Kipukas


 Kipukas are islands of vegetation developed on an old lava flows and surrounded by newer flows. The native vegetation of some of the kipukas may have been altered by fire or livestock grazing before the monument was established. However, other kipukas in the monument were protected by rough lavas and may offer examples of the native Idaho shrub steppe habitats. Dominant kipuka vegetation includes three-tip sagebrush, big sagebrush, bluebunch wheatgrass, and needlegrass.