MONTANA STATE This "cover" page added by the Internet Archive for formatting purposes MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM TED SCHWINDEN, GOVERNOR MONTANA STATE LIBRARY BUILDING STATE OF NONTANA' 1S15 EAST 6TH AVENUE HELENA, MONTANA S9620 (406) 444-3009 REPORT ON THE CONSERVATION STATUS OF Trisetum orthochaetum, A CANDIDATE ENDANGERED SPECIES Taxon nain«t Common n«m«: Fami ly t State wherB taxon occurs: Currant f»d*ral status i R«comm«nd*d fsdsral status: Author of Rvporti Original dats of rsporti Data of most recent revision: Individual to whom further information and comments should be sent i Tr isetutn orthochaetum Hitchcock Missoula County oats^ Bitterroot trisetum Poaceae (Gramineae) U.S.A. , Montana USFWS Notice of Review, Category S» USFWS Notice of Review, Category 2 J. Stephen Shelly 31 October 1986 N/A J. Stephen Shelly Montana Natural Heritage Program State Library Building 1515 E. 6th Avenue Helena, MT 59620 STATE DCCUMENTS COLLECTION f.:AY 1 C 1993 TANA STATE LIBRA 1515 E. 6th AVE. , . . , HELE.NA, MONTANA 596§0^' ^i '■■■^ 'i '- ' i: -^ JWONTANA STATE LIBRARTx "' 1515 E. 6th AVE. P; ., ' ;'*«:r.-•• :../.» 3 •*'. . ' :f ■ ?■''< ■f:ii^-ii^a'S6"N, ll^oaS'SS'-W, ^^80 ft. 3. TUN, RS^W, Section 15, E'^SE'^i. ^. USGS Quad: Lolo Hot Springs (7.5 minute series, 196'^). 5. Granite Creek drainage, ca. 3.1 air mi. sw. of Lolo Hot Springs, 0.13-0.15 air mi. e. of Granite Creek Rd . (Lolo N.F. Rd . 99'4S), CA. S mi. s. of jet. with Rd . ^209. b. Granite Creek Central (occ. no. 003) 1. Montana, Missoula County. 2. ^6»^S'^7"N, ll^^SS'SO'-W, ^^60 ft. 3. TUN, RE-^W, Section 1^, W'-^NW/i. . ^. USGS Quad: Lolo Hot Springs (7.5 minute series, 196^). 5. Granite Creek drainage, 2.8 and 2.6 air mi. wsw. of Lolo Hot Springs, 0.21 and 0.16 air mi. e. of Granite Creek Rd . (Lolo N.F. Rd. 99^2), ca. 1.3-1.7 mi. s. of jet. with Rd. ^209. c. Granite Creek North (occ. no. 00^) 1. Montana, Missoula County. 2. ^6'>^3'11"N, 11A«3^'A1"W, ^510 ft. 3. TUN, R2^W, Section 11, SW'/^SW'/4. ^. USGS Quad: Lolo Hot Springs (7.5 minute series, 196^). 5. Granite Creek drainage, 2.2 air mi. wsw. of Lolo Hot Springs, 0.^0 air mi. e. of Granite Creek Rd . (Lolo N.F. Rd. 99^2), ca. 0.9 mi. s. of jet. with Rd. ^209. 2- Populations known or assumed extirpated (Figure ^, p. 11). a. Lolo Hot Springs (occ. no. 001) 1. Montana, Missoula County. 2. ^6<"^3'29"N, 1 1^°31 '5^",W, ^180 ft. 3. TUN, R23W, Section 07*, E'-i . ^. USGS Quad: Lolo Hot Springs (7.5 minute series, 196^). 5. Lolo Hot Springs, Bitterroot Mountains (U.S. Hwy . 12, ca. 26 mi . w . of Lo lo ) . 12 6. Explanation: This site is the type locality for the taxon. Since 1951, the area has been extensively developed (see I.I.D., p. 1), including construction of a campground, restaurant, rodeo ground, large parking areas, swimming pool, etc. Only small meadows are still present in the area, and these are largely dominated by introduced species now (i.e., Phleum pratense) . The taxon has been intensively searched for in the vicinity, as discussed, but has never been relocated. Owing to these factors, it is highly likely that the plants were originally very rare at this location, and were extirpated during the course of development and highway construction over the last 35 years. 3. Historically known populations where current status not known: None. 4. Locations not yet investigated believed likely to support additional natural populations: Montane meadows similar to those with which Tr isetum or thochaetum is currently known to be associated are frequent in western Montana. It is possible that broader surveys of such meadows will reveal additional populations. However, studies regarding the apparent hybrid nature of this taxon should be pursued further before any additional extensive surveys are conducted. 5. Reports having ambiguous or incomplete locality information: None. 6. Locations known or suspected to be erroneous reports: None. C. Biogeographical and phylogenetic history: Owing to the obscure nature of Tr isetum or thochaetum , it is not possible to provide an accurate account of the biogeographical or phy logenet ir history of the taxon at this time. Because the taxon is apparently of hybrid origin, the hybridization events leading to its formation at the currently known locations may have been relatively recent. Such events are probably also sporadic in nature; they may have occurred, as yet undetected, at 13 other areas within the region where the ranges of the putative parents overlap. 6. General environment and habitat description. A. Concise statement of general environment and habitat: All known clusters of Tr isetum or thochaetum occur along the margins of moist to boggy montane meadows, at elevations of ^^60-^510 ft. Along these margins, the plants occur under the partial cover of Pinus contor ta, Picea enqelmanni i , and/or Ab ies lasiocarpa . The soil varies from saturated to slightly drained. The meadows are all undisturbed, except for some impacts by moose movement along Granite Creek (habitat slides included on p. 8). B. Physical characteristics. 1 . CI imate. a. Koppen climate classification: Type Df b , with average January temperature below 0°C (3E°F), average temperature of warmest month above 10°C OCF) and under £B°C (71.6°F), with no dry season, and the driest month of summer receives more than 3 cm (1.2 in.) of rain (Visher, 195^). b. Regional macrocl imate: The nearest principal c 1 imato log ical stations in Montana are located at Missoula (approximately 3^ air miles ENE, 3190 ft. elevation) and Stevensville (approximately S8 air miles SE, 3370 ft. elevation). Data for the period 19^1-1970 are provided by the U.S. Department of Commerce (1973). At Missoula, the mean annual precipitation was 13.3^ inches; the mean annual temperature was ^3.7^, and the mean July temperature was 66.6''F. At Stevensville, the mean annual precipitation was 13.33 inches; the mean annual temperature was ^^.3°F, and the mean July temperature was ^S.S^F. Precipitation was doubtlessly greater in the Bitterroot Mountains near the known sites, where the elevation is about ^500 ft. Also, it is likely that mean temperatures were lower. c. Local microclimate: No quantitative information available. The meadow margin habitats are generally exposed to % 14 some direct sunlight in the late afternoon, but are partially to fully shaded during the morning and early afternoon. It is expected that temperature would vary accordingly with changes in light intensity. 8. Air and water quality requirements: Unknown; it is possible that the taxon may require areas in montane meadows where water quality is not degraded. Such degradation, or other alterations of local hydrology, may have been contributing factors in the extirpation of the taxon from the Lolo Hot Springs vicinity. 3. Physiographic province: Within the Northern Rocky Mountains Province mapped by Fenneman (1931); within the Rocky Mountain System, Rocky Mountains in Montana and Canada Province, mapped by Hunt (197^). 4. Physiographic and topographic characteristics: Occurs within the area of the granitic Idaho Batholith, a large region of intrusive igneous rocks which came into place during the early Tertiary Period; this batholith makes up the Bitterroot Range, southwest of Missoula (Perry, 1962). Known sites occur at elevations of ^^60-^510 ft. This portion of the Bitterroot Range consists of a low series of mountains, with summits in the immediate area ranging from ca. ^880-6500 ft. All sites are associated with four level to very gently sloping meadow openings along Granite Creek; they occur on the eastern edges of these meadows, where the slight aspect is northwest. Specifically, the clusters occur at the bases of adjacent steeper, northwest-facing hillsides. Water seepage from the bases of these slopes was noted at the Granite Creek South and Central sites. Granite Creek is a tributary of Lolo Creek; the latter, in turn, flows into the Bitterroot River just south of Missoula. The sites are within Hydrologic Unit No. 17010205, as mapped by the United States Geological Survey (1980). 15 5. Edaphic factors: All known sites of Tr i setum or thochaetum are associated with poorly to slightly drained loam soils. It is assumed that these soils have been derived from the parent materials comprising the granitic Idaho Batholith. Only at the Granite Creek North site is the soil slightly better drained; all clusters at the other sites occur in soils which are of a boggy muck nature. The sites occur in an area of Chryochrept-Ustochrep t-Cryor thent Incep t iso Is (moderately sloping to very steep soils on mountains), as mapped by Montagne et_ al . ( 19S2) . 6. Dependence of this taxon on natural disturbance: Tr i setum or thochaetum does not appear to depend on natural disturbance or other dynamic aspects of its physical habitat. The level meadow areas and adjacent slopes are stable landforms. 7. Other unusual physical features: At the Granite Creek South and Central sites, Tr i setum or thochaetum is associated with seepage areas at the bases of the adjacent slopes. The extent to which the taxon depends on this water flow, if at all, is unknown . Biological characteristics. 1. Vegetation physiognomy and community structure: Associated with open graminoid meadow communities, which contain a small percentage of forb species. These meadows are surrounded by temperate evergreen conifer forests, dominated by trees with more or less conical crowns. The known sites are on the ecotonal margins of these meadows, where some tree invasion is occurr ing . 2. Regional vegetation type: Mapped as Western spruce-fir forest (Picea-Ab ies ) by Kuchler (196^). Occurs near the border between two "Climax Forest Types" mapped by Ross and Hunter (1976): a.) Subalpine Fir/Douglas-f ir /Ponderosa Pine, and b.) Subalpine Fir . 3. Frequently associated species: Pinus contorta Dougl. ex Loud. 16 Picea enqelmanni i Parry ex Engelm. Abies lasiocarpa (Hook.) Nutt. Carsx rostrata Stokes ex With. Deschampsia cespi tosa (L.) Beauv. Tr isetum canescens Buckl. Tr isetum ygolf i i Vasey Mel ica subulata (Briseb.) Scribn. Lupinus polyphvl lus Lindl. Habenar ia saccata Greene Ledum qlandulosum Nutt. Polemonium occ identale Greene Mimulus quttatus DC. 4. Dominance and "frequency of the taxon: Tr isetum or thochaetum is very scarce and scattered in the communities with which it is associated) and represents much less than IV. of the cover in these areas. 5. Successional phenomena: The known sites are within the ecotonal areas along meadow margins; some degree of tree invasion into these meadows is occurring. However, the existence of the plants in these ecotones may be more closely tied to the fact that this is where the putative parents most often come into close sympatric contact. Tr isetum wo 1 f i i is most frequent in the open, wet meadows? while T. canescens is most frequent on slightly better-drained soils on the forest margins. 6. Dependence on dynamic aspects of biotic associations and ecosystem features: Unknown; none apparent. 7. Other endangered* threatened * rare, or vulnerable species occurring in habitat of this taxon: During field studies, a site was found for Gent ianopsis simplex T. wo If i i > and T. or thochaetum> Granite Creek South site, TUN, R2^W, Section 15, Missoula Co., Montana; inflorescences collected on 6 August 1986. Taxon Samp le Quarter section Viability < V. ) T . canescens SIC NE'/^SE'/4 76 T . wo 1 f i i SIW S2W NE'/4SE'/4 80 77 T. or thochaetum SIO S20 S30 S^O S5Q S60 NE'/4SE'/4 E'-JSE'/^ SE'/4SE'/4 E''^SE'/4 S 3 a 0 0 0 * - Tests conducted by the Montana State Seed Laboratory, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT ; seeds tested with tetrazolium, a chemical stain used to determine the number of viable vs. dead seeds via a reaction with respiring tissue. 20 incapable of sexual reproduction. 8. Population ecology of taxon. A. General summary: Tr i setum or t hoc hae turn , as discussed above, occurs in small, scattered clusters in meadow-forest ecotone areas. At all known sites it occurs in mixed populations with the two putative parents, T. canescens and T. wolf i i . No other specific obligate relationships are known. B. Positive and neutral interactions: None known- C. Negative interactions. 1. Herbivores, predators, pests, parasites, and diseases: When the Granite Creek South site was re-visited on 6 August, the majority of the observed inflorescences were infested with aphids (family Aphididae). No other negative interactions were observed. 8. Competition. a. Intraspecif ic : No information; the populations are probably too small and scattered for i ntraspec if ic competition to be evident or important. b. Interspecific: No information; the taxon occurs in dense graminoid communities where interspecific competition, especially in the seedling stages, is probably very strong. 3. Toxic and allelopathic interactions: Unknown . D. Hybridization. 1. Naturally occurring: The possibility that Tr isetum or thochaetum is an interspecific hybrid between T. canescens and J_. wo If i i has long been recognized by several botanists. Hitchcock et. al. (1969) stated that "(b)ecause of its apparently non- functional anthers and its morphological intermediacy between T. wolf i i and T. canescens, it is difficult not to theorize about the parentage of this peculiar plant." In his letter to the University of Montana Herbarium of 13 January 1986 (Appendix A, p. 33), Dr. LeRoy H. Harvey stated that "(m)y feeling is that this is a hybrid between T. wolf i i and T. canescens which 21 occurs now and then but does not reproduce." As Watson (1976) noted, this hybrid origin has never been experimentally confirmed by crossing the two putative parents. However, field observations and the collection of additional specimens and mature inflorescences during this study provided further material with which this theory can now be more strongly supported. The evidence on which this theory is further based here includes a.) a more detailed morphological comparison of certain characters from the three taxa (Table E, p. S2), and b.) the results of seed viability tests (Table 1, p. 19). Samples from 1_. canescens and T. wo 1 f i i showed good seed viability (76-80*/.) for these two species; in contrast, samples from T. or thochaetum revealed very little or no production of viable seed (0-3*/.). Three inflorescences from one cluster (NE'-JSE'-^ Section 15) had a few viable seeds (S-3'/.), suggesting that the putative parents are slightly more genetically interfertile at that location. The results of these comparisons and tests add further evidence that T. or thochaetum is an interspecific, virtually sterile hybrid between !_. canescens and T. wo 1 f i i . S. Artificially induced: None known; both Watson (1976) and Harvey (Appendix A) collected the putative parents, but apparently neither was able to produce an Fl hybr id . 3. Potential in cultivation: Unknown, probably good. E. Other factors of population ecology: None known. Current land ownership and management responsibility. A. General nature of ownership: Private (Granite Creek South and North sites), and United States Government (Granite Creek Central site). B. Specific landowners: 1. Champion International Corporation a. Granite Creek South (portion). b. Granite Creek North (all). 2. Burlington Northern Railroad a. Granite Creek South (portion). 22 01 on m e 01 in at HI u. m o =a r— 1 H- o* •** j= in 4> L. o 4: — ^ in L- U Ot in Ort Of ■4>* ■^ c: =3 xa in c: --* O »s o ra "O u. 01 c: c: O. 1= .£> > OJ 01 ro o --^ ••-* Ol u o -*-• m H-l o ■« __ o >* 3 in in 4^ .£= -** •♦- in i- >- ^« O B 01 Ot -»* 3 o Ol ■o « O 4> -o -** k. 3 ■o o o 1- .a in k. j= 3 X> c in Ol in I. o^ Of -*> o -o •4^ ■tz .c fn i- Ol k. 1- 01 H- ** ^ • JO > (V CJ* o ■ ^O in >« >- o s B • j= :3 Ol Ol Ol <« *^ u .o a. .-4 .*> ■A -< .c J= o i- >- rm in OJ •o 3 -B x: o» ^> 4-» 3 ^* •— • in W 91 a> "O in B o 1.. -*-• >- k. --^ ■ T3 L. 01 O m fn in m k. 3 B c^ o k- ar> -t^ a. 3 o. —< O (= c ar< m in in •• >. 3 o< U ■»^ >- • B 3 Ol m •1 'c 3 O Ol kj ■»* >. *• Ml •A« ■ ■ u w o> in 01 .B — in *« L. fO ro O ,o > o OL O* k. 1- TO ■a O o< •o « Ul B m o in — •• .»< c a- k- Ol Ol Ol J3 Ol — 01 u. •■ Ol OJ o< en ac .a o< u> m CL Ui B Ol «■ u 01 in >- o Of -^ c M O. O .--I ra or* ■** o C ^^ o o ac >. •■ in ^^ U •t* o B Ol in Ol *• Ol Ol CL .»» ■o > in ?JS in o Ol 3 x> ••^ 3 O Ol fO 01 LJ k- in in O "^ .a o 4^ 01 u B m in "O Ol Ol 3 o ea o< to a. B b. Ol ** u in ■o Ol 1- ■ «B 3 .C CJ CO 23 3. U.S. Forest Service a. Granite Creek Central (all). C. Management responsibility: Lolo National Forest (Granite Creek Central). D- Easements, conservation restrictions, or other special designations: None known. 10. Management practices and experience. A. Habitat management. 1. Review of past management and land-use exper i ences . a. Tr isetum orthochaetum: None. b. Related taxa: Unknown; not reviewed. c. Other ecologically similar taxa: Not reviewed . 2. Performance under changed conditions: Unknown . 3. Current management policies and actions: Details unknown; the slopes along both sides of Granite Creek have been heavily logged in many places. Some forested areas along the bottom of the drainage have also been logged. The area is also frequently visited by hunters and other recreat ioni sts . None of the landowners ars currently aware of the presence and requirements of Tr isetum orthochaetum. ^. Future land use: The area is very valuable for its commercial timber resources. Although the meadow areas generally have not been disturbed, future road building related to further logging could possibly occur in or very near these habitats. There is an abundant moose herd in the drainage, and hunter visitation is likely to continue. B. Cultivation. 1. Controlled propagation techniques: No experience. B. Ease of transplanting: Unknown; individuals of Tr isetum canescens and T. wo If i i have evidently been successfully transplanted from the field into cultivation (Watson, 1976). 24 3. Pertinent horticultural knowledge: Not reviewed. 4. Status and location of presently cultivated material: No cultivated material currently known . 11. Evidence o-f threats to survival. Aa Present or threatened destruction^ modification* or curtailment of habitat or range. 1. Past threats: Heavy development of the Lolo Hot Springs area for recreational use has evidently led to the extirpation of the taxon from the immediate vicinity, as discussed above. Other past threats to the currently known sites were not evident in their immediate habitats, but the surrounding slopes have been heavily impacted by selective and clear-cut timber harvesting. There is a logging road through a portion of the meadow at the Granite Creek North site, but the Tr i setum or thochaetum site is about 300 yds. away from it. 2. Existing threats: There is a warm spring on the west side of Granite Creek adjacent to the Granite Creek South site. The spring, and the surrounding meadow, are heavily used for camping by hunters and other recreat ionists . As a result, the vegetation on the west side of the creek has been trampled, and the site is accessed by an unmaintained jeep trail. However, the five clusters of Tr isetum or thochaetum are on the east side of the creek, separated in most cases from the undeveloped camping area by a boggy meadow. These meadows are difficult to traverse on foot; thus, the clusters are largely protected by the nature of their habitat. The other two sites are similarly not directly threatened at this time. The two meadows comprising the Granite Creek Central site are the least accessible; they are not visible from the Granite Creek Road. 3. Potential threats: Future increases in timber harvesting in the Grani te- Creek drainage may impact the known sites and other potential habitat. This would be particularly true if future harvesting continues in the forests along the level drainage bottom. The meadows generally are self-protecting, owing to a.) the 25 difficulties in building roads through them, and b.) their lack of timber. However, harvesting on the slopes directly adjacent to the sites would be likely to adversely impact them. B. Overut i 1 izat ion for commercial* sporting* scientific* or educational purposes: No significant past or existing threats known. It is possible that overco 1 lee t ing for scientific specimens could impact the existence of this taxon, if additional locations are not discovered. C. Disease or predation: The only observed insect pests were aphids on many of the inflorescences at the Granite Creek South site. The meadows and adjacent woods along Granite Creek are impacted by heavy moose trampling in some areas, but direct impacts on the Tr i setum clusters was not observed - D. Inadequacy of existing regulatory mechanisms: None known. E. Other natural or manmade factors. 1. Past threats: Not known. S. Existing threats: The currently known number of individuals of Tr isetum orthochaetum is very low, and the taxon is thus presently threatened by virtue of its scarcity. However, more extensive surveys of similar habitats throughout the Pacific Northwest may yield additional stations. 3. Potential threats: No additional threats are presently anticipated. II. ASSESSMENT AND RECOMMENDATIONS 12. General assessment of vigor, trends, and status: On the basis of current knowledge gained during this study, Tr isetum orthochaetum is a very rare taxon, restricted to an extremely small geographic area. Evidence reviewed above suggests, however, that the taxon is a sporadically produced, virtually sterile, interspecific hybrid between T. canescens and T. wo If i i . The taxon does not appear to be in imminent danger of extinction at this time, and more extensive surveys may locate additional sites. However, further biosystemat ic research remains the first priority, in order to identify the correct taxonomic status of Tr isetum orthochaetum. 26 13. Recommendations for listing or status change. A. Recommendation to U.S. Fish and Mildli-fe Service: Owing to the rediscovery of Tr isetum or thochaetum , it is recommended that the taxon be removed from Notice of Review Category E* . Additional detailed information on the b iosystemat ic and taxonomic status of the taxon is still needed, however, and Tr isetum or thochaetum should thus remain on the Notice of Review, Category 8. B. Recommendations to other U.S. federal agencies. 1. U.S. Forest Service: The Forest Service should be made aware of the presence of Tr isetum or thochaetum on U.S.F.S. lands (Granite Creek Central site). The taxon should be included on the U.S.F.S. Region 1 sensitive plant species list. C. Other status recommendations. 1. Counties and local areas: No need for regulation at the county level is currently seen . 2. State: A change of status from SH (historically known in Montana) to SIQ (critically endangered in Montana, with taxonomic problems/questions involved) has been made on the MTNHP list of plant species of special concern. 3. Other nations: Not pertinent. *». International: Not pertinent. I'f. Recommended critical habitat: Owing to the taxonomic questions involved, and the need for more detailed b iosystemat ic research, critical habitat for Tr isetum or thochaetum is not being recommended at this time. 15. Conservation/recovery recommendations: A. General conservation recommendations. 1. Recommendations regarding present or anticipated activities: Owing to the rarity of Tr isetum or thochaetum, and its current scientific significance, some conservation measures should be taken to protect it. To the extent possible, sites should be protected from impacts due to logging activity. 27 S. Areas recommended for protection: The highest priority site for natural area protection is the Branite Creek South site (Section 15). This is owing to the presence of both Tr isetum or thochaetum and Gent i anopsi s simp lex along the creek. Strict protection of the other sites is not currently recommended, owing to the doubtful taxonomic status of Tr i setum or thochaetum . 3. Habitat management recommendations: No active management recommendations ars deemed necessary at this time. ^. Publicity sensitivity: Low, owing to the obscurity of the taxon, and difficulties involved in reaching the sites. 5. Other recommendations: None. B. Monitoring activities and further research needed. 1. The known sites should be re-visited every 1-S years; because the plants are so rare and scattered, detailed quantitative studies Bre not currently needed. These monitoring visits could be conducted by MTNHP staff, or other interested persons. » 2. Further research on the b iosystemat ic relationships and taxonomic status of Tr isetum or thochaetum is needed. Especially useful would be information on chromosome numbers and pollen viability of the taxon and its putative parents. Experimental crossing may also be revealing, though the technicalities would be prohibitive. Such research is needed in order to further determine whether or not Tr i setum or thochaetum is a true biological species, and thus whether or not it meets the definition of a "species" as given in the Endangered Species Act (1983). The author hopes to conduct these studies, to the extent possible, during 1987 and subsequent field seasons. 28 16. Interested parties: Office of Endangered Species ATTN: Dr. Jim Miller U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Region 6 P.O. Box S54B6 Denver Federal Center Denver , CO 802E5 Endangered Species Field Office ATTN: Carol Taylor Federal Building, 301 South Park P.O. Box 100S3 Helena, MT 59626 Office of Endangered Species ATTN: Dr. John Fay U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service Washington, D.C. 202^0 U.S. Forest Service, Region 1 ATTN: Bill Ruediger Federal Building P.O. Box 7669 Missoula, MT 59807 The Nature Conservancy ATTN: Dr. Larry Morse 1800 N. Kent Street Arlington, VA 22209 Rocky Mountain Heritage Task Force ATTN: J. Scott Peterson The Nature Conservancy 1370 Pennsylvania St., Suite 190 Denver, CO 80203 The Nature Conservancy ATTN: Dr. Joan Bird Montana/Wyoming Field Office P.O. Box 258 Helena, MT 59624 Dr. LeRoy H. Harvey U.S. National Herbarium Department of Botany Smithsonian Institution Washington, D.C. 20560 Peter Lesica Department of Botany University of Montana Missoula, MT 59812 29 Dr. Kathleen Peterson Department of Botany University of Montana Missoula, MT 59812 Dr. John Rumely Department of Biology Montana State University Bozeman, MT 59717 J. Stephen Shelly Montana Natural Heritage Program State Library 1515 E. 6th Avenue Helena, MT 59620 III. INFORMATION SOURCES 17. Sources of information. A. Publications. 1. References cited in report: List appended (p. 31 ) . S. Other publications: a. Popular: Gale, R. 1980. The riddle of existence: Montana's "rare plants." Montana Outdoors 11: 1^-16. B. Museum collections: The topotype specimen (L . H. Harvey ^^61 ) was examined at the University of Montana Herbarium (MGNTU). The holotype specimen (A. Chase 5129, US) was not examined. Voucher specimens collected during this status survey will be deposited as follows: MONTU, US. MONTU. MONTU. Locations and dates for these collections are given in the computer printouts. Appendix B (p. 3^). The specimens are cited in these printouts in the COMMENTS field. C. Fieldwork. 1. Surveys by the author: 10-11 July 1986; Surveys at and near Lolo Hot Springs; notes, photographs, and herbarium specimens of related taxa. J.S. Shellv ( 1230) & S.V. Kinq J.S. Shelly (1232) & 6.V. King J.S. Shel ly ( 1236) & G.V. Kinq 30 16-19 July 1986: Surveys in adjacent drainages; notes, photographs, maps, and herbarium specimens of Tr isetum or thochaetum and related taxa. h August 1986: Seed samples of all three taxa at the Granite Creek South site. D. Knowledgeable individuals. Dr. LeRoy H. Harvey (Address under "Interested parties") Ginger V. King P.O. Box 90BE Helena, MT 5960^ E. Other information sources: Additional color slides of the Lolo Hot Springs area, and of related taxa, are on file at the Montana Natural Heritage Program (author's address). 18. Summary of materials on file: All detailed field survey forms and field maps are on file at the MTNHP office (author's address). Nearly all items cited in this report are also on file at MTNHP. IV. AUTHORSHIP 19. Initial authorship: J. Stephen Shelly Montana Natural Heritage Program State Library Building 1515 E. 6th Avenue Helena, MT 59620 y (^06) ^^^-3009 50. Maintenance of status report: The Montana Natural Heritage Program will maintain current information, and update the status report as needed. V. NEW INFORMATION 51. Record of revisions: Not currently applicable. 31 Literature cited Ayensu, E.S., and R.A. DeFilipps. 1978. Endangered and Threatened Plants of the United States. Smithsonian Institution and World Wildlife Fund, Inc., Washington, D.C. ^03 pp . Endangered Species Act, The. 1973. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. 53 pp. Fenneman, N.M. 1931. Physiography of Western United States. McGraw-Hill Book Company, New York. 53^ pp. Gould, F.W., and R.B. Shaw. 1983. Grass Systematics. Texas A&.M University Press, College Station. 397 pp. Hitchcock, A.S. 193^. New species, and changes in nomenclature, of grasses of the United States. Amer . J. Bot. 21: 1E7-139. Hitchcock, A.S. 1950. Manual of the Grasses of the United States. Dover Publications, Inc., New York. Two volumes, 1051 pp. Hitchcock, C.L., A. Cronquist, M. Gwnbey, and J.W. Thompson. 1969. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest-Part 1. Vascular Cryptogams, Gymnosperms, and Monocotyledons. University of Washington Press, Seattle. 91^ pp. Hunt, C.B. 197^. Natural Regions of the United States and Canada. W.H. Freeman and Co., San Francisco. 725 pp. Kuchler, A.W. 196^. Potential Natural Vegetation of the Conterminous United States. American Geographical Society, New York. 116 pp., map. Lesica, P., G. Moore, K.M. Peterson, and J.H. Rumely. 198^. Vascular Plants of Limited Distribution in Montana. Monograph No. 2, Montana Academy of Sciences, Supplement to the Proceedings, Vol. ^3. 61 pp. Montagne, C, L.C. Munn, G.A. Nielsen, J.W. Rogers, and H.E. Hunter. 1982. Soils of Montana. Montana Agricultural Experiment Station, Bulletin 7^4. Montana State University, Bozeman. 95 pp. Montana Natural Heritage Program. 1986. Plant Species of Special Concern. MTNHP, Helena. IE pp. Perry, E.S. 1962. Montana in the Geologic Past. Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology, Bulletin 26. Montana College of Mineral Science and Technology, Butte. 78 pp. 32 Ross, R.L., and H.E. Hunter. 1976. Climax Vegetation of Montana, Based on Soils and Climate. U.S.D.A. Soil Conservation Service, Bozeman. h^ pp. U.S. Department of Commerce. 1973. Monthly Normals of Temperature, Precipitation, and Heating and Cooling Degree Days 19'^l-70. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, CI imatography of the United States No. 81. 11 pp. U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. 1975. Threatened or endangered fauna or flora; Review of status of vascular plants and determination of "critical habitat," Federal Register -^0(127): 2782^-2792-^. U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service, 1980. Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants: Review of plant taxa for listing as endangered or threatened species. Federal Register ^5(2^2): 82^81-82569. U.S. Department of Interior, Fish and Wildlife Service. 1985. Endangered and threatened wildlife and plants: Review of plant taxa for listing as endangered or threatened species. Federal Register 50(188): 39526-3958^. U.S. Geological Survey. 1980. Stream Evaluation Map, State of Montana. U.S. Government Printing Office, Washington, D.C. Two sheets. Visher, S.S. 195^. Climatic Atlas of the United States. Harvard University Press, Cambridge. ^03 pp. Watson, Jr., T.J. 1976. An evaluation of putatively threatened or endangered species from the Montana flora. Report submitted to the U.S. Forest Service, Region 1. 31 pp. 33 APPENDIX A: Pertinent correspondence LETTER TO THE UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA HERBARIUM (RECEIVED BY PETER LESICA) FROM DR. L.H. HARVEY (U.S. NATIONAL HERBARIUM, DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY, SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, WASHINGTON, D.C. S0560 ) , REGARDING THE TYPE LOCALITY OF Trisetum or thochaetum . 13 Jan 1986 I was interested in yo or thochaetum. I had the advant and the man who guided her on th this species was collected. T to wit - boggy meadow, Lolo Hot the north side of the road ab pool in an area which was dest later when some construction was My feeling is that this i T. canescens which occurs now a I collected both these in t them .... ur letter concerning Tr isetum age of talking to both Mrs. Chase at trip on which the holotype of heir information was very general Springs. My specimen came from out 1000 yds. above the swimming royed not more than a few years done nearby, s a hybrid between T. wo 1 f i i and nd then but does not reproduce, his area but never tried to cross Sincerel y , L.H. Harvey (signed) APPENDIX B: Computer printouts 35 ELEMENT OCCURRENCE RECORD EOCODE: PMP0A690A0.001 NAME: TRISETUM ORTHOCHAETUM COMNAME: MISSOULA COUNTY OATS MARGNUM: 1 TENTEN: 8»2 EORANKCOMM: SURVEYDATE: 1986-07-10 LASTOBSi SRANK: SIQ STATE: MT QUADCODE: <:»61 1^65 QUADNAME: LOLO HOT SPRINGS LAT: ^6^329 LONG: ll^SlS'f S TOWNRANGE: 011N0S3W SECTION TRSCOMM: E2 DIRECTIONS: LOLO HOT SPRINGS, MI. WEST OF LOLO) I DENT: EORANK: 1951-07-09 FIRSTQBS: 1908 GRANK : GIQ COUNTYNAME: MTMISS ON: O 07 MERIDIAN: PHYSPROV: NR BITTERROOT MOUNTAINS PRECISION: E: O PR WATERSHED: (U.S. HWY. 12, M W: 17010205 CA. 26 GENDESC: ELEV: EODATA; COMMENTS MACODEl : MAC0DE3: MOREMGMT SITENAME OWNER: "BOGGY MEADOW;" L.H. HARVEY (IN A LETTER TO P. LESICA DATED 13JAN86) STATES THAT THE AREA OF HIS COLLECTION "...WAS DE- STROYED. . .WHEN SOME CONSTRUCTION WAS DONE NEARBY" (SEE EF). ^180 SIZE: 1 TWO OTHER TRISETUM SPECIES, T. WOLF I I AND T. CANESCENS, ARE LOCATED NEAR LOLO HOT SPRINGS? THIS, PLUS THE MORPHOLOGICAL INTERMEDIACY AND STERILE ANTHERS OF T. ORTHOCHAETUM, HAVE LED TO THE SUGGESTION THAT TROR MAY BE OF HYBRID ORIGIN. VOUCHERS-CHASE, A. (5129), 1908, US> HARVEY, L.H. (^^61), 1931, MONTU 36626 (TOPOTYPE) | NOT SEEN SINCE 1951. MTPRIVATEOWN CONTAINED!: ? MAC0DE2: C0NTAINED3: ADLMAS: MORELAN : SITECODE: LOLO HOT SPRINGS LOLO HOT SPRINGS CORP. C0NTAINED2: MOREPROT; OWNERCOMM: PROTCOMM: MGMTCOMM: MONITOR: BESTSOURCE; TAXON NOT RELOCATED HERE DURING 1986 STATUS SURVEY. HARVEY, L.H. (^^61), 1931, MONITORNUM: MONTU 36626 (TOPOTYPE) 50URCEC0DE: S51HARUMMT U76WAT01MT PNDLESOIMT PNDLACOIMT PNDSHEOIMT A34HIT01MT B71HIT01MT B69HIT01MT DATASENS: N BOUNDARIES: N PHOTOS: N OWNERINFO: TRANSCRIBR: 85-12-17 JSS CDREV: Y MAPPER: 85-12-19 UPDATE: 86-09-0^ JSS F86SHE06MT JSS QCi 36 ELEMENT OCCURRENCE RECORD AB GRANK; EOCODE: PMP0A690A0 . OOS NAME: TRISETUM ORTHOCHAETUM COMNAME: MISSOULA COUNTY OATS MARGNUM: 2 TENTEN: 3,^ IDENT: Y EORANK : EORANKCOMM: OCCURS IN 5 SMALL CLUMPS; PRISTINE HABITAT. SURVEYDATE: 1986-07-18 LASTOBS: 1986-08-06 FIRSTOBS: 1986 SRANK: SIQ STATE: MT COUNTYNAME: MTMISS QUADCODE: ^611^65 QUADNAME: LOLO HOT SPRINGS LAT: ^64286 LONG: 11^3535 S: ^6'£f22^ N: ^6^235 TOWNRANGE: 011N02^W SECTION: 15 MERIDIAN: TRSCOMM: E2SE^ PHYSPROV : NR DIRECTIONS: GRANITE CREEK DRAINAGE, CA. 3.1 AIR MI. SPRINGS, 0.13-0.15 AIR MI. E OP GRANITE RD 99^2), CA. 2 MI. SOUTH OF JCT. WITH RD. ^209. BOGGY MUCK SOILS, ON EDGE OF WET MEADOW AND ON CREEK BANK; WITH PINUS CONTORTA, PICEA ENGELMANNII, CAREX ROSTRATA, DESCHAMPSIA CESPITOSA, LUPINUS POLYPHYLLUS. ^^80 SIZE: 10 FIVE SUBPOPULATIONS, CONTAINING A TOTAL OF 37 STEMS; SOME CLUMPS MAY BE SINGLE INDIVIDUALS; TRISETUM WOLF I I AND T. CANEBCENS OCCUR IN B I OTIC SYMPATRY THROUGHOUT THE AREA, AND WITH TRISETUM ORTHOCHAETUM AT THIS SITE. VOUCHER-SHELLY, J.S. (1230) AND 6.V. KING, 1986, MONTU, US, GIQ PRECISION: SC E: 11^3526 W: 11^3538 PR WATERSHED: 17010205 SW OF LOLO HOT CREEK RD. (LOLO NF GENDESC; ELEV: EODATA: COMMENTS: MACODEl : MAC0DE3: MOREMGMT: SITENAME: OWNER: OWNERCOMM: PROTCOMM: MGMTCOMM: MONITOR: BESTSOURCE; SOURCECODE; DATASENS: TRANSCRIBR; MTPBURLNORTH CONTAINEDl: C0NTAINED3: SITECODE: GRANITE CREEK SOUTH N MAC0DE2; ADLMAS: MTPCHAMPIONI MORELAN: CGNTAINED2; MOREPROT; SEE EF FOR EXACT LOCATIONS OF FIVE SUBPOPULATIONS. MONITORNUM: SHELLY, J.S. 1986. FIELD SURVEYS IN MISSOULA COUNTY OF 11 JULY, 16-19 JULY, AND 6 AUGUST. F86SHE06MT PNDSHEOIMT 686SHEUMMT S86SHEUSMT B69HIT01MT U76WAT01MT A3^HIT01MT B71HIT01MT Y BOUNDARIES: Y PHOTOS: Y OWNERINFO: 86-08-18 JSS CDREV: Y MAPPER: 86-08-20 JSS QC : 10- UPDATE; 86-09-16 JSS 37 ELEMENT OCCURRENCE RECORD 61Q 1143522 EOCODE: PMP0A690A0 . 003 NAME: TRISETUM ORTHDCHAETUM COMNAME: MISSOULA COUNTY OATS MARGNUM: 3 TENTEN: 3,3 I DENT: Y EORANK : AB EORANKCOMM: OCCURS IN 2 SMALL CLUMPS, BUT HABITAT IS PRISTINE. SURVEYDATE: 1986-07-19 LASTOBS : 1986-07-19 FIRSTOBS: 1986 GRANK SRANK: SIQ STATE: MT COUNTYNAME : MTMISS QUADCODE: 4611465 QUADNAME: LOLO HOT SPRINGS PRECISION: SC LAT: 464247 LONG: 1143520 S: 464245 N: 464302 E: 1143508 W: TOWNRANGE: 011N024W SECTION: 14 MERIDIAN: PR TRSCOMM: W2NW4 PHYSPROV: NR WATERSHED: 17010E05 DIRECTIONS: GRANITE CREEK DRAINAGE, 2.8 AND 2.6 AIR MI. WSW OF LOLO HOT SPRINGS, 0.21 AND 0.16 MI. E OF GRANITE CREEK RD. (LOLO NF RD 9942), CA. 1.3-1.7 MI. SOUTH OF JCT. WITH ROAD 4209. BOGGY MUCK SOILS, ON EDGES OF WET MEADOWS; WITH PINUS CONTORTA, PICEA ENGELMANNII, CAREX ROSTRATA, DESCHAMPSIA CESPITOSA, LUPINUS POLYPHYLLUS, HABENARIA SACCATA. 4460 SIZE: 12 TWO SUBPOPULATIONS, CONTAINING 13 < SOUTH MEADOW) AND 11 (NORTH MEADOW) STEMS; SOME INDIVIDUALS MAY BE MULT I -STEMMED J T. WOLF II AND T. CANESCENS OCCUR IN B I OTIC SYMPATRY THROUGH- OUT THE AREA, & WITH TRISETUM ORTHOCHAETUM IN THESE MEADOWS. VOUCHER-SHELLY, J.S. (1232) AND G.V. KING, 1986, MONTU. GENDESC: ELEV: EODATA COMMENTS; MACODEl: MTFFSNFLOLOl MAC0DE3: MOREMGMT: SITENAME: OWNER: OWNERCOMM: PROTCOMM: MGMTCOMM: MONITOR: BESTSOURCE CONTAINED! ; C0NTAINED3; SITECODE: GRANITE CREEK CENTRAL MACODEE: ADLMAS: MORELAN: C0NTAINED2: MOREPROT: SHELLY, J.S. 1986. 11 JULY, 16-19 JULY, SOURCECODE; DATASENS: TRANSCRIBRi MONITORNUM: FIELD SURVEYS IN MISSOULA COUNTY OF AND 6 AUGUST. F86SHE06MT PNDSHEOIMT S86SHEUMMT U76WAT01MT A34HIT01MT B71HIT01MT B69HIT01MT BOUNDARIES: Y PHOTOS: N OWNER INFO: 86-08-18 JSS CDREV: Y MAPPER: 86-08-27 JSS QC : 10- UPDATE: 86-09-16 JSS 38 ELEMENT OCCURRENCE RECORD sc W: EOCODE: PMP0A690A0 . 00^ NAME: TRISETUM ORTHOCHAETUM COMNAME: MISSOULA COUNTY OATS MARGNUM: A TENTEN : 4,3 I DENT: Y EORANK : BC EORANKCQMM: VERY SMALL POPULATION, ADJACENT AREAS DISTURBED. BURVEYDATE: 1986-07-19 LASTOBS: 1986-07-19 FIRSTOBS: 1986 GRANK : GIQ SRANK: SIQ STATE: MT COUNTYNAME : MTMISS QUADCGDE: 4611465 QUADNAME: LOLO HOT SPRINGS PRECISION LAT: 464311 LONG: 1143441 S: ON: 0 E: TOWNRANGE: 011N0S4W SECTION: 11 MERIDIAN: PR TRSCOMM: SW4SE4 PHYSPROV : NR WATERSHED: 17010205 DIRECTIONS: GRANITE CREEK DRAINAGE, S.S AIR MI. WSW OF LOLO HOT SPRINGS, 0.40 AIR MI. E OF GRANITE CREEK ROAD (LOLO NF RD 9942), CA. 0.9 MI. S OF JCT. WITH RD 4209. MOIST, LOAM SOILS, ON EDGE OF MOIST TO BOGGY CAREX ROSTRATA/ DESCHAMPSIA CESPITOSA MEADOW J WITH PICE A ENGELMANNII, ABIES LASIOCARPA, PINUS CONTORT A, ALNUS. 4510 SIZE: 1 FIVE STEMS OBSERVED; TRISETUM CANESCENS AND T. WOLF I I OCCUR IN A MIXED POPULATION WHICH CONTAINS THE 5 INDIVIDUALS OF T. ORTHOCHAETUM. GENDESC; ELEV: EODATAi COMMENTS; VOUCHER-SHELLY, J.S. (1236) AND 6.V. KING, 1986, MONTU. MACODEl: MTPCHAMPIONI CONTAINEDl: MAC0DE3: C0NTAINED3: MOREMGMT: SITECODE: SITENAME: GRANITE CREEK NORTH MACODEE: ADLMAS: MORELAN: CONTAINEDE; MOREPROT; OWNER: CHAMPION INTERNATIONAL, OWNERCOMM: PROTCOMM: MGMTCOMM: MONITOR: BESTSOURCE; INC. SOURCECODE; DATASENS: TRANSCRIBR; MONITORNUM: SHELLY, J.S. 1986. FIELD SURVEYS IN MISSOULA COUNTY OF 10- 11 JULY, 16-19 JULY, AND 6 AUGUST. F86SHE06MT PNDBHEOIMT S86SHEUMMT U76WAT01MT A34HIT01MT B71HIT01MT B69HIT01MT BOUNDARIES: Y PHOTOS: N OWNERINFO: 86-08-19 JSS CDREV: Y MAPPER: 86-08-27 JSS QC: Y UPDATE: 86-09-16 JSS APPENDIX C: Status summary < Watson, 1976) ^'- 40 TAXON: TrisetuBi orthochaetum A. S. Hitchc. COMMON NAME: None FAMILY : Poaceae STATU S : ENDANGERED Ha±>itat: in a boggy meadow Distribution: Known only from the type locality at Lolo Hot Springs, Bitterroot Mts., Missoula Co., Montana. Nature of EIndcingerment: This elusive grass has been sought in vain over several years by Dr. C. L. Hitchcock, by Dr. L. H. Harvey and by myself. Dr. Harvey has on occasion tciXen agrostology classes to the type locality in search of T. orthochaetum. In 1951, Dr. Harvey found a single plant at this site which resembles the species. Similar plants have not since been collected. I have spent 30 hours over the past three years searching this area with negative results. The type locality has been altered drastically since the t£ocon was originally collected (in 1908) . Where once there was a boggy meadow, there is now a paved highway, a swimming pool, parking lots, a bar, and a campground. The habitat and the species may have been extirpated as a result of construction. Trisetum orthochaetum is thought to be a hybrid between T. wolfii and T. canescens due to its intermediate morphology and apparent sterility (i.e., the type specimen has abortive amthers) . However, the hybrid ori- gin has never been confirmed. During my field studies, the putative parents were found in an intermixed population along the margins of a IS 41 miiadow near Lolo Hot Springs. Intermediates, which would suggest hybridization, were not found in this zone of sympatry. This suggests that hybridization does not occur between T. wolfii and T. canescens or that gene exchange betweeh the two is a rcire event. Until artificial synthesis of the F hybrid cam be performed and the F plants compared with the type of T. orthochaetum, the origin and tcixonomic status of the latter cannot be resolved. Thus for the present, it seems advisable to retain T^. orthochaetuin on the endangered species list so as to protect any plants that may be later discovered. I have the putative parents in cultivation and will attempt cross- pollinations as soon as the plajits can be induced to flower. Production of an F hybrid will take at least two years because of the slow growth- rate of these perennials. MONTANA STATE ,11 This ""cover" page added by the Internet Archive for formatting purposes