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White Sagebrush

Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt.

Description

provided by eFloras
Perennials, 20–80 (rarely to 120 in desert washes) cm, aromatic (rhizomatous). Stems relatively few to relatively numerous, erect, gray-green, simple or widely branched, hairy. Leaves cauline, uniformly gray-green, green, or white, or bicolor (white and green); blades linear to broadly elliptic, 1.5–11 × 0.5–4 cm, entire or lobed to relatively deeply pinnatifid, faces hairy. Heads (erect to nodding, peduncles 0 or 2–5 mm) in congested to open (widely branched) arrays. Involucres campanulate or turbinate, (1–)2–4(–5) × 2–5(–8) mm. Phyllaries (gray-green), lanceolate to ovate or obovate (margins narrowly hyaline), densely tomentose. Florets: pistillate 5–12; bisexual 6–45; corollas yellow, sometimes red-tinged, 1.5–2.8 mm, glabrous. Cypselae ellipsoid ca. 0.5 mm, (obscurely nerved) glabrous. 2n = 18, 36, 54.
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Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
bibliographic citation
Flora of North America Vol. 19: 522, 524, 527, 528, 530, 532 in eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed Nov 12, 2008.
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Flora of North America @ eFloras.org
editor
Flora of North America Editorial Committee
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eFloras.org
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Synonym

provided by eFloras
Artemisia vulgaris Linnaeus var. ludoviciana (Nuttall) Kuntze
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cc-by-nc-sa-3.0
copyright
Missouri Botanical Garden, 4344 Shaw Boulevard, St. Louis, MO, 63110 USA
bibliographic citation
Flora of North America Vol. 19: 522, 524, 527, 528, 530, 532 in eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden. Accessed Nov 12, 2008.
source
Flora of North America @ eFloras.org
editor
Flora of North America Editorial Committee
project
eFloras.org
original
visit source
partner site
eFloras

Broad-scale Impacts of Plant Response to Fire

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the terms: cover, density, fire use, forbs, frequency, grassland, prescribed fire

Perennial forbs in grassland communities may be favored by fall
fires [16]. White sagebrush density and frequency have demonstrated increases
following fall and winter fires [3,16,121]. Following an autumn burn in a
Saskatchewan rough fescue prairie, density of white sagebrush nearly recovered to
the control plot levels (23.7
stems/m²) by the end of the 2nd growing season, reaching
20.3 stems/m²;
however, density on the spring and summer burn plots was much lower
(9.7 and 3.3 stems/m², respectively) [3]. On a
little bluestem mixed-grass prairie site in South Dakota,
white sagebrush density increased with fall, spring, and summer burns, although only the fall burn
significantly (p<0.05) increased density [16]. After 8 years of annual burning during different
seasons in northeastern Kansas, frequency of white sagebrush increased with fall and winter burning but
decreased with spring burning on both upland and lowland tallgrass (big
bluestem-little bluestem-indiangrass) prairie sites [121].

Response of white sagebrush percent cover to fire is inconsistent. In a Kansas
big bluestem-little bluestem-indiangrass prairie, white sagebrush percent cover
decreased with burning during any season on upland sites and with spring burning
on lowland sites after 8 years of burning during different seasons. On lowlands,
percent cover increased with fall and winter burning [121]. In an Alberta rough
fescue-porcupine grass grassland, canopy cover of white sagebrush increased in the
1st postburn growing season following both a spring and a fall burn [9]. Becker [13]
also describes an increase in
foliage after spring burning in a Minnesota big bluestem-prairie dropseed
community. In an Arizona Santa Catalina Mountain Madrean oak community dominated
by Emory oak, Mexican blue oak, and Arizona white oak, another study
found a strong increase in white sagebrush cover following burning, with cover
continuing to increase for 3 years after fire. The table below details changes
in white sagebrush percent cover for 2 seasons following a June 1983 burn [21]:

 
Spring 1984
Fall 1985
Aspect Unburned Burned Unburned Burned
south 4.12 1.89 2.89 6.82
east 0.72 2.85 0.62 5.83
north 0.67 1.96 1.07 7.63

A study of prescribed fire on green needlegrass-western wheatgrass plains
grassland sites in North Dakota found no consistent
postfire effect on white sagebrush cover [67].

The Research Project Summary Seasonal fires in Saskatchewan rough fescue prairie
provides information on prescribed fire use and postfire response of plains
grassland community species including white sagebrush.
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Common Names

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
For Artemisia ludoviciana:

white sagebrush

cudweed sagewort
gray sagewort

green sagewort

prairie sage

mountain sagewort

white sagewort



For A. l. subsp. ludoviciana:

Louisiana sagewort



For A. l. subsp. mexicana:

Mexican white sagebrush
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Conservation Status

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
White sagebrush is state-listed as threatened in Michigan [124].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Description

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the terms: density, forb, ramet, shrub

This description provides characteristics that may be relevant to fire ecology, and is not meant for identification. Keys for identification are available (e.g. [56,58,65]).

White sagebrush is a native perennial forb or small shrub [103,119]. Stems seldom branch and are loosely clustered or solitary [59,119,131]. Though generally erect [119], alpine subspecies (e.g., A. l. subsp. incompta) may be decumbent compared to the more upright forms found at lower elevations [118]. White sagebrush grows 0.5 to 3 feet (0.15-1.0 m) tall [43,46,56,103,119,132] and has alternate, irregularly toothed leaves [119]. The inflorescence is a narrow, open to dense panicle reaching 2 to 12 inches (5-30 cm) in length. The many nodding flower heads are <7 mm in diameter [56,132]. Seeds are small achenes [123].

White sagebrush is often densely aggregated in pure stands 6.5 to 10 feet (2-3 m) in diameter, with all stalks connected by underground stems or rhizomes [36,56,59,69,96,103,119,131] that thicken with age. White sagebrush rhizomes and dense, coarse roots are generally found between 1 and 5.5 inches (2.5-14 cm) deep [96,118]. Root branching in the fibrous root system is so interlaced that a firm mesh forms in the upper 2 inches (5 cm) of soil [96,113]. White sagebrush roots may reach 27.5 inches (70 cm) deep [143].

Roots may be colonized by mycorrhizae [136]; when colonized, ramet growth rates and biomass are reduced, resulting in a reduction in size and density of white sagebrush [137]. Root nodulation is inconsistent [38,118,139], and it is difficult to confirm any significant degree of nitrogen fixation [118].

license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Distribution

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
White sagebrush is distributed from the Northwest Territories south through the Intermountain region of the United States to Mexico [33,34,43,46,56,58,62,63,64,65,90,103,131,132,134]. The range includes most of Canada and the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, except Alabama, Florida, and West Virginia. It is generally rare in Michigan [63]. In Delaware, white sagebrush is considered an adventive species; while native to the U.S., it is not native to that state [31]. Some subspecies of white sagebrush are more abundant and widespread (A. l. subsp. ludoviciana, A. l. subsp. albula, A. l. subsp. candicans, A. l. subsp. incompta, A. l. subsp. mexicana), while others are restricted to smaller geographic areas (A. l. subsp. estesii, A. l. subsp. redolens, A. l. subsp. silcata) [63,118]. Some subspecies may also be restricted to certain elevation ranges with their geographic distribution (i.e. A. l. subsp. incompta) [118]. Plants database provides a distributional map of white sagebrush and its infrataxa.
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Fire Ecology

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the terms: fire management, fire regime, prescribed fire, woodland

Fire adaptations: When top-killed by fire, white sagebrush may sprout from the bases of shoots and from rhizomes [93,98]. Some subspecies reproduce aggressively by spreading rhizomes, while others have weaker rhizomes [118].

FIRE REGIMES: White sagebrush is found in a wide variety of habitat types and plant communities, so FIRE REGIMES also vary widely. No specific information regarding the interaction between white sagebrush and different FIRE REGIMES was found in the available literature. However, based on prescribed fire studies, frequent fire may substantially reduce white sagebrush on a site. For more information on the effects of frequent burning, see Fire Management Considerations.

The following list provides fire return intervals for plant communities and ecosystems where white sagebrush occurs. It may not be inclusive. Find further fire regime information for the plant communities in which this species may occur by entering the species name in the FEIS home page under "Find FIRE REGIMES".

Community or Ecosystem Dominant Species Fire Return Interval Range (years) bluestem prairie Andropogon gerardii var. gerardii-Schizachyrium scoparium 71,100] Nebraska sandhills prairie A. g. var. paucipilus-Schizachyrium scoparium 100] silver sagebrush steppe Artemisia cana 5-45 [55,102,138] sagebrush steppe A. tridentata/Pseudoroegneria spicata 20-70 [100] basin big sagebrush A. t. var. tridentata 12-43 [110] mountain big sagebrush A. t. var. vaseyana 15-40 [6,20,88] Wyoming big sagebrush A. t. var. wyomingensis 10-70 (40**) [126,142] saltbush-greasewood Atriplex confertifolia-Sarcobatus vermiculatus < 35 to < 100 desert grasslands Bouteloua eriopoda and/or Pleuraphis mutica 5-100 [100] plains grasslands Bouteloua spp. 100,138] blue grama-needle-and-thread grass-western wheatgrass B. gracilis-Hesperostipa comata-Pascopyrum smithii 100,107,138] blue grama-buffalo grass B. g.-Buchloe dactyloides 100,138] California montane chaparral Ceanothus and/or Arctostaphylos spp. 50-100 [100] curlleaf mountain-mahogany* Cercocarpus ledifolius 13-1,000 [8,111] mountain-mahogany-Gambel oak scrub C. l.-Quercus gambelii < 35 to < 100 blackbrush Coleogyne ramosissima < 35 to < 100 Arizona cypress Cupressus arizonica < 35 to 200 juniper-oak savanna Juniperus ashei-Quercus virginiana < 35 Ashe juniper J. ashei < 35 western juniper J. occidentalis 20-70 Rocky Mountain juniper J. scopulorum 100] cedar glades J. virginiana 3-22 [49,100] wheatgrass plains grasslands Pascopyrum smithii 100,102,138] Engelmann spruce-subalpine fir Picea engelmannii-Abies lasiocarpa 35 to > 200 [5] pinyon-juniper Pinus-Juniperus spp. 100] Mexican pinyon P. cembroides 20-70 [91,120] Colorado pinyon P. edulis 10-400+ [40,45,66,100] Jeffrey pine P. jeffreyi 5-30 [5] interior ponderosa pine* P. ponderosa var. scopulorum 2-30 [5,10,75] Arizona pine P. p. var. arizonica 2-15 [10,27,112] eastern cottonwood Populus deltoides 100] quaking aspen (west of the Great Plains) P. tremuloides 7-120 [5,48,82] mountain grasslands Pseudoroegneria spicata 3-40 (10**) [4,5] Rocky Mountain Douglas-fir* Pseudotsuga menziesii var. glauca 25-100 [5,6,7] California mixed evergreen P. m. var. menziesii-Lithocarpus densiflorus-Arbutus menziesii < 35 California oakwoods Quercus spp. 5] oak-hickory Quercus-Carya spp. 129] oak-juniper woodland (Southwest) Quercus-Juniperus spp. 100] northern pin oak Q. ellipsoidalis < 35 bear oak Q. ilicifolia 129] California black oak Q. kelloggii 5-30 [100] bur oak Q. macrocarpa < 10 oak savanna Q. m./Andropogon gerardii-Schizachyrium scoparium 2-14 [100,129] chestnut oak Q. prinus 3-8 post oak-blackjack oak Q. stellata-Q. marilandica < 10 black oak Q. velutina 129] interior live oak Q. wislizenii 5] little bluestem-grama prairie Schizachyrium scoparium-Bouteloua spp. 100] elm-ash-cottonwood Ulmus-Fraxinus-Populus spp. 35,129] *fire return interval varies widely; trends in variation are noted in the species review
**mean
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Fire Management Considerations

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the terms: cover, frequency, prescribed fire

Frequent fire and fire combined with grazing can substantially reduce white sagebrush cover [25,26,127]. A study in Arizona chaparral recorded the following pounds per acre (oven-dry basis) of white sagebrush and its percent contribution to herbage production on burned plots before and after burning [99]:

  North slopes South slopes Prefire (1970) Postfire (1971) Prefire (1970) Postfire (1970) lb/acre (kg/ha) 50 (56) 39 (44) 111 (125) 67 (75) % production 4 2 9 4
One northeastern Kansas prescribed fire study in a big bluestem-little bluestem-Kentucky bluegrass community found that annual burning substantially reduced cover of white sagebrush compared to 4-year-burn interval or no-burn treatments [26]. Other prescribed fire studies have demonstrated that frequent fire and fire combined with grazing significantly reduced (p<0.05) white sagebrush cover on tallgrass prairie sites [1,25]. A study in northeastern Kansas tallgrass prairie (big bluestem-indiangrass-little bluestem-switchgrass) confirmed these effects, finding that white sagebrush had higher relative cover on grazed, infrequently burned sites than on grazed sites in frequently burned areas. White sagebrush had 3% to 10% cover on ungrazed, infrequently burned areas, but <1% cover on ungrazed, frequently burned sites [127]. In contrast, white sagebrush had significantly (p<0.05) greater frequency in burned areas than unburned areas after 13 years of annual burning in a Minnesota northern pin oak (Quercus ellipsoidalis) community [133].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Growth Form (according to Raunkiær Life-form classification)

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More info on this topic.

More info for the term: geophyte

RAUNKIAER [104] LIFE FORM:
Geophyte
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bibliographic citation
Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Habitat characteristics

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the terms: grassland, mesic

Due to its broad geographical distribution, white sagebrush is found on a wide range of sites. It grows on upland areas including rangeland, pastures, roadsides, shrublands, and open woods [87,119], as well as in valley bottoms [29], riparian areas [51,87] and other moist or mesic sites [28,78]. On drier sites in plains grassland or sagebrush communities, white sagebrush may be restricted to more mesic streambanks and floodplains [28,78,101]. In field experiments, white sagebrush was "somewhat tolerant" of periodic flooding [83,84].

White sagebrush is found on a wide range of soil types [118,119]. It is common on sandy to gravelly or stony sites, including scree slopes and rockslides [56,87,131,141]. White sagebrush is frequently found on exposed ridges and sites free of snow accumulation [118]. It is also found on silty soils, and may occur on soils with high lime content, though not abundantly [106].

The following table presents the elevational range of white sagebrush in the western United States:

California 11,500 feet (<3500 m) [56,87] Colorado 3,500-10,000 ft (1,060-3,050 m) [52] Nevada 2,500-9,500 ft (760-2,900 m) [64] New Mexico 7,200-8,700 ft (2,200-2,600 m) [50] Utah 2,460-11,500 ft (750-3,500 m) [132]
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Habitat: Cover Types

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More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in association with the following cover types (as classified by the Society of American Foresters):

More info for the term: cover

SAF COVER TYPES [37]:





14 Northern pin oak

40 Post oak-blackjack oak

42 Bur oak

43 Bear oak

44 Chestnut oak

46 Eastern redcedar

50 Black locust

51 White pine-chestnut oak

63 Cottonwood

66 Ashe juniper-redberry (Pinchot) juniper

76 Shortleaf pine-oak

78 Virginia pine-oak

80 Loblolly pine-shortleaf pine

110 Black oak

206 Engelmann spruce-subalpine fir

210 Interior Douglas-fir

217 Aspen

219 Limber pine

220 Rocky Mountain juniper

235 Cottonwood-willow

236 Bur oak

237 Interior ponderosa pine

238 Western juniper

239 Pinyon-juniper

240 Arizona cypress

241 Western live oak

243 Sierra Nevada mixed conifer

247 Jeffrey pine
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Habitat: Ecosystem

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in the following ecosystem types (as named by the U.S. Forest Service in their Forest and Range Ecosystem [FRES] Type classification):

More info for the term: shrub

ECOSYSTEMS [42]:





FRES14 Oak-pine

FRES15 Oak-hickory

FRES17 Elm-ash-cottonwood

FRES20 Douglas-fir

FRES21 Ponderosa pine

FRES23 Fir-spruce

FRES28 Western hardwoods

FRES29 Sagebrush

FRES30 Desert shrub

FRES34 Chaparral-mountain shrub

FRES35 Pinyon-juniper

FRES36 Mountain grasslands

FRES37 Mountain meadows

FRES38 Plains grasslands

FRES39 Prairie

FRES40 Desert grasslands

FRES44 Alpine
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Habitat: Plant Associations

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in association with the following plant community types (as classified by Küchler 1964):

More info for the terms: forest, shrub, woodland

KUCHLER [72] PLANT ASSOCIATIONS:





K005 Mixed conifer forest

K010 Ponderosa shrub forest

K012 Douglas-fir forest

K015 Western spruce-fir forest

K016 Eastern ponderosa forest

K017 Black Hills pine forest

K018 Pine-Douglas-fir forest

K019 Arizona pine forest

K021 Southwestern spruce-fir forest

K023 Juniper-pinyon woodland

K024 Juniper steppe woodland

K031 Oak-juniper woodland

K032 Transition between K031 and K037

K037 Mountain-mahogany-oak scrub

K038 Great Basin sagebrush

K039 Blackbrush

K040 Saltbush-greasewood

K050 Fescue-wheatgrass

K051 Wheatgrass-bluegrass

K052 Alpine meadows and barren

K055 Sagebrush steppe

K056 Wheatgrass-needlegrass shrubsteppe

K057 Galleta-threeawn shrubsteppe

K063 Foothills prairie

K064 Grama-needlegrass-wheatgrass

K065 Grama-buffalo grass

K066 Wheatgrass-needlegrass

K067 Wheatgrass-bluestem-needlegrass

K068 Wheatgrass-grama-buffalo grass

K069 Bluestem-grama prairie

K070 Sandsage-bluestem prairie

K074 Bluestem prairie

K075 Nebraska Sandhills prairie

K081 Oak savanna

K082 Mosaic of K074 and K100

K083 Cedar glades

K084 Cross Timbers

K086 Juniper-oak savanna

K089 Black Belt

K098 Northern floodplain forest

K100 Oak-hickory forest

K111 Oak-hickory-pine
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Habitat: Rangeland Cover Types

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info on this topic.

This species is known to occur in association with the following Rangeland Cover Types (as classified by the Society for Range Management, SRM):

More info for the terms: association, cover, forb, grassland, shrub, shrubland, woodland

SRM (RANGELAND) COVER TYPES [115]:




101 Bluebunch wheatgrass

102 Idaho fescue

104 Antelope bitterbrush-bluebunch wheatgrass

105 Antelope bitterbrush-Idaho fescue

107 Western juniper/big sagebrush/bluebunch wheatgrass

108 Alpine Idaho fescue

109 Ponderosa pine shrubland

110 Ponderosa pine-grassland

203 Riparian woodland

207 Scrub oak mixed chaparral

208 Ceanothus mixed chaparral

209 Montane shrubland

210 Bitterbrush

212 Blackbush

213 Alpine grassland

215 Valley grassland

216 Montane meadows

301 Bluebunch wheatgrass-blue grama

302 Bluebunch wheatgrass-Sandberg bluegrass

303 Bluebunch wheatgrass-western wheatgrass

304 Idaho fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass

305 Idaho fescue-Richardson needlegrass

306 Idaho fescue-slender wheatgrass

307 Idaho fescue-threadleaf sedge

308 Idaho fescue-tufted hairgrass

309 Idaho fescue-western wheatgrass

310 Needle-and-thread-blue grama

311 Rough fescue-bluebunch wheatgrass

312 Rough fescue-Idaho fescue

314 Big sagebrush-bluebunch wheatgrass

315 Big sagebrush-Idaho fescue

316 Big sagebrush-rough fescue

317 Bitterbrush-bluebunch wheatgrass

318 Bitterbrush-Idaho fescue

319 Bitterbrush-rough fescue

320 Black sagebrush-bluebunch wheatgrass

321 Black sagebrush-Idaho fescue

322 Curlleaf mountain-mahogany-bluebunch wheatgrass

323 Shrubby cinquefoil-rough fescue

324 Threetip sagebrush-Idaho fescue

401 Basin big sagebrush

402 Mountain big sagebrush

403 Wyoming big sagebrush

404 Threetip sagebrush

405 Black sagebrush

406 Low sagebrush

407 Stiff sagebrush

408 Other sagebrush types

409 Tall forb

410 Alpine rangeland

411 Aspen woodland

412 Juniper-pinyon woodland

413 Gambel oak

414 Salt desert shrub

415 Curlleaf mountain-mahogany

416 True mountain-mahogany

417 Littleleaf mountain-mahogany

420 Snowbrush

421 Chokecherry-serviceberry-rose

422 Riparian

501 Saltbush-greasewood

503 Arizona chaparral

504 Juniper-pinyon pine woodland

509 Transition between oak-juniper woodland and mahogany-oak association

601 Bluestem prairie

602 Bluestem-prairie sandreed

603 Prairie sandreed-needlegrass

604 Bluestem-grama prairie

605 Sandsage prairie

606 Wheatgrass-bluestem-needlegrass

607 Wheatgrass-needlegrass

608 Wheatgrass-grama-needlegrass

609 Wheatgrass-grama

610 Wheatgrass

611 Blue grama-buffalo grass

612 Sagebrush-grass

613 Fescue grassland

614 Crested wheatgrass

709 Bluestem-grama

710 Bluestem prairie

715 Grama-buffalo grass

717 Little bluestem-Indiangrass-Texas wintergrass

720 Sand bluestem-little bluestem (dunes)

721 Sand bluestem-little bluestem (plains)

722 Sand sagebrush-mixed prairie

724 Sideoats grama-New Mexico feathergrass-winterfat

731 Cross timbers-Oklahoma

732 Cross timbers-Texas (little bluestem-post oak)

733 Juniper-oak

801 Savanna

802 Missouri prairie

803 Missouri glades

804 Tall fescue

805 Riparian
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Immediate Effect of Fire

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the term: prescribed burn

White sagebrush is presumably top-killed fire. Following a prescribed burn in a Saskatchewan rough fescue prairie, white sagebrush was substantially reduced by fire [3].
license
cc-publicdomain
bibliographic citation
Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Importance to Livestock and Wildlife

provided by Fire Effects Information System Plants
More info for the terms: cover, fruit, grassland

White sagebrush may be very important summer forage for pronghorn [11]. Though it is not preferred [81], white-tailed deer graze white sagebrush in winter [11]. It is also lightly browsed by mule deer [68,73,95], especially in the fall and winter [77,79,135]. Elk graze white sagebrush [95], and this plant may be of particular importance as elk forage in the Northern Great Plains. One study found white sagebrush comprised 40% to 50% of elk rumen content in the fall and winter [140]. However, it probably does not cure well; wintering animals normally consume only green tissue [118].

Greater sage-grouse use white sagebrush for summer food and cover [105,130].

White sagebrush is an important food source for grasshoppers [70]. It is an almost exclusive host for the specialist grasshopper Hypochlora alba [17,18,69,76]. It is also the only known host of the fruit fly Eutreta simplex [44].

Palatability/nutritional value: White sagebrush palatability has been rated poor to fair for domestic cattle, sheep, and horses in Colorado, Montana, North Dakota, Utah, and Wyoming. Palatability domestic sheep is rated good in Utah [32].

A study by Bezeau and Johnston [15] found 5.8% average digestible protein in white sagebrush samples. The table below summarizes chemical analysis of white sagebrush from Arizona chaparral [125]:

Crude protein (%) Ca (%) P (%) 9 0.64 0.32

Average chemical composition of white sagebrush in Alberta rough fescue grassland at 3 different stages of white sagebrush growth is summarized in the following table [61]:

Stage of growth Protein (%) Crude fat (%) Crude fiber (%) Ca (%) P (%) Carotene mg/kg) leaf 15.40 2.85 25.20 0.90 0.23 42.75 heading 10.55 5.10 26.80 0.90 0.17 37.40 seed-ripe 8.87 4.30 29.17 0.97 0.16 25.30

Cover value: Cover value of white sagebrush has been rated poor to fair for big game animals, upland game birds, nongame birds, and waterfowl. It has been rated as good cover for small mammals in Utah, though rated poor elsewhere [32].

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Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Key Plant Community Associations

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More info for the terms: forb, grassland, herbaceous, shrub, tree

White sagebrush occurs is a broadly distributed species that occurs in a wide range
of plant communities. Associates in communities where white sagebrush is most
common are briefly identified below, followed by a discussion of plant
communities in which white sagebrush occurs as a dominant.

Sagebrush ecosystems:
White sagebrush commonly occurs in sagebrush (Artemisia subsp.) communities.
Shrub and tree associates include big sagebrush (A. tridentata), black
sagebrush (A. nova), fringed sagebrush (A. frigida), shadscale
saltbush (Atriplex confertifolia), curlleaf mountain-mahogany (Cercocarpus
ledifolius), rubber rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus nauseosus), green
rabbitbrush (C. viscidiflorus), antelope bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata),
Rocky mountain juniper (Juniperus
scopulorum), western juniper (J. occidentalis), interior ponderosa
pine (Pinus ponderosa var. scopulorum), Jeffrey pine (P.
jeffreyi), and several oaks (Quercus spp.). Herbaceous understory associates include Indian
ricegrass (Achnatherum hymenoides), blue grama (Bouteloua gracilis),
buckwheat (Eriogonum spp.), ephedra (Ephedra spp.), Idaho fescue (Festuca
idahoensis), rough fescue (Festuca altaica), needle-and-thread grass
(Hesperostipa comata), prairie Junegrass (Koeleria macrantha),
western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), Sandberg bluegrass (Poa
secunda), plains bluegrass (P. arida), and bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria
spicata) [37,72,115].


Chaparral-mountain shrub ecosystems:
Common tree and shrub associates in
these plant communities include alligator juniper (J. deppeana), oneseed
juniper (J. monosperma), Utah juniper (J. osteosperma), Mexican
pinyon (Pinus cembroides), Arizona white oak (Q. arizonica),
canyon live oak (Q. chrysolepis), Emory oak (Q. emoryi), Gambel
oak (Q. gambelii), silverleaf oak (Q. hypoleucoides),
Mexican blue oak (Q. oblongifolia), shrub live oak (Q. turbinella),
interior live oak (Q. wislizenii), chamise (Adenostoma
fasciculatum), manzanita (Arctostaphylos spp.), ceanothus (Ceanothus
spp.), bush chinquapin (Chrysolepsis sempervirens), curlleaf mountain-mahogany , birchleaf mountain-mahogany (C.
betuloides),
bigtooth maple (Acer grandidentatum), and bittercherry (Prunus
emarginata). Understory associates include sideoats grama (B.
curtipendula), hairy grama (B. hirsuta), and eastern Mojave buckwheat
(Eriogonum fasciculatum) [37,72,115].


Plains grasslands:
White sagebrush is particularly common in plains and prairie
grassland communities. In plains grasslands, associates include Indian ricegrass,
crested wheatgrass (Agropyron cristatum), desert wheatgrass (A.
desertorum), big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii var. gerardii), sand bluestem (A.
g. var. paucipilus), blue grama, sideoats grama, hairy grama,
black grama (B. eriopoda), buffalo grass (Buchloe dactyloides),
prairie sandreed (Calamovilfa longifolia), oatgrass (Danthonia spp.),
Canada wildrye (Elymus canadensis), thickspike wheatgrass (E.
lanceolatus), rough fescue, prairie Junegrass, needle-and-thread grass,
porcupine grass (H. spartea), green needlegrass (Nassella viridula),
tobosa (Pleuraphis mutica), Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis),
western wheatgrass, bluebunch wheatgrass, little bluestem (Schizachyrium
scoparium), and alkali sacaton (Sporobolus airoides). Woody plants
commonly occurring in these communities include fringed sagebrush, sand
sagebrush (Artemisia filifolia), fourwing saltbush (Atriplex canescens),
Ashe juniper (J. ashei), eastern redcedar (J. virginiana)
winterfat (Krascheninnikovia lanata ), blackjack oak (Q. marilandica),
post oak (Q. stellata), and live oak (Q. virginiana) [72,115].

Prairie grasslands: In prairie communities, common associates include
threeawns (Aristida spp.), big bluestem, sand bluestem, blue grama, hairy
grama, sideoats grama, buffalo grass, prairie sandreed, needle-and-thread grass,
porcupine grass, prairie Junegrass, switchgrass (Panicum
virgatum), little bluestem, indiangrass (Sorghastrum nutans), prairie
dropseed (Sporobolus heterolepis), and giant dropseed (S. giganteus).
Common woody associates are big sagebrush, black sagebrush, sand sagebrush,
rubber rabbitbrush, green rabbitbrush, winterfat, saltbushes (Atriplex
spp.), hickories (Carya spp.), eastern redcedar, eastern cottonwood (Populus
deltoides), post oak, blackjack oak, and black oak (Q. velutina)
[37,72,115].


White sagebrush usually occurs in scattered amounts and does not dominate extensive
areas [118], though it may form dense stands locally in grassland communities
[36]. White sagebrush may be dominant
in Wyoming, commonly codominating forb communities with tobacco root (Valeriana
edulis) [24,47]. This forb community is often found near
subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) habitat types. Other associates in the
white sagebrush-tobacco root community type are Idaho fescue, Rocky Mountain
goldenrod (Solidago multiradiata), thickstem aster (Eurybia
integrifolia), sulphur-flower buckwheat (Eriogonum umbellatum),
slender cinquefoil (Potentilla gracilis), elkweed (Frasera speciosa),
and spike trisetum (Trisetum spicatum) [47]. In Alberta, white sagebrush may codominate with western wheatgrass. Other common associates in this
community are riverbank sedge (Carex stenoptila), Kentucky bluegrass,
curlycup gumweed (Grindelia squarrosa), and desert goosefoot (Chenopodium
pratericola) [128]. White sagebrush is noted as a "differential species" in
mixed-grass (Kentucky bluegrass dominant) and tallgrass (big bluestem dominant)
prairie communities. In the mixed-grass community, other associates include
western wheatgrass and smooth brome (Bromus inermis), while little
bluestem is common in the tallgrass community [85].


Vegetation classifications identifying white sagebrush as a plant
community dominant are listed below:



Alberta [128]

Wyoming [24,47]
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Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Life Form

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More info for the terms: forb, shrub

Forb-shrub
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Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Management considerations

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More info for the terms: density, ramet

While some authors report increased white sagebrush growth in response to
grazing [2,119], others have found white sagebrush in substantially lower density
on grazed sites than on ungrazed sites [19]. Based on clipping experiments, low
tolerance of white sagebrush to grazing is expected, because grazing reduces shoot growth rates as well as the
number and length of shoot branches per ramet. However, white sagebrush may produce more
rhizomes in response to defoliation [30].
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Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Other uses and values

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Native Americans burned white sagebrush for incense [119] and ceremonial purposes [53,109]. Other Native American uses included roofing houses and wattling walls [12]. In cooking, they used white sagebrush to flavor meat [22].

Native American medicinal uses included treatment for sore throats, stomach ailments, and difficulty in childbirth [109,119]. White sagebrush leaves were also crushed and used as snuff to treat sinus attacks, nosebleeds, and headaches [53]. Tea made with white sagebrush was used in Mexican traditional medicine to alleviate intestinal pain [108]. An essential oil extracted from white sagebrush (A. l. subsp. mexicana) has been demonstrated to give symptomatic relief of diarrhea [144]. Extracts of white sagebrush have antifungal properties [80].

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Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Phenology

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Stem growth of white sagebrush occurs from April to mid-May [54]. White sagebrush flowers from June to October [36,54,54,114,119], with seed maturation and dissemination from October through December [36,54,114]. Winter dormancy lasts from October through late March [54].
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Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Plant Response to Fire

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More info for the terms: cover, density

White sagebrush may sprout from rhizomes following fire [93,98], and increases in density and percent cover may occur after burning [41,74].
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Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Post-fire Regeneration

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More info for the terms: rhizome, shrub

POSTFIRE REGENERATION STRATEGY [117]:
Rhizomatous low woody plant, rhizome in organic mantle
Rhizomatous shrub, rhizome in soil"
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Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Regeneration Processes

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More info for the terms: monoecious, seed

White sagebrush reproduces both vegetatively and by seed, with vegetative reproduction very common [54].

Breeding system: White sagebrush is monoecious [118].

Pollination: White sagebrush is self- and wind pollinated [57,118].

Seed production: Most subspecies produce seed "adequately" [118]. The outer florets of white sagebrush are usually sterile, while the inner florets are usually fertile [119].

Seed dispersal: White sagebrush seeds are spread by wind, gravity, and water [123].

Seed banking: white sagebrush seed can last 4 to 6 years in warehouse storage [114]. As of this writing (2005), there is no information on viability of soil-stored seed.

Germination: No information is available on this topic. For information on artificial germination of white sagebrush, see Management Considerations.

Seedling establishment/growth: White sagebrush dies back at the end of the season, so annual production is equivalent to total aboveground mass at the end of the growing season [54,118].

Asexual regeneration: White sagebrush forms new aerial shoots from the bases of earlier shoots and from slender horizontal rhizomes [93,98]. Some subspecies reproduce aggressively by spreading rhizomes, while others express weaker rhizomes [118,123]. When strongly rhizomatous, white sagebrush can form colonies up to 50 feet (15 m) in diameter. A study in Montana found that on wet sites colonies advanced in all directions, but on dry sites colonies increased in diameter only in wet microsites (e.g. drainage depressions) [54].

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Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Regional Distribution in the Western United States

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This species can be found in the following regions of the western United States (according to the Bureau of Land Management classification of Physiographic Regions of the western United States):

BLM PHYSIOGRAPHIC REGIONS [14]:





2 Cascade Mountains

3 Southern Pacific Border

4 Sierra Mountains

5 Columbia Plateau

6 Upper Basin and Range

7 Lower Basin and Range

8 Northern Rocky Mountains

9 Middle Rocky Mountains

10 Wyoming Basin

11 Southern Rocky Mountains

12 Colorado Plateau

13 Rocky Mountain Piedmont

14 Great Plains

15 Black Hills Uplift

16 Upper Missouri Basin and Broken Lands
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Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

States or Provinces

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(key to state/province abbreviations)
UNITED STATES AZ AR CA CO CT DE GA ID IL IN IA KS KY LA ME MD MA MI MN MS MO MT NE NV NH NJ NM NY NC ND OH OK OR PA RI SC SD TN TX UT VT VA WA WI WY DC        
CANADA AB BC MB NT ON PQ SK
MEXICO B.C.N. Chih. Son.
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Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Successional Status

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More info for the terms: cover, density, succession

White sagebrush is generally more abundant on sites subject to infrequent disturbance. Though found on both disturbed and undisturbed sites, Iverson and Wali [60] found that white sagebrush was more prevalent on unmined areas than on mined areas. It increased in abundance over 17 years of succession on a Nebraska big bluestem-little bluestem prairie. During that time, sites were subject to some disturbance (4 years of grazing and at least 2 fires) [97]. White sagebrush may, however, form dense stands on recently disturbed sites [36,118]. It is frequently more prevalent following fire or clearing practices that reduce the dominant species. White sagebrush density may slowly diminish as other species recover and re-emerge where openings form [118]. Though often present and sometimes dominant in the initial (forb) stages of succession following fire [50,89,118], other studies demonstrate greater density and cover of white sagebrush on unburned sites [94,122]. A comparison of unburned sites and annually burned sites in tallgrass prairie found that white sagebrush dominated vegetation on the unburned sites [122].
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Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Synonyms

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Artemisia ludoviciana ssp. typica Keck [65]

     = A. l. subsp. ludoviciana [34,63,64,131]

A. l. var. albula (Whoot.) Shinners [132]

     = A. l. subsp. albula [56,63,64,65,134]

A. l. var. gnaphaloides (Nutt.) Torr. & Grey [90]

       = A. l. subsp. ludoviciana [34,63,64,131]

A. l. var. incompta (Nutt.) Cronq. [34,58,132]

       = A. l. subsp. incompta [56,63,64,131]

A. l. var. latiloba (Bess.) Torr. & Grey [34,58,132]

       = A. l. subsp. candicans [56,63,64]

A. l. var. ludoviciana Nutt. [34,43,46,58,132]

       = A. l. subsp. ludoviciana[34,63,64,131]

A. l. var. mexicana (Willd.ex Spreg.) Grey [43,46,132]

        =A. l. subsp. mexicana [62,63,64,65]
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Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Taxonomy

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The currently accepted scientific name of white sagebrush is Artemisia ludoviciana
Nutt. (Asteraceae) [33,43,46,56,58,62,63,64,65,90,103,131,132]. Recognized infrataxa are:



A. l. subsp. albula (Woot.) Keck [56,63,64,65,134]

A. l. subsp. candicans (Rydb.) Keck [56,63,64]

A. l. subsp. estesii Chambers [63]

A. l. subsp. incompta (Nutt.) Keck [56,63,64,131]

A. l. subsp. ludoviciana [34,63,64,131]

A. l. subsp. mexicana (Willd. ex Spreg.) Keck [62,63,64,65]

A. l. subsp. redolens (Gray) Keck

A. l. subsp. silcata (Rydb.) Keck [63,65]
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Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Value for rehabilitation of disturbed sites

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More info for the terms: density, forest, seed, shrub, stratification

White sagebrush establishes well from cuttings, transplants, and direct seeding [118]. It is recommended for revegetating riparian areas in forest, mountain brush, sagebrush, and desert shrub communities [92], and is considered useful for revegetating roadcuts and for erosion control [54,98]. The dense root mass is good for reducing erosion and encourages other species to invade the stabilized space [118]. Field studies suggest a high degree of success can be expected with white sagebrush transplanting [116], and stalks may grow 3 feet (1 m) tall by the end of summer after spring transplanting [96]. If seeded, white sagebrush may establish in greater density when seeded with perennial grass mixtures [23].

White sagebrush seeds germinate well in the laboratory at 59-77 oF (15-25 oC) [86]. Eddleman [36] found germination was highest at both 68 oF (20 oC) constant and 68/41 oF (20/5 oC) alternating temperatures, with germination improved by 3-month stratification. Other laboratory experiments conducted at 59 oF have found up to 95% germination in petri dishes, and 69% germination in soil tests. On filter paper, the following germination rates were achieved at different temperatures [54]:

Temperature Germination (%) 59 oF (15 oC) 56 68 oF (20 oC) 87 72 oF (22 oC) 90

One laboratory analysis, however, found seed viability of white sagebrush was only 34.6% [23].

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Anderson, Michelle D. 2005. Artemisia ludoviciana. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory (Producer). Available: https://www.fs.fed.us/database/feis/plants/forb/artlud/all.html

Comprehensive Description

provided by North American Flora
Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt. Gen. 2: 143. 1818
A perennial, with a branched rootstock; stem 3-6 dm. high, usually much branched, whitetomentose; leaves numerous, sessile, 3-10 cm. long, lanceolate in outline, entire or the lower pinnatifid, with lanceolate or linear-lanceolate, often falcate divisions, dark-green but slightly floccose when young and soon glabrate above, white-tomentose beneath; heads very numerous in a leafy panicle, horizontal or nodding; involucre campanulate, about 3 mm. high, 2-3 nun. broad; bracts 6-8, in three series, more or less tomentose; outer bracts ovate, half as long as the innermost, acute; inner bracts elliptic, obtuse, broadly scarious-margined; rayflowers 6-8; corollas 1.2 mm. long; disk-flowers 10-15; corollas 2 mm. long; achenes 1 mm. long.
Type locality: Banks of the Mississippi, near St. Louis. Distribution: Missouri to Utah, Arizona, and Texas.
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Per Axel Rydberg. 1916. (CARDUALES); CARDUACEAE; TAGETEAE, ANTHEMIDEAE. North American flora. vol 34(3). New York Botanical Garden, New York, NY
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North American Flora

Artemisia ludoviciana

provided by wikipedia EN

A. l. subsp. albula, Spring Mountains, southern Nevada, elevation around 1,050 m

Artemisia ludoviciana is a North American species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae, known by several common names, including silver wormwood, western mugwort, Louisiana wormwood, white sagebrush, lobed cud-weed, prairie sage, and gray sagewort.[2][3][4][5]

Ludoviciana is the Latinized version of the word Louisiana.[6]

Description

Artemisia ludoviciana is a rhizomatous perennial growing to heights of 0.3–1.0 m (0.98–3.28 ft). The stems bear linear leaves up to 11 cm long. The stems and foliage are covered in woolly gray or white hairs. The top of the stem is occupied by a narrow inflorescence of many nodding (hanging) flower heads. Each small head is a cup of hairy phyllaries surrounding a center of yellowish disc florets and is about 0.5 cm wide. The fruit is a minute achene. Flowers bloom July to October.[7]

Distribution and habitat

The plant is native to North America where it is widespread across most of the United States, Canada, and Mexico.[2][3][8][9] Some botanists suggest that eastern United States populations have been introduced from the western and central part of the continent.[10] Its habitats include dry slopes, canyons, open pine woods, and dry prairies.[7]

Subspecies

Subspecies include:[1][3][11]

  • A. l. subsp. albula (Wooton) D.D.Keck—deserts from California and Colorado to Chihuahua, Sonora, Baja California
  • A. l. subsp. candicans (Rydb.) D.D.KeckRocky Mountains and Cascade Range from Alberta, British Columbia to California, Colorado
  • A. l. subsp. incompta (Nutt.) D.D.Keck—mountains from Alberta, British Columbia, to Mexico
  • A. l. subsp. ludoviciana—western and central United States and western Canada
  • A. l. subsp. mexicana (Willd. ex Spreng.) D.D.Keck— Mexico as far south as Puebla; United States as far north as Colorado and Missouri
  • A. l. subsp. redolens (A.Gray) D.D.KeckDurango, Chihuahua, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas
  • A. l. subsp. sulcata (Rydb.) D.D.Keck—Chihuahua, Sonora, Arizona

Uses

Indigenous usage

Indigenous tribes across the continent use the species as a medicinal plant, a source of fiber for crafting household items, and for ceremonial purposes.[12] The Dakota people use this plant in smudging rituals to protect against maleficent spirits. The Apache, Chiricahua and Mescalero use it for spices,[13] while Blackfoot tribe use it as a drug for dermatological use.[14] The Cree and Blackfoot tribes use it in sweat lodges and the sun dance.[5] Gros Ventre also use it for skin curing and as medicine against cold, because it is also antipyretic.[15] The Meskwaki and Potawatomi use a tea made from this species as a treatment for sore throat and tonsillitis.[4]

Cultivation

A. ludoviciana is cultivated as an ornamental plant.[16] Being rhizomatous, it can spread aggressively in some climates and gardens. It grows in dry to medium moisture and well-drained soil. It requires full sun.[6]

Popular cultivars include 'Valerie Finnis' and 'Silver Queen'. Both are hardy to USDA zone 4. 'Valerie Finnis' has held the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit since 1993.[17]

References

  1. ^ a b The Plant List Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt.
  2. ^ a b National Plant Germplasm System−GRIN.gov: Artemisia ludoviciana Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  3. ^ a b c Flora of North America Vol. 19, 20 and 21 Page 527 Silver wormwood, white or silver sage Artemisia ludoviciana Nuttall, Gen. N. Amer. Pl. 2: 143. 1818.
  4. ^ a b Smith, Huron H. (1978). Ethnobotany of the Meskwaki Indians. AMS Press. OCLC 68943064.
  5. ^ a b "Indigenous Teaching & Learning Gardens - Prairie Sage". sites.google.com. Retrieved 2023-02-15.
  6. ^ a b "Artemisia ludoviciana - Plant Finder". www.missouribotanicalgarden.org.
  7. ^ a b "Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center - The University of Texas at Austin". www.wildflower.org. Retrieved 2022-02-18.
  8. ^ Berendsohn, W.G. & A.E. Araniva de González. 1989. Listado básico de la Flora Salvadorensis: Dicotyledonae, Sympetalae (pro parte): Labiatae, Bignoniaceae, Acanthaceae, Pedaliaceae, Martyniaceae, Gesneriaceae, Compositae. Cuscatlania 1(3): 290–1–290–13
  9. ^ Turner, B. L. 1996. The Comps of Mexico: A systematic account of the family Asteraceae, vol. 6. Tageteae and Athemideae. Phytologia Memoirs 10: i–ii, 1–22, 43–93
  10. ^ Biota of North America Program: county distribution map Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  11. ^ Keck, David Daniels 1946. A revision of the Artemisia vulgaris complex in North America. Proceedings of the California Academy of Sciences, Series 4, 25(17): 421-468 descriptions, line drawings, range maps of several species
  12. ^ University of Michigan @ Dearborn, Native American Ethnobotany of Artemisia ludoviciana Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  13. ^ Castetter, Edward F. and M. E. Opler (1936). Ethnobiological Studies in the American Southwest III. The Ethnobiology of the Chiricahua and Mescalero Apache. Vol. 4. University of New Mexico Bulletin. p. 47.
  14. ^ Hellson, John C. (1974). Ethnobotany of the Blackfoot Indians, Ottawa. Mercury Series. National Museums of Canada. pp. 17–124.
  15. ^ Hart, Jeff (1992). Montana Native Plants and Early Peoples, Helena. Montana Historical Society Press. p. 44.
  16. ^ Las Pilitas Horticulture Database: Artemisia ludoviciana (White Sagebrush) Retrieved 26 November 2017.
  17. ^ "RHS Plant Selector - Artemisia ludoviciana 'Valerie Finnis'". Retrieved 23 February 2020.

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Artemisia ludoviciana: Brief Summary

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A. l. subsp. albula, Spring Mountains, southern Nevada, elevation around 1,050 m

Artemisia ludoviciana is a North American species of flowering plant in the daisy family Asteraceae, known by several common names, including silver wormwood, western mugwort, Louisiana wormwood, white sagebrush, lobed cud-weed, prairie sage, and gray sagewort.

Ludoviciana is the Latinized version of the word Louisiana.

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