MONTANA
STATE

This "cover" page added by the Internet Archive for formatting purposes

581.52!

Nl7rpi

1988

RARE PLANT INVENTORY OF

THE OUTSTANDING NATURAL AREAS OF THE

ROCKY MOUNTAIN FRONT

Prepared for:

United States Department of Interior

Bureau of Land Management

812 14th Street North

Great Falls, MT 59401

^^TE DOCUMENTS COLLECTION

^°%^A STATE LIBRARY
L,^fr^r»^5 E. 6th AVE.
HELENA, MONTANA 59620

Prepared by:

Lisa Ann Schassberger , Botanist

Montana Natural Heritage Program

State Library Building

1525 E. 6th Avenue

Helena, MT 59620

Summary Report

25 November 198!

This is an abridged report

For the full report please contact:

The Montana Natural Heritage Program

1515 E Sixth Ave

Helena, Montana 59620

406-444-3009

Table of Contents

Page

Introduction 1

Section One: Orchis rotundifolia Site Report. . . 2

Methods 2

I. Species Information 2

A. Classification 2

B. Present Legal or Other Formal Status. 5

C. Description 6

D. Geographical Distribution 7

E. Habitat 7

F. Population Demography and Biology . . 9

II. Assessment & Management Recommendations. 9

A. Threats to Population 9

B. Recommendations 9

III. Summary 10

Appendix A (Travel Route Maps) 11

Appendix B (Photographs) 16

Section Two: Species List 21

Literature Cited , 32

INTRODUCTION

The Blindhorse, Ear Mountain, Chute Mountain and Deep
Creek/Battle Creek, Outstanding Natural Areas (ONAs) are
located in the Front range Mountains approximately 32 km. (20
mi.) west of Choteau, Montana. These ONAs are administered by
the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (B.L.M.). They encompass
13,087 acres and contain a diversity of habitats
representative of the Front Range ecosystem.

The topography varies from streambeds and meadows to steep
forested slopes, cliffs and high-elevation peaks. Elevations
within the ONAs range from 1524 m (5000 ft.) to 2165 m
(8580 ft.) in elevation. The principle geologic features of
these areas include: Lower Cretaceous and Jurassic rocks,
(sandstone, mudstone, and fissile shale); Upper and Lower
Mississippian Rocks (Castle Reef Dolomite) , with lesser
amounts of Upper and Lower Cretaceous Rocks, (sandstones and
shales); and glacial and landslide deposits (Mudge et al . ,
1983) .

Much of the terrain supports stands of Pinus f lexil is
(limber pine), Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas fir) and Populus
tremuloides (guaking aspen) , although some areas include
stands of Picea engelmannii (Engelmann spruce) and Abies
lasiocarpa (supalpine fir) . These forested areas are
interspersed with foothills prairie and riparian areas around
the numerous creeks and streams.

A rare plant inventory of the Blindhorse, Ear Mountain,
Chute Mountain, and Deep Creek/Battle Creek ONAs on the Front
Range of Montana was conducted between 17-29 June, 1988. The
purpose of this investigation was to determine the occurrence,
frequency, and distribution of threatened or endangered plant
species within these ONAs. The first section of this report
includes information pertaining specifically to the rare plant
species. Orchis rotundif ol ia , which was found to occur on the
Ear Mountain ONA. Additionally, although a comprehensive
plant inventory of the resource area was not attempted or part
of the purpose of this survey, a partial list of vascular
plants was identified. The second section then includes this
list and brief habitat descriptions for each species.

SECTION ONE: Orchis rotundifolia Site Report

Methods

Ocular reconnaissance was used to locate potentially rare
plant species within the ONAs. Based on information on the
geology of the area, several rare plants were thought to
potentially occur on the ONAs. These species were:

- Astragalus molvbdenus (Leadville milkvetch)

- Cypripedium passerinum (sparrow • s-egg lady ' s-sl ipper)

- Eriqeron f laqellaris (trailing fleabane)

- Eriqeron lackschewitzii (Lackschewitz ' s fleabane)

- Orchis rotundifolia (round-leaved orchis)

- Oxytropis laqopus var. coniuqens (***)

- Oxytropis podocarpa (stalked-pod crazyweed)

- Saussurea densa (dwarf saw-wort)

Owing to the extent of the area to be covered, the time
constraints, the most likely habitats for these species were
searched in detail, while other areas were covered in general.
Maps in Appendix A (p. 12) show the approximate routes of
travel and the extent of the areas covered. Due to access
problems, the Chute Mountain ONA and the northern portion of
the Deep Creek/Battle Creek ONA were not covered extensively,
and further work might reveal rare plant populations in these
areas .

Field collections were identified using the Flora of the
Pacific Northwest (Hitchcock and Cronquist, 1973), Vascular
Plants of Montana (Dorn, R.D., 1984), and Manual of the
Grasses of the United States (Hitchcock, A.S., 1971). Voucher
specimens of Orchis rotundifolia are deposited at the
University of Montana Herbarium (MONTU) .

It must be emphasized that the search comprised only 12
consecutive days, and it is possible that some plant species
had flowered or had yet to bloom, and so were overlooked.

A population of Orchis rotundifolia was found in the
northwest corner of the Ear Mountain ONA along an unnamed
creek. See Figure 1, p. 3 and Table 1, p. 4 for the mapped
location and Element Occurrence Record for this population.
The following is a status report on this species.

I. SPECIES INFORMATION

A. CLASSIFICATION

1. SCIENTIFIC NAME: Orchis rotundifolia Banks ex
Pursh.

ELEMENT OCCURRENCE RECORD
EOCODE: PriORC01010 .010
'name: orchis ROTUNDIFOLIA
COMNAME: ROUND-LEAVED ORCHIS

1 TENTEN: 5,2 IDENT: Y EOR<:
WILLOW OPENING, EAR MOUNTAIN ONA
EXCELLENT LOCATION, LARGE POPULATION.
19B8-06-E0 LASTOBS: 19B8-06-E0 FIRSTOBS:

MARGNUM:

SURVEYS I TE

EORANKCQMM

SURVEYDATE

SRANK: SS STATE: MT

DUADCODE: ^711276

QUADNAME: EAR MOUNTAIN

LAT: t»75123 LONG: 112^107 S

TOWNRANGE: 02^N00BW SECTION

198B GRANK:

COUNTYNAME: MTTETO

07

N: (
MERIDIAN;

PRECISION:
E: 0
PR TRSCOMM:

SC

W: (

NW't;S6SW^

PHYSPROV: NR WATERSHED: 10030205 RIVERREACH:

DIRECTIONS: CA. 2.3 MILES NORTH OF EAR MOUNTAIN, CA. 1.1 MILES SOUTH OF
SOUTH FORK OF TETON RIVER, NEXT TO MAJOR CREEK.

GENDESC: WILLOW BOG IN CALCAREOUS LOAMJ BENEATH PICEA ENGELMANNII,
WITH SAL IX DRUMMONDIANA, DODECATHEON SPP., FRAGARIA
VIR6INIANA, AND PYROLA ASARIFOLIA.
ELEV: 56'»0 SIZE: 2

EODATA: CA. B00 PLANTSt ALONG EDGES OF BOG, FLOWERING AND WELL-
ESTABLISHED. GRAZING LEASE HELD BY THE NATURE CONSERVANCY,
HORSES RUN IN JULY-SEPTEMBER.

COMMENTS: VOUCHER - SCHASSBER6ER, L.A. (2EB), 1988, MONTU.

MACODEl: FBLONEARMIMTUS CQNTAINEDl: Y MACODES: FBLDOLEWIBMTUS C0NTAINED2:

Y
MAC0DE3: C0NTAINED3: ADLMAS: MORELAN: MOREPROT :

MOREMGMT: F SITECDDE:
SITENAME:

OWNER: BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT
OWNERCOMM:
PROTCOMM:
MGMTCOMM:

MONITOR: MONITORNUM:

BESTSOURCE: SCHASSBERGER, L.A. 1988. BLM FIELD SURVEYS OF DEEP CREEK-
BATTLE CREEK, CHUTE MTN, EAR MTN. AND BLINDHORSE O.N. As.
SOURCECODE: FB8SCH0^MTUS PNDSCH02MTUS S88SCHUMMTUS

DATASENS: N BOUNDARIES: Y PHOTOS: Y OWNERINFO:

TRANSCRIBR: 88-08-0^ LAS CDREV: Y MAPPER: 88-10-0'* LAS QC : Y

UPDATE: 88-11-21 JSS

Table 1 .

Element Occurrence Record for Willow Opening
ONA (010) Orchis rotundifolia site.

Ear Mountain

2. COMMON NAME: Round-leaved orchis.

3. FAMILY: Orchidaceae (Orchid Family).

4. Genus: Orchis rotundifolia is one of
approximately 80 species in the genus. Most of
the species are native to the temperate to cooler
areas of the Old World, with 3 or 4 found in North
America (Hitchcock et ai. , 1969) . Orchis
rotundifolia is the only species knov/n from the
Pacific Northwest region.

5. SPECIES: Orchis rotundifolia is the only member
of the genus in Montana (Dorn, 1984). In 1968,
Eric Hulten created the monotypic genus Amerorchis
to accommodate O. rotundifolia (Luer, 1975) . This
treatment is followed by Luer, and by Williams and
Williams (1983) . In agreeing with this taxonomic
outline Luer (1975) concludes that, in fact, no
true representatives of the genus Orchis occur in
North America. Orchis is used here in order to
match the nomenclature in the readily available

-^ ■ ■ state and regional floras, that are likely to be

\,) used by Bureau of Land Management personnel and

others (Hitchcock et ai. , 1969; Dorn, 1984).

B. PRESENT LEGAL OR OTHER FORMAL STATUS

1. FEDERAL STATUS

a. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE: Orchis
rotundifolia is not currently listed in the
U.S.F.W.S. Notice of Review (U.S. Dpartment
of Interior, 1985) .

b. U.S. FOREST SERVICE: Orchis rotundifolia is
currently included on the list of sensitive
species for Region 1 (Northern Region) of the
U.S. Forest Service (U. S. Department of
Agriculture, 1988) .

2. STATE: This species was listed as "recommended
threatened" by the Montana Rare Plant Project
(Lesica et al. , 1984). This category includes
"any species that is likely to become "an
endangered species within the foreseeable future
throughout all or a significant portion of its
range in Montana."

Orchis rotundifolia is currently listed by the
Montana Natural Heritage Program (Shelly, 1988) as

"demonstrably secure globally, though it may be
guite rare in parts of its range": (global rank =
G5) . In Montana, it is listed as "endangered in
state" (6-20 occurrences; state rank = S2).

None of these state ranks currently provide any
direct legal protection for O. rotundifolia .
Through its inclusion on the Region 1 sensitive
plant list, the species has legal protection under
U.S. Forest Service agency policies (W. Ruediger,
pers. comm. ) .

DESCRIPTION

GENERAL NONTECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Orchis
rotundifolia is characterized by a single stem
with a solitary, roundish basal leaf. Stems reach
only 8 inches in height. The basal leaf may be up
to 4 inches long. The 2-8 flowers (to 0.8 inches
long) , face nearly the same direction in the
inflorescence. The flowers have 3 sepals (outer
floral leaves) that are white to pinkish in color.
Only the upper sepal is distinctly hood-shaped,
while the 2 lateral sepals are lance-shaped. All
of these have wavy margins. The upper 2 petals of
the flower are more lance-shaped while the lower
petal forms a broad fringed lip. These petals are
also white or pinkish in color and have wavy
margins. The lower lip petal is distinctive for
its magenta or purple spots (rarely streaked) .

This perennial plant flowers from June to early
July (in Montana). It later forms capsules that
contain numerous tiny seeds. See color photos of
plants and habitat. Appendix B, pp. 17-20.

TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Plant glabrous,
rhizomatous-stoloniferous, mostly 10-20 cm. (8-16
in.) tall, scapose; the base of the stem with 1-3
sheathing bracts and a single sessile to short-
petiolate leaf, the blade broadly elliptic to
suborbicular 3-9 cm, (1.2-3.6 in.) long; raceme
mostly 2-8 ( 15) -flowered , flowers generally rather
crowded, subtended by greenish or purplish,
lanceolate bracts about as long as the ovary;
sepals 5-nerved, whitish to light pink, the upper
one ovate, rounded, 6-10 mm (0.24-0.40 in.) long,
erect and with the slightly connivent petals
forming a hood over the column; lower sepals
spreading, somewhat oblique; petals pink, slightly
shorter than the sepals, usually 3-nerved; lip
white to pinkish, magenta-purplish spotted ( or

3

rarely streaked), 6-9 mm. (0.24-0.39 in.) long,
oblong in outline, usually prominently lobed on
either side about midlength, narrowing before
flaring to a broad, undulate-crenate and retuse
terminal lobe, the basal orifice leading into a
slightly curved spur 5-6 mm. (0.19-0.24 in.) long;
ovary green to purplish (adapted from Hitchcock et
al. , 1969)

3. LOCAL FIELD CHARACTERS: Orchis rotundifolia is

easily distinguished by its single roundish basal
leaf, its scapose flowering stem, and the distinct
magenta or purple spots on the flaring, lobed, lip
petal. Some species of the genus Habenaria rarely
have a single basal leaf, but the lip petal of
these plants is never spotted.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

1. RANGE: The known range of Orchis rotundifolia

includes areas from Alaska to Greenland, south to
southern British Columbia, western Montana, north-
western Wyoming, Minnesota, Michigan, Wisconsin,
and New York. At the start of the 1988 field
season O. rotundifolia was known from only 4
locations in Montana. Extensive field surveys
conducted during the summer added a total of 13
new sites. Populations are known to occur in
Teton, Lewis and Clark, Pondera, and Powell
counties. A map of the distribution of the plant
populations within the state is included on p. 8.

HABITAT

ASSOCIATED VEGETATION: Orchis rotundifolia
generally occurs along streams and in bogs or wet
woods where drainage is good. It is often
associated with limestone substrates (Hitchcock et
al. , 1969). The population on the Ear Mountain
ONA occurs along the edges of a willow bog
composed primarily of Salix drummondiana . The
overstory is principally Picea engelmannii
(Engelmann spruce) . Associated plant species
include Dodecatheon pulchellum (few-flowered
shooting star) , Galium boreale (northern
bedstraw) , Fraqaria virginiana (Virgiriia
strawberry) , Aquilegia flavescens (yellow
columbine) , and Pyrola asarifolia (pink
wintergreen) .

Most of the known sites that contain O.
rotundifolia also contain other plants rare in

Montana. One species that flowers in May and
June, and is likely to also occur at this site is
Cypripedium passerinum (sparrow ' s-egg lady's-
slipper) . Another possible associate is
Antennaria pulcherrima (showy pussytoes) . Both of
these species are on the U.S. Forest Service
Region 1 Sensitive Plant List.

The site is on low-angle slopes (0-3%), at 5,640
feet in elevation. Other sites within Montana
have slopes that range from 0-10%, and elevations
that range from 4,560 to 5,920 feet.

F. POPULATION DEMOGRAPHY AND BIOLOGY

1. REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY: Although Orchis
rotundifolia is rhizomatous, it is apparently
short-lived and depends upon seed production to
maintain population sizes (Luer, 1975) .

2. POPULATION SIZE AND CONDITION: The Ear Mountain
population contains approximately 800 plants.
Other populations in Montana range in size from
100 to 3,000+ plants. The average population size
is approximately 760. The total number of plants
observed in Montana to date is approximately
13,000-15,000. Luer (1975) has found that
population sizes for this species generally
fluctuate from year to year.

II. ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

A. THREATS TO THE POPULATION: Currently there appear to be
no threats to this population of Orchis rotundifolia .
However, any activity that might alter the water regime
or overstory at the site would be likely to affect this
population.

B. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAINTAINING VIABLE POPULATIONS:
The following recommendations are made to insure the
long-term persistence of the O. rotundifol ia population
on the Ear Mountain Outstanding Natural Area:

1. Protection of this representative population

should be a priority. Monitoring studies would
increase information on the long term 'viability
and stability of this population. The grazing
allotment is currently held by The Nature
Conservancy. The allotment is for 15 horses from
July 5-September 5 (39 AUMs) on this piece of land
(945 acres) . It is currently not grazed to

10

capacity, and this use should not pose a threat to
the rare plant population.

Orchis rotundifolia is an orchid species distributed broadly
across boreal North America. Its range extends southward
into Montana where it is considered endangered in the state.
Although there are now 17 known sites in Montana for this
species, these populations are sparsely distributed. It is
likely that this species would be affected by minor habitat
disturbances that alter the water regime or overstory
characteristics of the Ear Mountain site. Future land use
activities in the vicinity of this population should include
consideration for maintaining its long-term viability.

11

Appendix A Maps pp. 12-15

Appendix A. Blindhorse ONA - USGS Cave Mountain Quadrangle.
I I

travel routes

mile

13

Appendix A. Ear Mountain ONA - USGS Ear Mountain
Quadrangle .

travel routes

1 mile

^ir^%A,^--»,:y,:j.:^^;^^

Appendix A. Chute Mountain ONA - USGS Ear Mountain

(north half) and Castle Reef (south half)
quadrangles .

travel routes

1 mile

15

Appendix A. Deep Creek/Battle Creek ONA USGS Castle
Reef Quadrangle.

1 mile

travel routes

16

APPENDIX B Photographs pp. 17-20

17

3

B. Orchis rotundifolia - inflorescence.

7)

19

20

J

Orchis rotundifolia Ear Mountain BLM ONA Site.
(.Willow opening in foreground)

SECTION TWO: SPECIES LIST

The following is a list of 146 vascular plants observed on
the Front Range B.L.M. ONAs . It is arranged by family,
genus and species. Following each species is a description
of the general habitat where it is found. Nomenclature
follows Dorn (1984).

Aceraceae (Maple Family)

Acer qlabrum (mountain maple)

Moist areas in forests or along streambanks.

Apiaceae (Carrot Family)

Heracleum sphondylium (cow parsnip)
Riparian areas.

Asteraceae (Sunflower Family)

Achillea millef ol ium (common yarrow)
Open or disturbed areas.

Anaphalis marqaritacea (common pearly everlasting)
Open or disturbed areas.

Antennaria alpina (alpine pussytoes)
Rocky, alpine slopes.

Antennaria umbrinella (umber pussytoes)

Dry open slopes at low elevations.

Arnica diversifolia (sticky arnica)
Open areas.

Arnica latifolia (broad-leaved arnica)
Moist forest,

Artemisia frigida (fringed sagewort)

Open, windswept ridges and slopes.

Artemisia tridentata (big sagebrush)

Uncommon, open slopes, low elevations.

Balsamorhiza sagittata (arrowleaf balsamroot)
Dry, rocky slopes. Common.

Eriqeron caespitosus (tufted fleabane)
Woods and slopes.

22

Eriqeron compositus (cut-leaved daisy)
Open, dry slopes.

Eriqeron pereqrinus (subalpine daisy)

Open, windswept slopes and dry creek bottoms.

Eriqeron rydberqii (Rydberg's daisy)
Open meadows.

Gaillardia aristata (blanket-flower)
Open slopes and flats.

Hymenoxys acaulis (stemless hymenoxys)

Open areas at mid- to high elevations.

Nothocalais cuspidata (toothed false dandelion)
Open slopes and meadows.

Senecio canus (woolly groundsel)
Open slopes.

Senecio foetidus (sweetmarsh butterweed)
Wet meadows.

Sol idaqo nana (baby goldenrod)

Open slopes and meadows.

Townsendia parryi (Parry's townsendia)

Rocky areas at high elevations (Ear Mountain)

BORAGINACEAE (Borage Family)

Crvptantha celosioides (northern cryptantha)
Open dry slopes and flats.

Eritrichium howardii (Howard's alpine forget-me-not)
Open, rocky slopes.

Lithospermum ruderale (wayside gromwell)

Meadows and open areas in forests.

Mertensia viridis (canescent bluebells)
Open slopes.

BRASSICACEAE (Mustard Family)

Arabis conf inis (spreading rockcress)
Dry, rocky creek bottoms.

23

Arabis holboellii (Holboell's rockcress)
Dry meadows and slopes.

Arabis lemmonii var. lemmonii (Lemmon's rockcress]
Rocky slopes at high elevations.

Draba aurea (golden draba)

Open slopes at mid- to high elevations.

Draba paysonii (Payson's draba)

Open slopes at mid- to high elevations.

Erysimum repandum (spreading wallflower)

Dry creek bottoms and open slopes.

Lesquerella alpina (alpine bladderpod)

Rocky^ high elevation scree slopes.

CAMPANULACEAE (Bellflower Family)

Campanula rotundif ol ia (lady's thimble)

Open ares in meadows and slopes,

CAPRIFOLIACEAE (Honeysuckle Family)

Symphoricarpos occidentalis (western snowberry)

Dry wooded slopes at low to mid-elevations,

CARYOPHYLLACEAE (Pink Family)

Arenaria conqesta (ballhead sandwort)
Dry, open plateaus.

Paronychia sessilif lora (stemless whitlow-wort)
Open slopes and ridges.

Silene scouleri (Scouler's silene)

Dry rocky areas (non-limestone) .

CRASSULACEAE (Stonecrop Family)

Sedum integrif ol ium (King's crown)
Subalpine, open slopes.

Sedum lanceolatum (lance-leaved stonecrop)
Open, rocky slopes and ridges.

24

CUPRESSACEAE (Juniper Family)

Juniperus communis (common juniper)
Dry, open, rocky slopes.

Juniperus horizontalis (creeping juniper]
Dry, windswept slopes.

CYPERACEAE (Sedge Family)

Carex f ilifolia (thread-leaved sedge]
Grasslands.

ELAEAGNACEAE (Oleaster Family)

Elaeaqnus commutata (silverberry)
Streambanks and slopes.

Shepherdia canadensis (buf f aloberry )
Dry woods and slopes.

ERICACEAE (Heath Family)

Arctostaphvlos uva-ursi

Woods and slopes,

FABACEAE (Pea Family)

Astragalus alpinus (alpine milkvetch)
Alpine scree slopes.

Astragalus crassicarpus (groundplum milkvetch;
Open hillsides.

Astragalus eucosmus (elegant milkvetch)
Dry, rocky creek bottoms.

Hedysarum sulphurescens (sulphur hedysarum)
Meadows and slopes.

Lathvrus ochroleucus (cream-flowered peavine)
Moist meadows, often under aspen.

Lupinus wyethii (Wyeth's lupine)
Open slopes.

Oxvtropis sericea (white locoweed)
Meadows and slopes.

Oxytropis splendens (showy locoweed)

Moist meadows and streambanks

Dalea purpurea (purple praire clover)
Dry open slopes.

Trifolium lonqipes (longstalk clover)
Meadows .

Vicia americana (American vetch)

Slopes and disturbed areas.

GERANIACEAE (Geranium Family)

Geranium richardsonii (white geranium)

Moist and shaded riparian areas, often under
aspen.

Geranium viscosissimum (sticky geranium)
Open areas in forests.

GROSSULARIACEAE (Currant Family)

Ribes cereum (wax currant)
Open rocky areas.

Ribes lacustre (prickly currant)

Moist woods and streambanks

HYDROPHYLLACEAE (Waterleaf Family)

Phacelia hastata (silky phacelia)
Dry creek bottoms.

IRIDACEAE (Iris Family)

Iris missouriensis (Rocky Mountain iris)
Moist meadows.

LAMIACEAE (Mint Family)

Monarda f istulosa (wild bergamot)

Dry, open slopes and sparsely wooded areas.

LILIACEAE (Lily Family)

Allium cernuum (nodding onion)
Dry, open plateaus.

Disporum trachycarpum (wartberry fairy-bell)
Moist woods.

Erythronium grandif lorum (glacier lily)
Meadows and open forests.

Fritillaria pudica (yellow bell)

Open slopes and meadows.

Smilacina racemosa (False Salomon's seal)
Forested moist canyons.

Ziqadenus elegans (glaucous zigadenus)
Meadows and slopes.

LINACEAE (Flax Family)

Linum perenne (blue flax)

Dry, open slopes at lower elevations

ONAGRACEAE (Evening Primrose Family)

Oenothera f lava (long-tubed evening primrose)
Vernal pools.

ORCHIDACEAE (Orchid Family)

Calypso bulbosa (fairy slipper)

Moist, shady areas under forest canopy.

Corallorhiza striata (striped coral root)
Moist forests.

Cypripedium montanum (mountain lady • s-slipper)

Partial shade in moist forests, usually on
limestone substrates.

Listera cordata (heart-leaf twayblade)
Moist areas and bogs.

Orchis rotundifolia (round-leaved orchis)
Moist but well drained bogs.

27

PINACEAE (Pine Family)

Abies lasiocarpa (subalpine fir)

Mid- to high elevation slopes.

Picea enqelmannii (Engelmann spruce)

Mid-elevation slopes and moist areas.

Pinus f lexilis (limber pine)

Dry, open sites, foothills to subalpine.

Pseudotsuqa menziesii (Douglas fir)
Mid-elevation slopes.

PLANTAGINACEAE (Plantain Family!

Plantaqo canescens

Moist streambanks.

POACEAE (Grass Family)

Aqropyron spicatum (Elymus spicatus (Pursh) Gould
(bluebunch wheatgrass) Open meadows.

Aqrostis variabilis (variant bentgrass)
Vernal pools.

Alopecurus aequalis (shortawn foxtail)
Vernal pools.

Bromus inermis (smooth brome)

Meadows and open areas.

Bromus tectorum (cheatgrass brome)

Open meadows, usually disturbed areas.

Festuca idahoensis (Idaho fescue)
Open meadows.

Festuca scabrella (rough fescue)

Open meadows and slopes.

Koeleria cristata (junegrass)

Open slopes and meadows.

Phleum pratense (common timothy)

Open meadows at low elevations.

Poa nevadensis (Nevada bluegrass)
Meadows and grasslands.

Poa pratensis (Kentucky bluegrass)
Meadows and grasslands.

Stipa occidentalis (Western needlegrass)
Grasslands.

POLEMONIACEAE (Phlox Family)

Phlox hoodii (Hood's phlox)

Dry, open flats and slopes.

Polemonium pulcherrimum (skunk-leaved poleTtionium)
Dry, rocky slopes and creekbeds.

POLYGONACEAE (Buckwheat Family)

Erioqonum androsaceum (androsace buckwheat)

Subalpine and alpine, open, rocky slopes.

Erioqonum f lavum (yellow eriogonum)

Open slopes and level areas.

Erioqonum oval if ol ium (oval-leaved buckwheat)

Open, rocky slopes at mid- to high elevations.

Oxyria digyna (mountain sorrel)
Dry creek bottoms.

Polygonum bistortoides (American bistort)
Moist meadows.

PORTULACACEAE (Purslane Family)

Claytonia meqarhiza (alpine spring beauty)
Alpine scree slopes.

Lewisia rediviva (Bitterroot)
Dry, open meadows.

PRIMULACEAE (Primrose Family)

Androsace chamaejasme (sweet-flowered androsace)
Open slopes and meadows.

Androsace septentrional is (northern fairy-candelabra;
Meadows and slopes.

29

Dodecatheon pulchellum (few-flowered shooting star)
Moist areas.

Douqlasia montana (Rocky Mountain douglasia)
Rocky slopes and ridges.

RANUNCULACEAE (Buttercup Family)

Anemone multif ida (cliff anemone)
Dry open slopes.

Anemone patens (pasqueflower)

Open slopes and woods.

Aquilegia f lavescens (yellow columbine)
Forested moist canyons.

Aquilegia jonesii (limestone columbine)
Limestone talus, alpine.

Clematis columbiana (Columbia virgins-bower)
Forested areas.

Clematis hirsutissima (vaseflower clematis)
Slopes and woods.

Ranunculus aquatilis (hairleaf water buttercup)
Ponds .

Ranunculus f lammula (creeping buttercup)
Shallow waters of ponds.

Thalictrum venulosum (veiny meadowrue)

Moist or shaded areas along streams.

ROSACEAE (Rose Family)

Amelanchier alnifolia (alderleaf serviceberry)
Woods and slopes.

Dryas drummondii (yellow mountain-avens)

Dry rocky creekbeds and open areas.

Fragaria vesca (woods strawberry)
Open to shaded slopes.

Gaum trif lorum (old man's whiskers)
Open meadows.

Physocarpus malvaceus (mallow ninebark)

Dry, open slopes at lower elevations,

Potentilla fruticosa (shrubby cinquefoil)
Moist to dry meadows.

Prunus virqiniana (common chokecherry)
Moist streambanks.

Rosa woodsii (Wood's rose)
Woods and slopes.

Spiraea betulifolia (shiny leaf spirea)
Woods and draws.

RUBIACEAE (Madder Family)

Galium boreale (northern bedstraw)
Hills and slopes.

SALICACEAE (Willow Family)

Populus tremuloides (quaking aspen)
Moist slopes and ravines.

Salix drummondiana (Drummond willow)
Riparian areas.

SANTALACEAE (Sandalwood Family)

Comandra umbellata (bastard toad-flax)
Open meadows and flats.

SAXIFRAGACEAE (Saxifrage Family)

Heuchera qrossularii folia (goosseberry-leaved alumroot)
Rocky sites at higher elevations.

Mitella trif ida (three-tooth mitrewort)
Stream banks.

Saxifraqa bronchialis (spotted saxifrage)
Rocky areas.

Saxifraqa cespitosa (tufted saxifrage)
High elevation rocky slopes.

Telesonix jamesii (Jame's saxifrage)
Subalpine open slopes.

31

SCROPHULARIACEAE (Figwort Family)

Besseya wyomingensis (Wyoming kittentail)
Moist meadows.

Castilleia lutescens (yellowish paintbrush)
Open slopes and meadows.

Castilleia miniata (scarlet paintbrush)
Dry, open rocky areas.

Gratiola ebracteata (bractless hedge-hyssop)
Vernal pool species.

Pedicularis contorta (coiled-beak lousewort)
Moist ravines.

Penstemon confertus (yellow penstemon)
Open rocky slopes and ridges.

Penstemon ellipticus (rockvine penstemon)
Dry, rocky slopes.

Penstemon eriantherus (fuzzytongue penstemon]
Dry rocky slopes.

Penstemon gracilis (slender penstemon)
Dry open slopes.

URTICACEAE (Nettle Family)

Urtica dioica (stinging nettle)

Meadows and open forests

VALERIANACEAE (Valerian Family)

Valeriana edulis (edible valerian)
Open slopes and meadows.

Valeriana sitchensis (Sitka valerian)
Woods and slopes.

32

LITERATURE CITED

Dorn, R.D. 1984. Vascular Plants of Montana. Mountain West
Publishing, Cheyenne, Wyoming. 276 pp.

Hitchcock, A.S. 1971. Manual of the Grasses of the United
States, Dover Publications, New York. 1051 pp.

Hitchcock, C.L., Cronquist, A., Ownbey, M., and J.W. Thompson.
1969. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest, Part One.
University of Washington Press, Seattle. 914 pp.

Hitchcock, C.L., and A. Cronquist. 1973. Flora of the

Pacific Nothwest. University of Washington Press, Seattle.
730 pp.

Lesica, P., Moore, G., Peterson, K.M., and J.H. Rumely. 1984.
Vascular Plants of Limited Distribution in Montana.
Monograph No. 2, Montana Academy of Sciences, Supplement to
the Proceedings, Vol. 43. 61pp.

Luer, C.A. 1975. The Native Orchids of the United States and
Canada. New York Botanical Garden, W.S. Cowell Ltd.,
Ipswich. 361 pp.

Mudge, M.R., Earhart, R.L., Whipple, J.W. and J.E. Harrison.
1983. Geologic and Structure Maps of Choteau 1° x 2°
Quadrangle. Montana Bureau of Mines and Geology.

Shelly, J.S. 1988. Plant Species of Special Concern.

Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena. 12 pp. (raimeo) .

U.S. Department of Agriculture. 1988. Sensitive Plant Field
Guide to Northern Idaho and Montana. U.S. Forest Service,
Northern Region. Range, Air, Watershed, and Ecology.
Missoula, Montana.

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): 39526-39584.

MONTANA
STATE

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