Common name: Sagebrush, Mountain Sagebrush, or Big Sagebrush
http://www.plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=ARTR2&photoID=artr2_004_ahp.tif
http://luirig.altervista.org/naturaitaliana/viewpics.php?title=Artemisia+tridentata
A. tridentata:
Artemesia tridentata is identified by having leaves divided into three lobes, hence the scientific name tridentata, meaning trident. It is also known for its distinctive pungent fragrance, which is the plant's attempt to keep herbivores away. The plant has silvery-grey leaves and has small yellow flowers during flowering.
Artemisia tridentata grows in arid deserts of the Western United States, Western Canada and Nothern Mexico. It tends to grow in areas where winter precipitation is greater than summer precipitation and grows best in well-drained soils. It is the primary vegetation across the Great Basin Desert.
Sagebrush typically grows in elevations ranging from 2,000 - 10,000 feet. In Utah, it can be found in elevations ranging from 2,000 to 7,019 feet.
Ecological importance:
Sagebrush is highly important to wildlife species. Its evergreen leaves and abundant seed production provide an important winter food source to numerous species, including mule deer, white-tailed deer, elk, bighorn sheep, and jackrabbits. In general, it is highly digestible and nutritious.
Some species of wildlife are obligate to their sagebrush habitat. Sagebrush makes up almost 100% of the sage grouse winter diet and 60% of thier total annual diet. Sagebrush makes up 78% of the annual diet of antelope in Wyoming and 59% of the winter diet in some areas of Montana.
There are six subspecies of Artemisia tridentata. Each of these have a unique fragrance, which makes the palability to wildlife different in each species. Individual populations and subspecies of sagebrush have been shown to be preferred and consumed by different animal species.
Historically, prior to the discovery of penicillin, the essentail oils of sagebrush were used as an antibiotic. Becuase of their effect on other plants, soil bacteria, and animals, ecologists, soil bacteriologists, and animal nutritionists are still interested in these compounds.
Sagebrush shows high potential for range resoration and soil stabilization since it grows quickly and spreads readily from seed. Its seedlings are also easily transplanted, so they can be used to stabilize eroded slopes.
Sagebrush is highly susceptile to fire. It cannot re-sprout after fire. It also has a relatively long time needed to produce seed, so it can be eliminated in an area where frequent fires occur.
Among, or because of, its other important characteristics, sagebrush is named the state flower of Nevada.