<I>DRAFT</I>Rabbitbrush Dynamics in Central Oregon Juniper Woodland
There are five dominant trees and shrubs in this part of the Central Oregon Juniper Woodland: Juniper, Big Sagebrush, Bitterbrush, and the two Rabbitbrushes: Rubber Rabbitbrush and Yellow (or Green) Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus).
The 5th photos in the observations below are of a disturbed area that was recently burned area where the two Rabbitbrushes are now dominant and Sagebrush is just beginning to creep in. No Junipers or Bitterbrush are apparent yet. The distribution of the Rabbitbrushes is not random though, Yellow Rabbitbrush (Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus) is most abundant in the depressions and flats between the basalt rises and Rubber Rabbitbrush (Ericameria nauseosa) is more abundant up the slopes and on the top of the rises. These two plants are fairly closely related (they used to be in the same genus) and support many gall-forming insects, some undescribed.
