Fossil Butte National Monument - Grasses

The Grass/Forb type is dominated by Sandberg bluegrass ( P. sandbergii ), but Indian ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides) and wheatgrasses are also present. Common forbs include stemless goldenweed (Stenotus acaulis var. acaulis), Hood"s phlox ( Phlox hoodii ), and starveling milkvetch ( Astragalus jejenus ). This type thrives on drier sites with shallow soil, such as rocky ridges. The Grass/Forb type also exists where fire has burned shrubby vegetation types. Rock outcrops and barren windswept ridges were mapped as the Barren type. Some areas are nearly devoid of vegetation; others support widely-spaced cushion plants, grasses, and forbs such as tufted twinpod ( Physaria condensata ).