and short-term
revegetation [3]. Although some authorities report that Bigelow
sagebrush has relatively low potential for erosion control [3], others
rate this species as having moderate value for soil stabilitzation
projects [14]. It is moderately adapted to growth on many types of
disturbed sites [14].
Bigelow sagebrush spreads well through natural seedings [14]. Seed
production and handling characteristics are described as "medium" in
comparison to other shrub species [14]. Bigelow sagebrush seedlings
grow well when transplanted [14].
OTHER USES AND VALUES :
NO-ENTRY
MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS :
Bigelow sagebrush typically grows in extremely arid environments where
forage is scarce and is thus seldom grazed [1]. In those areas where it
is subjected to heavy grazing pressure, it persists longer than
associated perennial grasses but does not appear to increase in response
to grazing [1].
BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Artemisia bigelovii | Bigelow Sagebrush
GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS :
Bigelow sagebrush is an extremely drought-resistant, low-growing
subshrub [1,18]. It is woody only at the base and typically reaches 8
to 16 inches (20-40 cm) in height [11,13]. Narrow, cuneate, deciduous
leaves are shed in winter [1]. Bigelow sagebrush is the only species in
the subgenus Tridentatae to have ray flowers in addition to perfect disk
flowers [10]. It closely resembles big sagebrush which has assumed a
low growth form in response to overgrazing or burning, but has more
sharply dentate leves, less woody twigs, and a milder odor [9,22].
Ecotypic variation and hybridization have not been documented for
Bigelow sagebrush.
RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM :
Phanerophyte
REGENERATION PROCESSES :
Bigelow sagebrush produces seed in abundance. Cleaned seed averages
2,710,000 per pound (5,975 per gram) [9]. Time of seed-shedding,
germination rate, and dispersal mechanisms are not documented. Bigelow
sagebrush does not reproduce vegetatively. Natural spread by seed is
reported to be "very good" [14].
SITE CHARACTERISTICS :
Bigelow sagebrush occurs in canyons, draws, and dry gravel flats from
3,000 to 8,000 feet (900-2,400 m) [6,11]. Growth is best on sandy loam,
clay loam, or loam soils, but it also grows on the shallow, rocky soils
of the southern pinyon-juniper woodlands [3,11]. Bigelow sagebrush grows
particulary well on alkaline soils [14].
Elevational ranges for Colorado and Utah are as follows [3]:
from 4,300 to 6,000 ft. (1,312-1,830 m) in CO
3,200 to 6,700 ft. (976-2,044 m) in UT
SUCCESSIONAL STATUS :
Bigelow sagebrush occurs in a number of climax sagebrush-grassland and
pinyon-juniper communities. In undisturbed areas it is a dominant
species on all sites where it is present [1]. It also grows in many
early seral communties depending on the type and severity of disturbance
[1].
SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT :
New growth of Bigelow sagebrush begins in early April [1]. Flowering
dates are listed below [3]:
State Beginning of flowering End of flowering
CO June September
UT August September
In the Southwest, flowering occurs from August to October [12,15,20].
The timing of seed-shedding and germination has not been determined.
FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Artemisia bigelovii | Bigelow Sagebrush
FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS :
Bigelow sagebrush is severely damaged or killed by fire [8]. Burned
areas are reoccupied through seed [24]. Bigelow sagebrush does not
sprout after fire or other disturbance [21,24].
POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY :
Initial-offsite colonizer (off-site, initial community)
Secondary colonizer - off-site seed
FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Artemisia bigelovii | Bigelow Sagebrush
IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT :
Bigelow sagebrush is severely damaged or killed by fire [8].
DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT :
NO-ENTRY
PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE :
Bigelow sagebrush typically decreases after fire. Recovery is slow with
reoccupation either through on-site or wind-borne seed. Little is
documented concerning the germination requirements or seedling
establishment of Bigelow sagebrush. The timing of burn may influence
recovery rates of many shrubs in sagebrush-grassland communities [24].
DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE :
NO-ENTRY
FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS :
NO-ENTRY
REFERENCES
SPECIES: Artemisia bigelovii | Bigelow Sagebrush
REFERENCES :
1. Beetle, A. A. 1960. A study of sagebrush: The section Tridentatae of
Artemisia. Bulletin 368. Laramie, WY: University of Wyoming,
Agricultural Experiment Station. 83 p. [416]
2. Bernard, Stephen R.; Brown, Kenneth F. 1977. Distribution of mammals,
reptiles, and amphibians by BLM physiographic regions and A.W. Kuchler's
associations for the eleven western states. Tech. Note 301. Denver, CO:
U.S. Department of the Interior, Bureau of Land Management. 169 p.
[434]
3. Dittberner, Phillip L.; Olson, Michael R. 1983. The plant information
network (PIN) data base: Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, Utah, and
Wyoming. FWS/OBS-83/86. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of the Interior,
Fish and Wildlife Service. 786 p. [806]
4. Eyre, F. H., ed. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and
Canada. Washington, DC: Society of American Foresters. 148 p. [905]
5. Garrison, George A.; Bjugstad, Ardell J.; Duncan, Don A.; [and others].
1977. Vegetation and environmental features of forest and range
ecosystems. Agric. Handb. 475. Washington, DC: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service. 68 p. [998]
6. Johnson, Kendall L. 1987. Sagebrush types as ecological indicators to
integrated pest management (IPM) in the sagebrush ecosystem of western
North America. In: Onsager, Jerome A., ed. Integrated pest management on
rangeland: State of the art in the sagebrush ecosystem. ARS-50.
Washington, DC: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research
Service: 1-10. [2841]
7. Kuchler, A. W. 1964. Manual to accompany the map of potential vegetation
of the conterminous United States. Special Publication No. 36. New York:
American Geographical Society. 77 p. [1384]
8. McArthur, E. Durant. 1981. Shrub selection and adaptation for
rehabilitation plantings. In: Proceedings--shrub establishment on
disturbed arid and semi-arid lands symposium; 1980 December 2-3;
Laramie, WY. Laramie, WY: Wyoming Game and Fish Department: 1-8. [1565]
9. McArthur, E. Durant; Blauer, A. Clyde; Plummer, A. Perry; Stevens,
Richard. 1979. Characteristics and hybridization of important
Intermountain shrubs. III. Sunflower family. Res. Pap. INT-220. Ogden,
UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest
and Range Experiment Station. 82 p. [1571]
10. McArthur, E. Durant; Pope, C. Lorenzo. 1975. Genetic studies in section
Tridentatae of Artemisia. In: Stutz, Howard C., ed. Wildland shrubs:
Proceedings-- symposium and workshop; 1975 November 5-7; Provo, Utah.
Provo, Utah: Brigham Young University: 164-165. [1576]
11. McArthur, E. Durant; Stevens, Richard. 1986. Composite shrubs.
Unpublished manuscript on file at: U.S. Department of Agriculture,
Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Labortory,
Missoula, MT. 155 p. [7342]
12. Munz, Philip A. 1974. A flora of southern California. Berkeley, CA:
University of California Press. 1086 p. [4924]
13. Nickerson, Mona F.; Brink, Glen E.; Feddema, Charles, compilers. 1977.
Principal range plants of the central and southern Rocky Mountains:
names and symbols. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-20. Fort Collins, CO: U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and
Range Experiment Station. 121 p. [1752]
14. Plummer, A. Perry. 1977. Revegetation of disturbed Intermountain area
sites. In: Thames, J. C., ed. Reclamation and use of disturbed lands of
the Southwest. Tucson, AZ: University of Arizona Press: 302-337. [171]
15. Powell, A. Michael. 1988. Trees & shrubs of Trans-Pecos Texas including
Big Bend and Guadalupe Mountains National Parks. Big Bend National Park,
TX: Big Bend Natural History Association. 536 p. [6130]
16. Raunkiaer, C. 1934. The life forms of plants and statistical plant
geography. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 632 p. [2843]
17. Stickney, Peter F. 1989. Seral origin of species originating in northern
Rocky Mountain forests. Unpublished draft on file at: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Fire
Sciences Laboratory, Missoula, MT; RWU 4403 files. 7 p. [20090]
18. Tisdale, E. W.; Hironaka, M. 1981. The sagebrush-grass region: a review
of the ecological literature. Bull. 33. Moscow, ID: University of Idaho,
Forest, Wildlife and Range Experiment Station. 31 p. [2344]
19. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Soil Conservation Service. 1982.
National list of scientific plant names. Vol. 1. List of plant names.
SCS-TP-159. Washington, DC. 416 p. [11573]
20. Vines, Robert A. 1960. Trees, shrubs, and woody vines of the Southwest.
Austin, TX: University of Texas Press. 1104 p. [7707]
21. Walton, Todd P.; White, Richard S.; Wambolt, Carl L. 1986. Artemisia
reproductive strategies: a review with emphasis on plains silver
sagebrush. In: McArthur, E. Durant; Welch, Bruce L., compilers.
Proceedings--symposium on the biology of Artemisia and Chrysothamnus;
1984 July 9-13; Provo, UT. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-200. Ogden, UT: U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research
Station: 67-74. [2447]
22. Ward, George H. 1953. Artemisia, section Seriphidium, in North America:
a cytotaxonomic study. Contributions from the Dudley Herberium.
Stanford, CA: Stanford University, Natural History Museum; 4(6):
155-205. [2454]
23. Welsh, Stanley L.; Atwood, N. Duane; Goodrich, Sherel; Higgins, Larry
C., eds. 1987. A Utah flora. Great Basin Naturalist Memoir No. 9. Provo,
UT: Brigham Young University. 894 p. [2944]
24. Wright, Henry A.; Neuenschwander, Leon F.; Britton, Carlton M. 1979. The
role and use of fire in sagebrush-grass and pinyon-juniper plant
communities: A state-of-the-art review. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-58. Ogden,
UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest
and Range Experiment Statio. 48 p. [2625]
Index
Related categories for Species: Artemisia bigelovii
| Bigelow Sagebrush
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