A Vegetation Study of Capitol Reef National Park

Abstract

Capitol Reef National Park lies in a relatively unexplored region of southcentral Utah. The diversity in geology and the elevation gradient (3,500-9,000 feet) allows for diverse vegetation including endemic and rare taxa (Welsh and Chatterley, 1985). Previous floristic studies have been conducted in San Rafael Swell (Harris, 1980) and the Henry Mountains (Neese, 1981); however, aside from classification of coniferous habitat types (Youngblood and Mauk, 1985), no community studies have been done in this region.