Vee Pasture RNA

Vee Pasture Research Natural Area (RNA) was established to represent low sagebrush (Artemisia arbuscula) scabland. The RNA lies on a plateau bounded by basalt rimrock.   Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis) dominates the deep soiled terrain, Sandberg bluegrass (Poa secunda) dominates the rocky/shallow soiled terrain, and one-spike oatgrass (Danthonia unispicata) and junegrass (Koeleria cristata) dominate the poorly-drained depressions. There are also large areas of juniper–low sagebrush (Juniperus occidentalis/Artemisia arbuscula) savanna on portions of the rocky scablands. Dense stands of ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa) and juniper (Juniperus communis) also occupy areas with deeper soil.  There are also communities that include bluebunch wheatgrass (Pseudoroegneria spicata) mountain mahogany (Cercocarpus), mountain big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), along with several vernal wetlands densely vegetated with perennial graminoids and forbs.