Over a three year long experiment in Utah, sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata ssp. vaseyana) had an overall linear (excurrent) growth form, with the leader long shoot much larger than lateral long shoots. Sagebrush produced many lateral long shoots and few short shoots. In contrast, bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata) had a branched (decurrent) growth form, with few long shoots and many short shoots. The leader rarely grew and was no larger than laterals. Knowledge of the location, frequency, and size of vegetative long shoot production, within a branch complex, provides an understanding of the repeated structure of plants. The branch-level approach provides the information necessary to determine the effects of environmental factors on growth patterns.
Citations and enhanced abstracts for journals articles and documents focused on rangeland ecology and management. RSIS is a collaboration between Montana State University, University of Idaho, and University of Wyoming.