These branches are known as Sparse undergrowth.....

      Some undergrowth is dominated by graminoids with few shrubs. Pinegrass (Calamagrostis rubescens) and/or Geyer’s sedge (Carex geyeri) can appear with grouseberry in the subalpine zone. Pumice soils support grassy undergrowth of long-stolon sedge (C. inops), Idaho fescue (Festuca idahoensis) or western needlegrass (Stipa occidentalis). The latter two species may occur with bitterbrush or big sagebrush and other bunchgrass steppe species. Other nondominant indicator graminoids frequently encountered in this habitat are California oatgrass (Danthonia californica), blue wildrye (Elymus glaucus), Columbia brome (Bromus vulgaris) and oniongrass (Melica bulbosa). Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis), and bottlebrush squirreltail (Elymus elymoides) can be locally abundant where livestock grazing has persisted.