South-facing slope communities
The south-facing slopes of the Palouse buttes are exposed to strong sunlight and become dry early in the growing season. Among the communities on the buttes, these are most similar to those of the surrounding grasslands. There are occasional shrubs, such as hawthorne (Crataegus douglasii), serviceberry (Amelanchier), and mock orange (Philadelphus lewisii), and thickets of roses (Rosa species), but the community consists predominately of grasses and other herbaceous perennials, such as arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamorhiza sagittata), lupines (Lupinus species), paintbrush (Castilleja species), and biscuitroot (Lomatium species).
Crataegus douglasii |
Amelanchier alnifolia |
Philadelphus lewisii |
Rosa nutkana |
Balsamorhiza sagittata |
Lupinus sericeus |
Castilleja hispida |
Lomatium macrocarpum |
