VASEY'S BIG SAGEBRUSH/PINEGRASS Artemisia tridentata var. vaseyana/Calamagrostis rubescens

This shrub-steppe community has a shrub cover of Vasey’s big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata var. vaseyana) over a herb layer often dominated by Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis), and/or pinegrass Calamagrostis rubescens) depending on the location. Western meadowrue (Thalictrum occidentale), and wild strawberry (Fragaria virginiana) commonly occur in this community. Arctic lupine (Lupinus arcticus ssp. subalpinus), silky lupine (Lupinus arcticus ssp. subalpinus), sandworts (Arenaria and Minuartia spp.), old man’s whiskers (Geum triflorum), junegrass (Koeleria macrantha), bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata), and fescue grasses (Festuca spp.) can also be found in this community, but with low cover (Lloyd et al. 1990).