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Wildlife, Animals, and Plants
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Introductory
SPECIES: Artemisia longiloba | Alkali Sagebrush
ABBREVIATION :
ARTLON
SYNONYMS :
Artemisia spiciformis var. longiloba Osterhout
SCS PLANT CODE :
ARLO9
COMMON NAMES :
alkali sagebrush
early sagebrush
longleaf sagebrush
TAXONOMY :
The fully documented scientific name of early sagebrush is Artemisia
longiloba (Osterhout) Beetle [1,22].
LIFE FORM :
Shrub
FEDERAL LEGAL STATUS :
NO-ENTRY
OTHER STATUS :
NO-ENTRY
COMPILED BY AND DATE :
J. Hickerson August/1986
LAST REVISED BY AND DATE :
NO-ENTRY
AUTHORSHIP AND CITATION :
NO-ENTRY
DISTRIBUTION AND OCCURRENCE
SPECIES: Artemisia longiloba | Alkali Sagebrush
GENERAL DISTRIBUTION :
Early sagebrush occurs in foothills from southwestern Montana south
through Wyoming to northwestern Colorado, and scattered westward to
Utah, Nevada, Idaho, and Oregon [1].
ECOSYSTEMS :
FRES29 Sagebrush
FRES35 Pinyon - juniper
FRES36 Mountain grasslands
STATES :
CO ID MT NV OR UT WY
ADMINISTRATIVE UNITS :
CRMO FOBU
BLM PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS :
5 Columbia Plateau
6 Upper Basin and Range
11 Southern Rocky Mountains
16 Upper Missouri Basin and Broken Lands
KUCHLER PLANT ASSOCIATIONS :
K24 Juniper steppe woodland
K38 Great Basin sagebrush
K55 Sagebrush steppe
K63 Foothills prairie
SAF COVER TYPES :
239 Pinyon - juniper
SRM (RANGELAND) COVER TYPES :
NO-ENTRY
HABITAT TYPES AND PLANT COMMUNITIES :
Early sagebrush is an indicator species in certain locations on dry
rocky soils with a strongly developed claypan layer in the B horizon.
Associated species of early sagebrush are similar to those of low
sagebrush (Artemisia arbuscula). Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis) and
Thurber needlegrass (Stipa thurberiana) commonly occur with early
sagebrush and low sagebrush [23]. Publications listing early sagebrush
as a dominant or indicator species include:
Sagebrush-grass habitat types of southern Idaho [11]
Grassland and shrubland habitat types of western Montana [17]
Grassland and shrubland habitat types of the Shoshone National Forest [21]
Artemisia arbuscula, A. longiloba, and A. nova habitat types in northern
Nevada [24]
VALUE AND USE
SPECIES: Artemisia longiloba | Alkali Sagebrush
WOOD PRODUCTS VALUE :
NO-ENTRY
IMPORTANCE TO LIVESTOCK AND WILDLIFE :
Early sagebrush is not generally considered to be an important browse
species. Its browse value is listed as "intermediate" [1].
PALATABILITY :
Tweit and Houston [21] noted that early sagebrush may be slightly to
moderately browsed. In some areas, mountain and pronghorn browse it
heavily; it also provides food for small animals [21]. Dealy and others
[6] reported that it is not grazed in Nevada and is seldom eaten by sage
grouse.
NUTRITIONAL VALUE :
Early sagebrush has a more rapid seasonal drop in percent of crude
protein than other, later blooming sagebrush (Artemisia spp.) taxa [6].
COVER VALUE :
Some early sagebrush stands in good condition can provide cover for sage
grouse, pronghorn, and other wildlife, as well as livestock [15].
Typically, however, plant density is too low to offer much cover except
for small animals [6].
VALUE FOR REHABILITATION OF DISTURBED SITES :
Early sagebrush may be useful in rehabilitating basic mine spoils
produced from oil shale works [14].
OTHER USES AND VALUES :
Early sagebrush ranges are used for lambing grounds [14].
MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS :
The shallow, claypan soils in early sagebrush stands restrict drainage
and root growth, resulting in low productivity and limited use. Severe
trampling damage to supersaturated soils could occur if sites are used
in early spring when there is abundant snowmelt. Therefore, heavy
spring grazing should be avoided [3]. Also during early spring, frost
heaving, due to the saturated conditions, may adversely affect seedling
establishment [21].
Early sagebrush has an earlier phenology than most other sagebrush
species, and this could affect effectiveness of herbicidal control where
it is mixed with other species of sagebrush [11].
Early sagebrush sites which support an understory of bluebunch
wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata), Idaho fescue, or Thurber
needlegrass have shown increased productivity when treated with 2-4-D.
On sites in fair condition, these climax dominant perennial grasses
showed increased yields 2 years following treatment. There was a rapid
increase of Sandberg bluegrass 1 year after treatment. With this
control program, a grazing system allowing for seed production,
trampling to plant seed, and a nonuse period should be followed to
increase establishment of new plants in the interspaces. Spring grazing
capacity was also increased by brush control; therefore, treated areas
could withstand more livestock use earlier in spring than untreated
sites [7]. Eckert and Evans [7] noted that sites in poor condition
probably should not be treated for brush control unless use of annuals
could be controlled.
Spraying should be completed in early spring before vegetative growth is
completed. Early season spraying also causes less damage to broadleaf
herbs in the understory. Spraying was found to be no more detrimental
to broadleaf herbs than chaining, disking, or burning [16].
Chaining and disking have proved effective in reducing shrub density and
improving vigor of understory species. The physical alteration of soil
by these methods reduces shrub seedling establishment more than burning
or spraying does.
Disking is the most frequently used method and generally results in high
mortality of shrubs and understory herbs. Herb recovery requires a
longer period than with other treatments. If a significant reduction in
shrub density is desired to accomodate seeding, this method is
acceptable [16].
Simply protecting an area from livestock grazing without additional
treatment may be beneficial, but shrub density would change too slowly
for practical management purposes [16].
BOTANICAL AND ECOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS
SPECIES: Artemisia longiloba | Alkali Sagebrush
GENERAL BOTANICAL CHARACTERISTICS :
Early sagebrush is a dwarf shrub up to 17 inches tall (45 cm) with
numerous spreading branches which frequently layer. It has numerous,
large flowering heads. The whole plant is a dark gray green. The
leaves are broadly cuneate and are not persistent.
This shrub has been confused with silver sagebrush (A. cana) because of
the large flowering heads, big sagebrush (A. tridentata) because of the
broadly cuneate leaves, and low sagebrush because of the dwarf habit.
Yet early maturity, which prevents cross-breeding, and adaptation to
tight, heavy soils derived from alkaline shales distinguish early
sagebrush [1].
The name "alkali" sagebrush is misleading, because the shrub grows in
neutral soils as well as alkaline [18]; therefore, Blaisdell [5]
proposed "early" sagebrush as a more appropriate common name.
RAUNKIAER LIFE FORM :
Chamaephyte
REGENERATION PROCESSES :
Early sagebrush produces a large quantity of achenes which are shed in
August [1]. Vegetative expansion occurs through layering [3].
SITE CHARACTERISTICS :
Early sagebrush is adapted to drought conditions and is strongly
influenced by edaphic features [24]. Generally, it occurs in small,
sharply defined stands in shallow, poorly drained soils with dense clay
"B" horizons [20] at depths averaging 8 inches (20.3 cm) [21].
Early sagebrush forms pure stands adjacent to low sagebrush stands, bur
the two species also occur mixed. The species cannot be separated on
the basis of leaf form or florescence; the difference in phenology is
the most reliable characteristic to use to distinguish the two shrubs
[6].
The elevational distribution of early sagebrush is generally 5,900 to
8,000 feet (1,800-2,440 m) [1] but varies as follows:
nc CO 8,200 to 8,400 feet (2,500-2560 m)
OR 6,000 to 7,000 feet (1,800-2,130 m)
SUCCESSIONAL STATUS :
Early sagebrush is an indicator of an edaphic climax and is a dominant
shrub in such stands. Where soils have been mechanically churned, early
sagebrush is outcompeted by mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata
ssp. vaseyana) [21].
SEASONAL DEVELOPMENT :
New growth of early sagebrush begins in May, young heads appear in June,
and flowering and seed ripening occur in July and August; this is about
1 month earlier than for other low sagebrushes [1].
FIRE ECOLOGY
SPECIES: Artemisia longiloba | Alkali Sagebrush
FIRE ECOLOGY OR ADAPTATIONS :
Early sagebrush does not sprout from the root or stump. It
reestablishes following fire via seedling establishment [6].
POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY :
Secondary colonizer - off-site seed
FIRE EFFECTS
SPECIES: Artemisia longiloba | Alkali Sagebrush
IMMEDIATE FIRE EFFECT ON PLANT :
Plants are not as susceptible to physical or physiological damage as are
various subspecies of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) [16].
DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF FIRE EFFECT :
Prescribed burning on early sagebrush sites has rarely been attempted
because the understory is normally not sufficient to carry fire [16]. A
mid-June burn in an early sagebrush/Idaho fescue stand resulted in
spotty kills, leaving enough seed to ripen on unburned shrubs to provide
a good seed source. A large number of the burned shrubs recovered via
regrowth from remaining branches [16].
PLANT RESPONSE TO FIRE :
One year after a mid-June burn there was a 26 percent reduction of early
sagebrush [16].
DISCUSSION AND QUALIFICATION OF PLANT RESPONSE :
NO-ENTRY
FIRE MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS :
Monsen and Shaw [16] noted that burning can be used to reduce shrub
density and is a good tool if retention of some shrubs is desired.
Shrub seedlings could increase rapidly if a sufficient understory is not
present to control early sagebrush through competition [16].
REFERENCES
SPECIES: Artemisia longiloba | Alkali 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. Beetle, Alan A. 1962. Range survey in Teton County, Wyoming: Part 2.
Utilization and condition classes. Bull. 400. Laramie, WY: University of
Wyoming, Agricultural Experiment Station. 38 p. [418]
3. Beetle, Alan A.; Johnson, Kendall L. 1982. Sagebrush in Wyoming. Bull.
779. Laramie, WY: University of Wyoming, Agricultural Experiment
Station. 68 p. [421]
4. 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]
5. Blaisdell, James P.; Murray, Robert B.; McArthur, E. Durant. 1982.
Managing Intermountain rangelands--sagebrush-grass ranges. Gen. Tech.
Rep. INT-134. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service,
Intermountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. 41 p. [467]
6. Dealy, J. Edward; Leckenby, Donavin A.; Concannon, Diane M. 1981.
Wildlife habitats on managed rangelands--the Great Basin of southeastern
Oregon: plant communities and their importance to wildlife. Gen. Tech.
Rep. PNW-120. Portland, OR: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest
Service, Pacific Northwest and Range Experiment Station. 66 p. [786]
7. Eckert, Richard E., Jr.; Evans, Raymond A. 1968. Chemical control of low
sagebrush and associated green rabbitbrush. Journal of Range Management.
21: 325-328. [841]
8. Eyre, F. H., ed. 1980. Forest cover types of the United States and
Canada. Washington, DC: Society of American Foresters. 148 p. [905]
9. Francis, Richard E. 1983. Sagebrush-steppe habitat types in northern
Colorado: a first approximation. In: Moir, W. H.; Hendzel, Leonard,
tech. coords. Proceedings of the workshop on Southwestern habitat types;
1983 April 6-8; Albuquerque, NM. Abluquerque, NM: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Southwestern Region: 67-71. [955]
10. 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]
11. Hironaka, M.; Fosberg, M. A.; Winward, A. H. 1983. Sagebrush-grass
habitat types of southern Idaho. Bulletin Number 35. Moscow, ID:
University of Idaho, Forest, Wildlife and Range Experiment Station. 44
p. [1152]
12. 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]
13. Lyon, L. Jack; Stickney, Peter F. 1976. Early vegetal succession
following large northern Rocky Mountain wildfires. In: Proceedings, Tall
Timbers fire ecology conference and Intermountain Fire Research Council
fire and land management symposium; 1974 October 8-10; Missoula, MT. No.
14. Tallahassee, FL: Tall Timbers Research Station: 355-373. [1496]
14. 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]
15. 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]
16. Monsen, Stephen B.; Shaw, Nancy L. 1986. Response of an alkali
sagebrush/fescue site to restoration treatments. 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: 126-133. [1685]
17. Mueggler, W. F.; Stewart, W. L. 1980. Grassland and shrubland habitat
types of western Montana. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-66. Ogden, UT: U.S.
Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Forest and
Range Experiment Station. 154 p. [1717]
18. Passey, H. B.; Hugie, V. K. 1962. Sagebrush on relict ranges in the
Snake River plains and northern Great Basin. Journal of Range
Management. 15: 273-278. [1830]
19. Raunkiaer, C. 1934. The life forms of plants and statistical plant
geography. Oxford: Clarendon Press. 632 p. [2843]
20. 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]
21. Tweit, Susan J.; Houston, Kent E. 1980. Grassland and shrubland habitat
types of the Shoshone National Forest. Cody, WY: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Shoshone National Forest. 143 p. [2377]
22. 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]
23. Winward, Alma H. 1980. Taxonomy and ecology of sagebrush in Oregon.
Station Bulletin 642. Corvallis, OR: Oregon State University,
Agricultural Experiment Station. 15 p. [2585]
24. Zamora, B.; Tueller, Paul T. 1973. Artemisia arbuscula, A. longiloba,
and A. nova habitat types in northern Nevada. Great Basin Naturalist.
33(4): 225-242. [2688]
25. 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]
26. 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]
Index
Related categories for Species: Artemisia longiloba
| Alkali Sagebrush
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