Oak-maple Community



	Oak-maple Community Gambel oak (Quercus gambelii) is the dominant type of vegetation throughout the altitudinal range of the canyon. It forms what appear to be randomly spaced clones throughout much of the area. In accordance with the moisture regimen, the clones may range from thickets 0.3 m (1 ft) or less in height in dry upland sites to stands of stately, well-spaced tress in lowland areas. Both walls of the canyon support often nearly impenetrable oak in association with bigtooth maple (Acer grandidentatum), the latter growing chiefly in drainageways. Few species thrive as understory with dense oak cover. The most common are Galium aparine (catchweed bedstraw) and Mahonia repens (Oregon grape). Others appearing seasonally under oak are Erythronium grandiflorum (dogtooth violet), Claytonia lanceolata (lanceleaf spring beauty), Hydrophyllum capitatum (ballhead waterleaf), and H. occidentale (western waterleaf). Among plants commonly fringing oak clones are listed to the right. Mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius) occurs as individuals and as scattered, mostly small populations, often in association with oak, sagebrush, or other mountain shrubs, generally on northwest-facing, sparsley vegetated slopes. It can be seen from the main road through the canyon as small trees against the sky along the exposed, rocky, south rim of the canyon, especially toward its western end. As low shrubs it occurs sporadically, chiefly on exposed dry sigtes above 1980 m (6500 ft). Big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) occurs sporadically in drier sites throughout the canyon's altitudinal range. Low sagebrush (Artemisia arbuscula) occurs as relatively pure stands at about 2133 m (7000 ft) along the southeast rim of the canyon.	Plants Commonly Fringing Oak Clones Agoseris glauca, mountain dandelion Apocynum androsaemifolium, spreading dogbane Arabis glabra, tower mustard Bromus carinatus, mountain brome Comandra umbellata, bastard toadflax Delphinium nuttallianum, Nelson larkspur Descurainia pinnata, blue tansy mustard Eriogonum heracleoides, whorled buckwheat E. racemosum, redroot buckwheat Geranium viscosissimum, sticky geranium Helianthella uniflora, one-headed sunflower Heliomeris multiflora, hairy goldeneye Hydrophyllum spp., waterleaf Koeleria macrantha, Junegrass Leucopoa kingii, spike fescue Lomatium dissectum, giant lomatium Machaeranthera canescens, hoary aster Mertensia brevistyla, Wasatch blulebell Microseris nutans, nodding scorzonella Phacelia heterophylla, varileaf scorpionweed Poa fendleriana, muttongrass P. pratensis, Kentucky bluegrass Senecio integerrimus, Columbia groundsel