Sagebrush - Mountains and Plains: The Ecology of Wyoming Landscapes - page 109

Chapter 7 Sagebrush

the iconic big sagebrush, Artemisia tridentata , dominates
the most widespread ecosystem in Wyoming. Growing
mostly west of the eastern grasslands, this shrub occurs
throughout the intermountain basins and covers about
one-third of the state. 1 that's obvious to travelers. not
so clear is that big sagebrush is but one of nearly a dozen
woody species of Artemisia that are commonly found
here. others include alkali sagebrush, black sagebrush,
low sagebrush, silver sagebrush, and threetip sagebrush.

Mention of sagebrush brings to mind wide-open
spaces with few trees, few people, and scattered herds of
pronghorn and feral horses (fig. 7.1). 2 Some would like
to make the land more “productive,” whether by burn-
ing to remove the shrubs or by cultivation. indeed, the
presence of knee-high big sagebrush is thought to be an
indicator of relatively deep soils that are suitable for crop
production. the potential for farming, however, is lim-
ited by scarce water and a cool, short growing season.

Fig. 7.1. Wyoming big sagebrush
steppe in central Wyoming,
southeast of Riverton. Associated
plants are junegrass, Sandberg
bluegrass, western wheatgrass,
blue grama, fringed sagewort,
phlox, and numerous other spe-
cies. Scattered limber pine and
small groves of Douglas-fir occur
in the vicinity of Beaver Rim.
elevation 7,200 feet.

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