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.