Artemisia filifolia is a branching woody shrub growing up to 1.5 metres (4 ft 11 in) tall. The stems are covered narrow, threadlike leaves up to 8 centimetres (3.1 in) long and no more than half a millimeter wide. The leaves are sometimes split into segments. They are solitary or arranged in fascicles. The inflorescence is a panicle of hanging flower heads. Each head contains sterile disc florets and 2 to 3 fertile ray florets. The fruit is a tiny achene. The achenes do not tend to disperse far from the parent plant.[3][2] The leaf color is grayish-green. The flower color is either yellow or brown. The bloom time is between the months of August, September, October, and November.[6]
This ecosystem is most commonly affected by fire and grazing.[8] Before modern fire suppression, the ecosystem was maintained by a pattern of disturbance caused by natural wildfire and grazing by bison, a pattern which is called pyric herbivory.
When humans began to use this terrain as rangeland, this system was altered, causing a homogenization of life forms in the habitat.[9] A balanced regime of fire and grazing is required to sustain the biodiversity of this type of rangeland.[10] Fire also helps prevent the succession of woody vegetation onto shrublands. The sagebrush is tolerant of fire, resprouting vigorously after its aboveground parts are burned away.[3][11]
Sand sagebrush ecosystems are important habitat types for many animals. Prairie dogs build towns in sandy sage grassland, and when they abandon them, burrowing owls move in. Sage grouse live in sand sagebrush, though they prefer big sagebrush. Some animals eat the seeds, such as lesser prairie chickens and scaled quail.[3] Lesser prairie chickens also use it for cover and nesting purposes.[11] Extensive removal of sand sagebrush has been shown to reduce the diversity and abundance of breeding birds in the habitat.[12]
Despite its importance in numerous ecosystems, this sagebrush can become a troublesome weed.[13] One method of control is burning, then placing livestock where they will graze the new sprouts as they come up.[3] It is also controlled with herbicides[13] and mowing.[3]
Sand sagebrush seed is sold commercially. It is sometimes used for revegetation efforts on rangeland and coal fields.[3] The Navajo had several uses for the plant. It was used medicinally and for ritual purposes. Being quite soft, it was used as toilet paper.[3][14]
^ abcdefghijMcWilliams, Jack (2003). Artemisia filifolia. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory. Retrieved 12-26-2011.
^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.
^ abVermeire, L. T., et al. Sand sagebrush response to fall and spring prescribed burning. In: McArthur, E. Durant, et al. comps. (2001). Shrubland ecosystem genetics and biodiversity: proceedings; 2000 June 13–15; Provo, UT. Proc. RMRS-P-21. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. Retrieved 12-26-2011.
