583.111 iNllsrab Schasaberf^cr Status review of Aqui let»i a brevistylat U.S.D.A. Forest STATUS REVIEW OF Aquileqia brevistvla U.S.D.A. FOREST SERVICE - REGION 1 LEWIS & CLARK NATIONAL FOREST MONTANA Prepared by: Lisa Schassberger Roe, Botanist Montana Natural Heritage Program State Library Building 1515 E. 6th Avenue Helena, MT 59620 STAIt DOCUMENTS COLLECTION JUL 01993 MONTANA STATE LIBRARY 1515 E. 6th AVE. HELENA, MONTANA 59620 Challenge Cost-share Project January 1992 1992 Montana Natural Heritage Program This document should be cited as follows: Roe, L.S. 1992. Status review of Aquileqia brevistyla , Lewis & Clark National Forest. Montana Natural Heritage Program. Helena, MT. 4 7 pp. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I . SUMMARY 1 II. SPECIES INFORMATION 2 A. CLASSIFICATION 2 B. PRESENT LEGAL OR OTHER FORMAL STATUS 3 C. DESCRIPTION 3 D. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 5 E . HABITAT 7 F. POPULATION DEMOGRAPHY AND BIOLOGY 9 G . POPULATION ECOLOGY 19 H. LAND OWNERSHIP 19 I . DOCUMENTATION 2 0 III. ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS 21 A. THREATS TO CURRENTLY KNOWN POPULATIONS 21 B. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND RESPONSE 2 2 C. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAINTAINING VIABLE POPULATIONS. 22 D. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT 2 2 VI. LITERATURE CITED 23 V. ELEMENT OCCURRENCE PRINT-OUTS AND MAPS 2 5 VI . PHOTOGRAPHS 4 2 1 the following report, numbers in parentheses after site names refer to the Montana Natural ;ritage Program occurrence numbers for those sites. 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 I . SUMMARY This report summarizes the findings of field surveys conducted from 1-5 July 1991, by the Montana Natural Heritage Program, and fieldwork completed by Lewis & Clark National Forest personnel, for Aauilectia brevistvla (short-styled columbine) on the Lewis & Clark National Forest in Montana. This member of the Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family) is peripheral in Montana, and is found more commonly to the north in Canada and Alaska. Prior to the 1991 field season, this species was known from only two verified locations within Montana; both were in the Little Belt Mountains, on Lewis & Clark National Forest lands. A third population on the Boulder River south of Big Timber, MT, was unverified due to a questionable specimen. Field surveys conducted during 1991 by Montana Natural Heritage Program and Lewis & Clark National Forest personnel revealed seven new populations, all in the Judith River watershed. The Boulder River population remains unverified. Of the nine known populations of A. brevistvla, two contain plants that exhibit characteristics intermediate to A. brevistvla and A. flavescens. Hybridization is extremely common among species in the genus Aquileqia and may be occurring here. A chromosome count and an electrophoretic study of the Montana populations might confirm the presence of the suspected hybrids. Fire swept through the Sage Creek (003) population in the fall of 1990. Field observations in 1991 indicate that in lightly burned areas, where the duff remained intact, plants survived. Plants did not survive in areas where the duff was eliminated by hot fire. Observations of the Sage Creek (003) population should continue for several years to determine long term fire effects, especially with respect to the removal of shade and logging activities. Further survey work will be necessary to try to verify the Boulder River (002) record. Additional surveys should also be completed in the Judith River watershed to better detail the range of this species. II. SPECIES INFORMATION A. CLASSIFICATION 1. SCIENTIFIC NAME: Aquileqia brevistvla Hook. 2. SYNONYMS: A. vulgaris var. brevistvla Gray, in Amer. Journ. Sci. ser. 2, xxxiii, 243 (1862); A. brevistvla var. vera Bruhl, in Journ. Asiatic Soc. Bengal, Ixi, pt. 2, 319, (1893); A. brevistvla var. altior Rapaics, in Hot. Kozlem. viii, 132 (1909) . 3. COMMON NAME: short-styled columbine. 4. FAMILY: Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family). 5. GENUS: According to Hitchcock et al. (1964), there are about 70 species of columbine in the Northern Hemisphere, chiefly found in the mountains. Munz (1946) recognized 67 species. Dorn (1984) recognizes five species for Montana. The genus shows high interfertility , with polyploidy quite rare, and diploid interspecific hybrids that show little sterility. Interfertility is as common between species on opposite sides of the earth as between geographically related species (Munz 1946) . Munz (1946) felt that in nature, species of Aquileqia are likely to exist only where some degree of isolation occurs, geographical or altitudinal, and only where there are overlapping ranges is intergradation to be expected. Indeed, Clausen et al. (1945) state: "These results lead to the conclusion that Aquileqia is one huge cenospecies composed of only a few ecospecies. Probably most of the recognized ^species' are merely morphologically distinguishable ecotypes or subspecies. This evolutionary status is of much interest, because it possibly represents a youthful stage experienced by many other, now mature genera, before they developed a strong barrier to interbreeding, with polyploidy following. " 6. SPECIES: Aquileqia brevistvla is characterized by blue and white pendulous flowers, hooked spurs which are shorter than the laminae, included stamens, and short styles. This combination of characters positions it closer to Asiatic species than other American species except A. saximontana and A. laramiensis, both of which have shorter stems with flowers in among the leaves (Munz 1946) . B. PRESENT LEGAL OR OTHER FORMAL STATUS 1. FEDERAL STATUS a. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE: None. b. U.S. FOREST SERVICE: Aquilecfia brevistvla is currently included on the list of sensitive plant species for Region 1 (Northern Region) of the U.S. Forest Service. Agency- objectives and policy in the 1984 Forest Service Manual provide for the management and protection of sensitive species (Section 2670.32). Under these guidelines, the U.S. Forest Service is to "(a) void or minimize impacts to species whose viability has been identified as a concern" (2670.32.2). 2. STATE: Prior to the 1991 field season, Aguilegia brevistyla was listed by the Montana Natural Heritage Program (Achuff 1991) as "critically imperiled in the state" (state rank = SI) . With the addition of seven new locations from 1991 field surveys by U.S. Forest Service and Montana Natural Heritage Program personnel, the state rank will be changed to S2, "imperiled because of rarity. " It is recommended as "sensitive" (any species, that is known from a limited number of populations in Montana) by Lesica and Shelly (1991) . 3. OTHER STATUS: Aquileaia brevistvla is listed as "rare and threatened in Wyoming" by the Wyoming Natural Diversity Data Base (Marriott 1991) . Although restricted to the Black Hills region of South Dakota, this species is locally common there (Dave Ode 1991) . C. DESCRIPTION 1. GENERAL NONTECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: The short- styled columbine grows from 8-32 inches in height. The branched stems are fuzzy-hairy, and bear short-stemmed, compound leaves, each composed of three maple leaf-shaped leaflets. Flowers droop on short stems at the upper nodes, each composed of five petals and five sepals. The petal blades are white and rounded at the tip, while the backward extension, the spur, is short, hooked, and blue in color. Five pointed, blue sepals, flare out behind the petals. The styles are short, usually near 1/8 inch long. When ripe, the dry tubular elongate fruits contain numerous black, shining, narrow arcuate seeds (adapted from Munz 1946) . 2. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Stems 2-8 dm high, 1.5-3.5 mm thick, glabrous to pilose below, pilose and more or less glandular above, simple to branched above; basal leaves few, biternate, rather thin, green and glabrous above, glaucous and glabrous to pilose beneath; petioles 3-18 cm long, slender, subglabrous to pilose; primary petiolules 1-5 cm long, usually pilose, secondary up to 1 cm long; leaflets round-obovate to wider, 1-4 cm long, cleft to about the middle, each division with few round-oblong often slightly emarginate lobes; cauline leaves gradually reduced up the stem, the leaflets narrower, about 1 dm long; flowers nodding, pilose; sepals blue, slightly spreading, lanceolate, acuminate to acute, 13-16 mm long; laminae yellowish-white, oblong, rounded-truncate, 8-10 mm long; spurs blue, hooked, 6-7 mm long, about 3 mm wide at base; stamens scarcely equalling laminae, anthers yellow, about 1 mm long; staminodia 6-7 mm long, plane, abruptly acute; follicles 5-6, glandular and pilose, 15-25 mm long, often divergent above, the styles 3-4 mm long; seeds about 1.5 mm long (Munz 1946). 3. LOCAL FIELD CHARACTERS: In Montana, A. brevistvla is differentiated from other blue-flowered columbines by a combination of characteristics including: the length of the style, length of the spurs, the size of the plant, and the presence and size of leaves along the stem. Aquilegia brevistyla differs from A. coerulea by having short spurs (versus long spurs) , and from A. ionesii by having leaves along the stem, and leaf blades mostly over 15 mm long (versus only basal leaves with blades that are less than 15 mm long) . Munz (1946) reported hybridization between A. brevistvla and A. f lavescens , citing the specimens Macoun (95889, 95890) from Goat Mountain, Jasper Park, Alberta, with "sepals spreading, blue, 16-20 mm. long; laminae whitish or pale, 6-8 mm. long; spurs not hooked, 5-14 mm. long." Information presented under Reproduction and Taxonomy, Section F.3.a., p. 11, indicates that A. brevistyla may be hybridizing with A. flavescens in Montana. It is imperative that specimen collections be made for determination, noting color while still fresh, and making morphologic measurements of style length and spur length. Apparent hybrids between A. ionesii and A. flavescens (Aauilegia x elatior (Strickler 1991)) have been observed in Glacier National Park that are superficially similar to A. brevistyla (DeSanto 1991, Lesica and Shelly 1991). D. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 1. RANGE: Aquileqia brevistyla ranges from Alaska and the Yukon, south to British Columbia where it is common; and to Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, Minnesota, South Dakota, Montana, and Wyoming, where it is known peripherally (Hitchcock et al- 1964, Scoggan 1978). It is found locally in the Black Hills of South Dakota (Ode 1991) . This species is currently known from the mountainous region of the Little Belt Mountains of central Montana, with an unverified location in the Absaroka Range along the Boulder River in south- central Montana. 2. CURRENT SITES: There are currently seven populations that contain A. brevistyla in Montana, and two populations that contain A. brevistyla and what appear to be intermediates between A. flavescens and A. brevistyla, as determined from morphologic evidence. All of these sites occur in the Judith River watershed in the northeast corner of the Little Belt Mountains. The locations of these nine currently known, and the one unverified site for A. brevistyla in Montana are shown on a map. Figure 1, p. 6. The legal descriptions, latitudes and longitudes, elevations, USGS topographic map names, and locations of the occurrences in Montana are found in the Element Occurrence records, pp. 25-35. Exact locations for nine of the sites are shown on U.S.G.S. topographic maps pp. 36-41. 3. HISTORICAL SITES: None known. 4. UNVERIFIED/UNDOCUMENTED REPORTS: A specimen collected in July of 1967, from 20 miles above the town of McLeod (Sweetwater County) along the Boulder River is unverified. The identity of the specimen remains uncertain (Lesica and Shelly 1991) , and brief surveys for this population in 1989 by Sarah Mathews for the Montana Natural Heritage Program were unsuccessful. Aquileqia f lavescens was observed in flower by this author at Aspen Campground, on the Boulder River, on 5 June 1991. Further survey work will be necessary to locate and try to verify this record. As stated above, this site is included on the state map (p. 6) and information on the site can be found in the Element Occurrence records. Section V, p. 25. However, since an exact location of this occurrence is not known, a U.S.G.S. topographic is not included. Also, this site will not be referenced in much of the discussion that follows. AREAS SURVEYED BUT SPECIES NOT LOCATED: The following areas were surveyed by the author for A, brevistyla because the habitat appeared to be suitable on the topographic maps, but the species was not located within them. The actual areas surveyed may be smaller than the portions of the sections indicated. T09N ROSE SEC 16, NW^jSW^ T09N ROSE SEC 17, NE^,NW^ * TION R12E SEC 01, SE^,, N^^7^ * TUN R12E SEC 35, SE^ * TUN RISE SEC 05, SE^SE^s * TUN RISE SEC 08, NE^,NE^ T14N RIOE SEC 12, NE^^NE^ T14N RUE SEC 06, SW^,SW^ T15N RIOE SEC 29, NW^SE^ T15N RIOE SEC 31, SE^SW^ Areas marked by a star contained A. f lavescens. In addition, Wayne Phillips (Ecologist, Lewis & Clark National Forest) surveyed for A. brevistyla in drainages of Little Snowy Mountains and in the Crystal Lake area of the Big Snowy Mountains in 1991 without result. E. HABITAT 1. GENERAL DESCRIPTION AND ASSOCIATED VEGETATION: Aquileqia brevistyla occurs in open woods and on stream terraces at mid-elevation in the mountains. Populations in Montana occur at elevations from 5000-6000 feet (1525-1830 m) (Lesica and Shelly 1991) , in the ecotone between Picea enqelmannii/Pseudotsuga menziesii (Engelmann spruce/Douglas fir) forest and Festuca scabrella/Poa pratensis (rough fescue/common timothy) meadows. Moss cover was often high. Species present included, Hylocomium splendens Pleurozium schreberi . Drepanocladus uncinatus, Timmia austriaca , and Thuidium abietinum. Other associated species include: Abies lasiocarpa (subalpine fir) Picea enqelmannii (Engelmann spruce) Pinus contorta (lodgepole pine) Pinus ponderosa (ponderosa pine Pseudotsuqa menziesii (Douglas fir) Acer qlabrum (Rocky Mountain maple) Antennaria racemosa (raceme pussytoes) Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (kinnikinnick) Arnica cordifolia (heart-leaf arnica) Aster conspicuus (showy aster) Athyrium f ilix-femina (lady-fern) Calamaqrostis rubescens (pinegrass) Calypso bulbosa (fairy-slipper) Clematis columbiana (Columbia clematis) Cypripedium montanum (mountain lady ' s-slipper) Festuca idahoensis (Idaho fescue) Festuca scabrella (rough fescue) Fraqaria virqiniana (Virginia strawberry) Galium boreale (northern bedstraw) Galium trif lorum (sweetscented bedstraw) Geranium richardsonii (white geranium) Goodyera repens (northern rattlesnake-plantain) Habenaria viridis (frog orchis) Juniperus communis (common juniper) Linnaea borealis (twinflower) Phleum pratense (common timothy) Poa pratensis (Kentucky bluegrass) Potentilla f ruticosa (shrubby cinquefoil) Pyrola secunda (one-sided wintergreen) Ribes lacustre (swamp currant) Schizachne purpurascens (false melic) Shepherdia canadensis (Canada buf f aloberry) Smilacina stellata (starry Solomon-plume) Spiraea betulifolia (shiny-leaf spiraea) Thalictrum occidentale (western meadowrue) Viola canadensis (Canada violet) 2. TOPOGRAPHY: In Montana, A. brevistyla is known to occur in the Little Belt Mountains, in the Judith River watershed. Populations occur at mid- elevations (5000-6000 ft, (1525-1830 m) ) , on slopes that range from 0-40 percent. Most of the populations occur on toeslopes and along valley bottoms. 3. SOIL RELATIONSHIPS: In Montana, A. brevistvla has been found on alluvial and colluvial limestone substrates. Populations occur on soils derived from Madison Limestone, the Monarch Formation (brown & black granular limestone capped by- shale) , and the Barker Formation (limestone and micaceous shale, containing beds of limestone conglomerate and quartzite at the base) (Weed 1899) . 4. REGIONAL CLIMATE: The regional climate of central Montana is characterized by warm summers and cold, snowy winters. The precipitation peak in central Montana is generally as rain or wet snow in May and June (U.S. Department of Commerce 1982). The climatic station closest to the central Montana sites is at Stanford (elevation 4308 ft. (1315 m) ) , which is approximately 18 miles northeast, and about 1500 feet (460 m) lower than most of the sites in the Little Belt Mountains. For the period 1951-1980 (U.S. Department of Commerce 1982) , the January mean temperature was 20.5°F (2.6°C), the July mean temperature was 65.2°F (18.6°C), and the annual mean temperature was 43.2°F (6.3°C). The mean annual precipitation was 15.34 inches (38.4 cm), with May (3.01 inches) (7.5 cm) and June (3.07 inches) (7.7 cm) being the wettest months. F. POPULATION DEMOGRAPHY AND BIOLOGY 1. PHENOLOGY: Plants begin flowering in Montana in late May and early June, and often continue to flower through early July. June of 1991 was a very wet and cold month across most of the state, including the Little Belt Mountains. Several populations of A. brevistvla were at the height of bloom on July 1, nearly two weeks later than the previous year. Fruit and seed set usually occur in July and August. 2. POPULATION SIZE AND CONDITION: The following population sizes are underestimated, since flowering plants are usually the most visible and are easily counted. It was not practical to try 10 to count plants in the vegetative state for entire populations, since the leaf morphology and architecture of Thalictrum occidentale and A. brevistvla are nearly indistinguishable in a forest setting. Dry Pole (001) Population size: ca. 45 plants in 2 main subpopulations . Population condition: several plants show characteristics intermediate to A. brevistyla and A_^ f lavescens . Acreage covered by population: 1 Last observation date: 1991 Boulder River (002) Population size: 0 Population condition: unknown. Acreage covered by population: unknown. Last observation date: 1967 Sage Creek (003) Population size: ca . 2000 plants (1990), ca . 770 - 1000 in 1991. Population condition: site burned in fall of 1990, population size was difficult to estimate in 1991 as a number of plants were only in a vegetative state. Acreage covered by population: 15 Last observation date: 1991 Burris Trail (004) Population size: ca. 100 plants. Population condition: good. Acreage covered by population: 1 Last observation date: 1991. Burley Creek (005) Population size: ca. 2000 plants. Population condition: good. Acreage covered by population: ca. 300. Last observation date: 1991 High Spring Creek (006) Population size: 100-200 plants. Population condition: good. Acreage covered by population: ca. 30. Last observation date: 1991 11 Hay Canyon (007) Population size: ca . 800-1000 plants. Population condition: good condition, many plants in disturbed roadside berms . Acreage covered by population: ca. 40. Last observation date: 1991 South Fork Judith River (008) Population size: ca . 10-15 plants. Population condition: good, could be easily disturbed by roadside activities. Acreage covered by population: 1 Last observation date: 1991 South Fork Judith River (009) Population size: ca . 25 plants. Population condition: several plants show characteristics intermediate to A. brevistyla and A^ f lavescens. Acreage covered by population: 1 Last observation date: 1991 Smith Creek (010) Population size: ca . 2 plants, more survey needs to be completed in this drainage. Population condition: unknown. Acreage covered by population: 1 Last observation date: 1991 REPRODUCTION AND TAXONOMY Most members of the genus Aquilegia are outcrossers and are known to easily hybridize. For 56 out of 58 taxa in the genus Aquilegia , 2n=14 (Dawe and Murray 1981) . Dawe and Murray (1981) report 2n=16 for A. brevistyla. If A. brevistyla is an aneuploid, it is less likely that it would produce fertile hybrids. However, collections made in the Little Belt Mountains by this author during the 1991 field season are problematic, and Munz (1946) reports putative hybridization between A. brevistyla and A. f lavescens in Alberta, Canada. At Dry Pole (001) , initial collections and photographs were taken of a small cluster of A. brevistyla . Upon continuing up the canyon, Aquilegia plants with long blue spurs and sepals were observed in shaded locations, but completely yellow Aquilegias were observed in more open locations. Further exploration up the canyon yielded observations of only A. f lavescens. 12 Subsequently, five more specimen collections were made to include the observed variation of this site, and additional Aquileqia collections were made from surveyed locations across the Lewis & Clark National Forest. Morphologic measurements were completed on pressed specimens, and sepal color observations were made before collection and after pressing and drying. Only one measurement was taken for each character on each specimen. This information is presented in Table 1, p. 13. Similar information was obtained for Aquileqia specimens collected from other locations on the Forest. Utilizing the keys and descriptions presented by Scoggan (1978), Moss (1983) and Munz (1946), a matrix of characters that are associated with A. brevistyla and A. f lavescens was organized in table form. Table 2, p. 14. Individual characters of each specimen were then scored with respect to the matrix (Table 3, p. 15). Thus, the character of sepal color for a specimen was scored as either falling into the description for A. brevistyla or A. f lavescens , or if it did not clearly fit into either, (such as yellow when collected, blue when pressed) as intermediate. Finally, a composite score was given to each specimen (bottom of Table 3, p. 15). Collection sites for these specimens are marked on portions of a reduced reproduction of a USDA Forest Service map of the Lewis & Clark National Forest, Figure 2 (p. 16), and 3 (p. 17). Specimens are deposited as detailed under Documentation, Section I.I., p. 20. Only at Dry Pole (001) was the distribution of A. f lavescens actually observed to overlap with A. brevistyla. Six specimens (442 1-6) were collected from this site. Of these, specimens 442-2, and 6 best fit the description of A. brevistyla according to the matrix (Table 2) , while specimens 442-3 and -4 fit the description of A. f lavescens. Specimens 442-1, and -5 each were given composite scores of intermediate (to A. brevistyla and A. f lavescens) . Specimen 442-1 had blue sepals, a short style, and stamens that were barely exserted; all characters representative of A brevistyla . However, this specimen also had long and wide sepals, and petals that were less than half the length of the sepals, characters that better fit the description for A. f lavescens. Specimen 442-5 was collected yellow but dried 13 1 g m _> 1^ o <=> CO :^ UJ HAYMAKER CANYON 449 1 2 3 . o ~ , vO . LOGGING CREEK 448 1 3 -1 -J >- -^ >- CVj o o CO . ^ HAY CANYON (007) 447 1 3 3 u-i o „ . S. FORK JUDITH RIVER (Oil) 446 446 1 2 3 3 - in o „ in - z STAMEN POSITION: EXSERTED- (E) BARELY EXSERTED- (BE) INCLUDED- (I) D (0 D C < (0 ■P o o V) C 4-1 O O -P U) (0 c > -H ^ (C 0) -P Ul c X! 3 o o C 4-) c3 <— I -l -H W (0 Q) Q) £! U •H U) O +J a, e v^ o o u 14 to c 0) u to CD > 03 o: tr Q) tr < Q) Q) S-i 03 o .—1 0) 12-22 mm and petal blades 1 less than or equal to 1 half the length of the 1 sepals 1 E E A E E in A n Q) 4J Vj tu to X Q) x: o 3 E to C 0) E 03 +J to 03 > t/) > X5 03 1— 1 •H 3 < 1— 1 a ^ 3 a j:: to •H 3 1— 1 X( 0) 3 r-H X! sepals to ca . 16 mm and petal blades better than half as long as sepals E E VI E E in (M Q) U 03 X5 to i-l -H O 03 -P o O -p a 11 tp c t/l -H C T3 CD 0) E Q) 03 U •P X m (D CO w M u w a, a o < u (1) to to 0) J-) a \ x: to Q) V-i s 8 .J < a. w en * X, tj -.< E CU E W ■\ tj tj w w < < e" _E H w e" E Q W w X w Q W Q u M cn W l^H ^H^^^H Ti :? Q) f-{ >-i 03 (1) ax: 0) to n Q) - Ti to 3 CJ Q) ■f-{ ^ ,-i 03 X! 3 TJ a c 03 () •H >. >4-l to •H fl) -p •H c C) 0) Q) •H a o to to - o 5 UJ CO O UJ vj ^ O q: -J- o ^ >- 2 O ^ •- 3:uw mm mmm m — o ^ ^ ^ mm mmm m o O OL - jmz— uio O — z >-ii-iun:z == i o r u o z: I -" I z 2 ° u < I zz— UJ% < _J _jt—^_i»-o _J tut— UJt— OUJ- Q. >-z QJ 4-> IJ u; I/; .,- q; > > 0, nr S-i X! U-l >-i v^ o 0 o 0) c c C) C) o •H •H sz 4-1 iJ 4-) a a ■r-i •H C) u u 4J t) () U) w 0 Q) -p U) U) w Q) 0) m Xi X! S C c c a) fl) (1) fc e E •H •H C) C) C) Q) Q) 0) a a a tn U) l/l u U ^ o O o S-i Vi u (1) 0) 0) +j ■i-> 4-1 u u CJ (d (0 (fl u S-i u (0 m m x: x; x: • u u u w w m ifi a ■H •H •rH ( x: jC r; u; H tH H 0) > 0) o iH 4-) X! m r7^H c ■f-i 0) n 0) u i/i o t) o (0 Ul c ^ a; c c (1) t;: e a •H > u (C 0) ,— a^ m r. < o 01 h Q) C) u S-i <^ O H-l ro i-H Q> > U 4J 0 in 0 •H V) > -i m m D. T5 Q) c Ifi m 0 ^ 4J m 0) T! 4J Q) rtJ W 4-1 D W x: x; - u o oo 16 ...,- 1 I Pinc Knob ?°""1 " " 1 1 ■'• ci^Ecii'^Ly %^ 1 «^ t^-fe--l '"' i '^^ ^L^l ■-):• '\- 1>>;-!.a [?i^i^^!;c[v^^rra*-r ym^^Kr^'^- Figure 2. USDA Lewis & Clark National Forest map showing the locations Jp^ of the Aquilegia collections on which measurements (Table 1) were made in 1991. Specimen collection numbers occur next to the stars above , and in Table 1 . Figure 3. USDA Lewis & Clark National Forest map showing the location H of an Aquilegia collection on which measurements (Table 1) were made in 199l7 A specimen collection number occurs next to the star above , and in Table 1 . blue, and had barely exserted stamens. All other characters for this specimen fit the description for A. f lavescens. A photograph of a putative hybrid plant is included in Section VI, p. 47. Although A. f lavescens was not observed near the South Fork Judith River (Oil) population, specimen 446-1 had blue sepals and barely exserted stamens, characters that best fit the description of A. brevistyla. However, it also had long and wide sepals, and a long style, characters associated with A, f lavescens. Due to the mix of characters, this specimen was also scored as an intermediate. Other puzzling collections include those from Haymaker Canyon on the southeast side of the Little Belt Mountains. When these two specimens were collected, both were yellow in color. One of the two (449-2) dried to blue, and the stamens on this specimen were also barely exserted; characters associated with A. brevistyla. All the other characters for both specimens however better fit the matrix for A. f lavescens. No blue Aquileqia were observed nearby. In light of this situation, a chromosome count and electrophoretic analysis would be of use in discerning the status of these questionable populations. Asexual reproduction is virtually non-existent in the wild, but in cultivation, root division is possible (Munz 1946) . b. POLLINATION BIOLOGY: Not known. c. SEED DISPERSAL AND BIOLOGY: Under cultivation, species in the genus Aquileqia do well in light sandy soil, and may be seeded in early spring or summer. Most species in the genus appear to live only 3-4 years under cultivation, although this time period may be further prolonged by prevention of seed production (Munz 1946) . Seed appears to disperse by wind in August or September when the follicles dry and dehisce. d. FIRE ECOLOGY: A fire swept through the Sage Creek drainage in the fall of 1990. A portion of the A. brevistyla population (Sage Creek (003)) was in an area that burned. This area was resurveyed for A. brevistyla by Wayne Phillips (Lewis & Clark National Forest) during the summer of 1991. Where the fire burned away the duff layer, A. brevistyla plants did not survive. However, if the duff layer was still intact, the root crown was apparently protected, and basal leaves appeared in 1991. Plants in very lightly burned areas not only survived, but many flowered in 1991 (Phillips 1991) . Although precautions were made, a salvage timber sale may eliminate portions of what is left of the surviving plants. It is also not known how the loss of shade will affect the population. Several stakes were set in 1991 by Lewis & Clark National Forest personnel. These marked the location of groups of suspected vegetative A. brevistyla plants. These stake areas should be resurveyed in 1992, and the entire area reviewed for several years to make general observations on this species response to fire. G. POPULATION ECOLOGY 1. BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS a. COMPETITION: Aguilegia brevistyla plants were observed to occur where total understory vegetation cover may reach 90 percent; they appear to compete very well. Partial overstory shade was common, and only a few plants were observed in more open locations at the edges of meadows. Often these more open sites would receive shade from the adjacent forest and steep ridges. b. HERBIVORY: None observed. H. LAND OWNERSHIP 1. Lewis & Clark National Forest Judith Ranger District Dry Pole (001) Sage Creek (003) Burris Trail (004) Burley Creek (005) High Spring Creek (006) Hay Canyon (007) South Fork Judith River (008) South Fork Judith River (009) Smith Creek (010) 2. Gallatin National Forest Big Timber Ranger District Boulder River (002) I. DOCUMENTATION 1. SPECIMENS: Specimens documenting populations are deposited at the University of Montana Herbarium (MONTU) , Montana State University (MONT) , and at the U.S. Forest Service, Region 1 Herbarium (MRC) , Locations of specimens of A. f lavescens collected and used for reference material are included below. Aquileqia brevistyla Dry Pole (001) Lovaas. A. (s.n. ) . 1956, Specimen #51788 (MONT). Dry Pole (001) Roe. L.S. (442-1,2,3,4,5.6). 1991, (MONT). Specimen 442-2, and -5 showed characters intermediate to A. brevistyla and A. f lavescens. Boulder River (002) Thornton. L. fs.n. ) . 1967, (MONT). R. Dorn, "specimen questionable probably A. coerulea James." S. Shelly, "measurements unsure." Sage Creek (003) Phillips, H.W. (900629-1) . 1990, (MONTU). Burris Trail (004) Field, D. (070490-2) . 1990. Roe, L.S. (444-1.2). 1991, (MONTU). High Spring Creek (006) Roe. L.S. (445) . 1991, (MONT). Hay Canyon (007) Roe. L.S. (447) . 1991, (MONT). South Fork Judith River (008) Roe. L.S. (446-1.2) . 1991, (MONT). Specimen 446- 1, and -2 showed characters intermediate to A. brevistyla and A. f lavescens. 21 Aquileqia flavescens Logging Creek Roe, L.S. (448) ■ 1991, (MONT) . Haymaker Canyon Roe, L.S. (449-1,2), 1991, (MONT). Specimen 449-2 showed characters intermediate to A. brevistvla and A. flavescens. 2. SLIDES: Color slides of individuals, populations, and the habitat of A. brevistvla are deposited at' the Montana Natural Heritage Program, 1515 E. 6th Ave. , Helena, MT. III. ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS A. THREATS TO CURRENTLY KNOWN POPULATIONS: 1. GRAZING: The Sage Creek (003) and Dry Pole (001) populations are in grazing allotments. Grazing impacts should be evaluated, especially for the Sage Creek area where much of the forage burned. This site was rested during 1991, but will be grazed at the previous level in 1992. The effects of grazing should be noted where possible. 2. TIMBER HARVESTING: As stated above, although precautions may be taken, timber harvest is likely to affect a portion of the remaining plants at Sage Creek (003). Aquileqia brevistvla also occurs in several areas proposed for timber sale along the South Fork of the Judith River, and these activities should be reviewed for their effect on these populations. 3. WEED CONTROL ACTIVITIES: Many of the A. brevistyla populations would be susceptible to weed control activities due to their proximity to roadways. Weed control management teams should be aware of the presence of A. brevistvla populations on the Lewis & Clark National Forest. 4. ROAD BUILDING: Aquileqia brevistvla plants have been found to invade old road cuts in both Hay Canyon (007) and Burley Creek (005). Although disturbance does not appear to be necessary for this species' survival, A. brevistvla does appear able to invade and establish itself in disturbed areas. if this species is able to invade disturbed areas, skid trails and roads used in logging operations in Sage Creek should be observed in the future. B. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND RESPONSE: None known. C. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAINTAINING VIABLE POPULATIONS: Little is known of the habitat requirements of this species. Until further information is gained, all populations should receive protection from management actions that might degrade the habitat and affect the populations. D. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT: An electrophoretic analysis of populations of A. brevistyla and A. f lavescens could prove useful in discerning whether or not hybridization is occurring. Also, a chromosome count on several populations would be useful in verifying the work done by Dawe and Murray (1981) . Post-fire observations should be continued at Sage Creek (003) to determine this species' long term response to fire. Further survey work in the Judith River watershed would better define the boundaries of this meta-population. Finally, another attempt should be made to verify the location on the Boulder River (002) , Gallatin National Forest. 23 VI. LITERATURE CITED Achuff, P.L. 1991. Plant species of special concern in Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, Montana. 20 pp., mimeo. Clausen, J., D. Keck, and W. Heisey. 1945. Experimental studies on the nature of species. Carnegie Inst. Publ . 564: 77-79. Dawe, J.C., and D.F. Murray. 1981, Chromosome numbers of selected Alaskan vascular plants. Canadian Journal of Botany 59:1373-1381. DeSanto, J. 1991. Variations in Aquilegia jonesii . Bulletin of the American Rock Garden Society 49(l):60-65. Dorn, R. D. 1984. Vascular plants of Montana. Mountain West Publishing. 276 pp. Hitchcock, C.L., Cronquist A., Ownbey, M. and J.W. Thompson. 1964. Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest, Part 2: Salicaceae to Saxif ragaceae . University of Washington Press, Seattle. 597 pp. Lesica, P., and J.S. Shelly. 1991. Sensitive, Threatened and Endangered Plants of Montana. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Occasional Publication No, 1. Helena, Montana, 8 8 pp. Marriott, H. 1991. Plant species of special concern in Wyoming. Wyoming Natural Diversity Data Base, Laramie, Wyoming. 7 pp. , mimeo. Moss, E.H. 1983. Flora of Alberta. 2nd edition revised by J.G. Packer. University of Toronto Press, Canada. 687 pp. Munz, P. A. 1946. Aquilegia, the cultivated and wild columbines. Gentes Herbarium 7:1-150, Ode, D. 1991. South Dakota Natural Heritage Program Botanist, Pierre, South Dakota, Phone conversation (September) on the distribution of Aquilegia brevistvla in South Dakota, Phillips, H.W. 1991. Lewis & Clark National Forest Ecologist, Great Falls, Montana. Phone conversations of December 4 and 5, on fire ecology and distribution of A, brevistyla. Scoggan, H.J. 1978. The flora of Canada. Part 3, National Museums of Canada, Ottawa, Canada. pp. 547-1115, Strickler, D. 1991. A native columbine hybrid: Aquileqia X elatior . Kelseya, Newsletter of the Montana Native Plant Society 4 (3) :5. U.S. Department of Commerce. 1982. Monthly normals of temperature, precipitation, and heating and cooling degree days 1951-80, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Climatography of the United States No. 81. 23 pp. Weed, W.H. 1899. Description of the Little Belt Mountains, Montana. USGS Geology Atlas. Folio 56, map 1:250,000. ELEMENT OCCURRENCE PRINT-OUTS AND MAPS Note: On maps, dark lines outline population boundaries, the dot is used only as a locator for the site occurrence numbers . Montana Natural Heritage Program 26 Element Occurrence Record: Aquileqia brevistyla Occurrence number: 001 Global rank: G5 Forest Service status: SENSITIVE State rank: SI Federal Status: Survey site name: DRY POLE EO rank: C EO rank comments: POSSIBLE HYBRIDIZATION WITH AQUILEGIA FLAVESCENS. County: JUDITH BASIN USGS quadrangle: INDIAN HILL Tov;nship: 012N Range: OllE Section: 25 Precision: S Tov;nship-range comments: SW4 Survey date: 1991-07-01 Elevation: 5520 First observation: 1956 Slope/aspect: LEVEL-5% / SW, NE Last observation: 1991-07-01 Size (acres) : 1 Location: h LITTLE BELT MOUNTAINS; TAKE THE SOUTH FORK JUDITH RIVER ROAD (DRY POLE ^ CANYON) CA. 16 MILES SOUTHWEST OF UTICA. Element occurrence data: CA. 4 5 PLANTS IN TWO MAIN SUBPOPULATIONS , AND SEVERAL SCATTERED PLANTS. PLANTS FURTHER UP THE CANYON HAVE CHARACTERISTICS INTERMEDIATE BETWEEN AQUILEGIA BREVISTYLA AND AQUILEGIA FLAVESCENS. General site description: ECOTONAL TO PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII (13-14" DBH) / PINUS CONTORTA FOREST. ASSOCIATED WITH FRAGARIA VIRGINIANA, GALIUM BOREALE, POTENTILLA FRUTICOSA, ANTENNARIA RACEMOSA, ARCTOSTAPHYLOS UVA-URSI, SMILACINA STELLATA, HABENARIA VIRIDIS AND LINNAEA BOREALIS. SITE IS PARTIALLY SHADED BY VEGETATION AND PARTIALLY BY ITS CANYON BOTTOM POSITION. CALCAREOUS ROCKY SOILS WITH A THICK DUFF AND MOSS LAYER; MOIST SITE. Land owner/manager: LEWIS & CLARK NATIONAL FOREST, JUDITH RANGER DISTRICT Comments : ORIGINAL DATA FROM SPECIMEN: LOVAAS , A. (S.N.) 1956, SPECIMEN # 51788, MONT. SOUTH OF LAST MAPPED SUBPOPULATION PLANTS SHOWED CHARACTERISTICS INTERMEDIATE BETWEEN AQUILEGIA BREVISTYLA AND AQUILEGIA FLAVESCENS. CA. 0.5 MILE BEYOND THAT, ALL PLANTS SHOWED CHARACTERS OF AQUILEGIA FLAVESCENS. "nformation source: ROE, LISA S. MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515 EAST SIXTH AVE., HELENA, MT 59620 (442, 1-6) 1991. MONT. Montana Natural Heritage Program 2 Element Occurrence Record: Aquileqia brevistyla Occurrence number: 002 Global rank: G5 Forest Service status: SENSITIVE State rank: SI Federal Status: Survey site name: BOULDER RIVER EO rank: EO rank comments: County: SWEET GRASS USGS quadrangle: CHROME MOUNTAIN Township: 005S Range: 012E Section: 01 Precision: G Township-range comments: Survey date: Elevation: 5560 First observation: 1967 Slope/aspect: Last observation: 1967-07-04 Size (acres) : Location: BOULDER RIVER, 20 MILES ABOVE THE TOWN OF MCLEOD (GENERAL LOCATION) . fclement occurrence data: ^ IN FRUIT. General site description: UNKNOWN . Land owner/manager: GALLATIN NATIONAL FOREST, BIG TIMBER RANGER DISTRICT Comments : IDENTIFICATION IS QUESTIONABLE; R. DORN : "PROBABLY A. COERULEA JAMES' A. PLANTENBERG, 1983: "NO"; S. SHELLY, "FLORAL MEASUREMENTS INCONCLUSIVE." GENERAL LOCATION; S. MATHEWS, PLANT PRESSED SUCH THAT FLOWERS CANNOT BE PROPERLY MEASURED; SURVEYS 28-30 JULY 1989, BY S. MATHEWS, NO A. BREVISTYLA OR A. COERULEA FOUND. Information source: THORNTON, L. (S.N.). 1967. MONT. Montana Natural Heritage Program 28 Element Occurrence Record: Aquilegia brevistyla Occurrence number: 003 Global rank: G5 Forest Service status: SENSITIVE State rank: SI Federal Status: Survey site name: SAGE CREEK EO rank: D EO rank comments: GRAZING IN AREA, BURNED IN 1990, LOGGING IN 1991. County: JUDITH BASIN USGS quadrangle: WOODHURST MOUNTAIN Township: 014N Range: OllE Section: 21 Precision: S Township-range comments : S2 , SW4NW4 , 22W2 , 29SE4NE4 , 20NW4NE4 , 17SW4SE4 Survey date: 1991-06-29 Elevation: 5600 First observation: 1990 Slope/aspect: 0-8% / NORTH, EAST Last observation: 1991-06-29 Size (acres): 4 Location: CA. 2.5 MILES SOUTHWEST OF WINDHAM, ALONG SAGE CREEK (FS ROAD ^265). "lement occurrence data: 1991: SITE BURNED IN THE FALL OF 1990, ca . 750-1000 plants. 1990: ca . 2 000 PLANTS IN FLOWER AND FRUIT; VERY DISTINCT BLUE SEPALS AND SHORT HOOKED SPURS. SCATTERED INDIVIDUALS UP HAY COULEE. SUBPOPULATIONS AT AND ABOVE HAY COULEE ALONG SAGE CREEK ARE STILL PRESENT AND ABOUT HALF IN FLOWER; PLANTS IN SECTION 22 MAY BE GONE. General site description: ECOTONE BETWEEN ENGELMANN SPRUCE/DOUGLAS FIR FOREST AND FESTUCA SCABRELLA/POA PRATENSIS MEADOWS. ALLUVIAL AND COLLUVIAL LIMESTONE SUBSTRATE. ASSOCIATED SPECIES: LINNAEA BOREALIS, JUNIPERUS COMMUNIS, ARNICA CORDIFOLIA, ARCTOSTAPHYLOS UVA-URSI, PYROLA SECUNDA, PHLEUM PRATENSE, FESTUCA SCABRELLA. MUCH OF THE OVERSTORY BURNED IN THE FALL OF 1990. Land owner/manager: LEWIS & CLARK NATIONAL FOREST, JUDITH RANGER DISTRICT Comments: 1991: AFTER THE FIRE, PLANTS WERE STILL PRESENT WHERE THE DUFF DID NOT BURN. 1990: POPULATION PROBABLY EXTENDS UP HAY COULEE AND SAGE CREEK. Information source: PHILLIPS, WAYNE. LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL FOREST, P.O. BOX 871, GREAT FALLS, MT 59403. (900629-1). 1990. MONTU. Montana Natural Heritage Program 29 Element Occurrence Record: Aquileqia brevistyla Occurrence number: 004 Global rank: G5 Forest Service status: SENSITIVE State rank: SI Federal Status: Survey site name: BURRIS TRAIL EO rank: B EO rank comments: SMALL POPULATION, BUT GOOD REMOTE LOCATION. County: JUDITH BASIN USGS quadrangle: ETTIEN SPRING Township: 012N Range: OlOE Section: 27 Precision: S Township-range comments: SW4NW4 Survey date: 1991-07-02 Elevation: 6020 First observation: 1990 Slope/aspect: 8-15% / NORTHWEST Last observation: 1991-07-02 Size (acres) : 1 Location: CA. 18 MILES SOUTHEAST OF NEIHART; CA. 0.5 MILE SOUTH OF BURRIS CABIN H ON FS TRAIL ^433. Element occurrence data: 1991: CA. 100 PLANTS IN FULL BLOOM ON 2 JULY (WET, COLD MAY AND JUNE). 1990: A FEW PLANTS, BLOOM NEARLY FINISHED 4 JULY. General site description: ALONG TRAIL; ALL FORESTED, CA. 50% CANOPY CLOSURE. ASSOCIATED SPECIES: PINUS CONTORTA, ABIES LASIOCARPA, PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII, THALICTRUM OCCIDENTALE, CALAMAGROSTIS RUBESCENS , ASTER CONSPICUUS , CYPRIPEDIUM MONTANUM, LINNAEA BOREALIS, GALIUM BOREALE , ANTENNARIA RACEMOSA, VIOLA CANADENSIS, AND EXTENSIVE MOSS COVER. Land owner/manager: LEWIS & CLARK NATIONAL FOREST, JUDITH RANGER DISTRICT Comments: POPULATION COVERS SMALL AREA FROM TRAIL WEST TO CREEK. VOUCHER - FIELD, D. (070490-2), 1990. Information source: ROE, LISA S. MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515 EAST 6TH AVE., HELENA, MT 59620. (444). 1991. MONT. Montana Natural Heritage Program Element Occurrence Record: Aguilegia brevistyla 30 Occurrence number: 005 Global rank: State rank: G5 SI Forest Service status; Federal Status; SENSITIVE Survey site name: BURLEY CREEK EO rank: EO rank comments: County: JUDITH BASIN uses quadrangle: INDIAN HILL Township: 012N Range: OllE Section: 35 Township-range comments: NW4 , 2 6CENTRAL. Precision: S Survey date: 1991-08 First observation: 1991 Last observation: 1991-08 Elevation: 5800 Slope/aspect: 0-30% / NNW Size (acres) : 300 Location: LITTLE BELT MOUNTAINS; CA . 2 AIR MILES SOUTH OF DRY POLE CAMPGROUND. SITE IS EAST OF THE SOUTH FORK JUDITH RIVER, ALONG THE BOTTOM OF THE ^ RIDGE. Element occurrence data: SEVERAL THOUSAND INDIVIDUALS FULL FLOWER TO PAST FLOWER. General site description: PLANTS SCATTERED OVER A LARGE AREA. SEMI-OPEN, MOIST DRAINAGE BOTTOMS AND LOWER SLOPES, LIMESTONE BEDROCK, SILTY CLAY LOAM SOIL. PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII/SYMPHORICARPOS ALBUS , PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII/LINNAEA BOREALIS, AND PICEA ENGELMANNII/LINNAEA BOREALIS HABITAT TYPES. PINUS PONDEROSA, SHEPHERDIA CANADENSIS, JUNIPERUS COMMUNIS, SPIRAEA BETULIFOLIA, GERANIUM RICHARDSONII , FESTUCA IDAHOENSIS, POA SPP., HYLOCOMIUM SPLENDENS, PLEUROZIUM SCHREBERI , DREPANOCLADUS UNCINATUS, TIMMIA AUSTRIACA, AND THUIDIUM ABIETINUM. ALSO GOODYERA REPENS. LIST OF ADDITIONAL SPECIES ON FILE AT MTNHP. Land owner/manager: LEWIS & CLARK NATIONAL FOREST, JUDITH RANGER DISTRICT Comments: ALONG BURLEY CREEK, PLANTS OCCUR ALONGSIDE OLD, REVEGETATED ROADWAY ACCESSING A SMALL TIMBER HARVEST. SURVEY CONDUCTED BY ROGER EVANS. LATER SURVEY WORK BY WAYNE PHILLIPS EXTENDED POPULATION BOUNDARIES. Information source: PHILLIPS, H. WAYNE, LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL FOREST, P.O.BOX 871, ^ GREAT FALLS, MT 594 03. Montana Natural Heritage Program 3 Element Occurrence Record: Aquileqia brevistyla Occurrence number: 006 Global rank: G5 Forest Service status: SENSITIVE State rank: SI Federal Status: Survey site name: HIGH SPRING CREEK EO rank: A EO rank comments: EXCELLENT POPULATION. County: JUDITH BASIN USGS quadrangle: INDIAN HILL Township: 012N Range: OllE Section: 27 Precision: S Township-range comments: CENTER Survey date: 1991-07-02 Elevation: 5600 First observation: 1991 Slope/aspect: 0-40% / NORTH Last observation: 1991-07-02 Size (acres) : 30 Location: LITTLE BELT MOUNTAINS, HIGH SPRING CREEK, NEAR THE SOUTH FORK JUDITH RIVER, CA. 17 MILES SOUTHWEST OF UTICA. Element occurrence data: 100-200 PLANTS, SCATTERED. General site description: IN CALCAREOUS ROCKY SOILS WITHIN AND AT MARGINS OF PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII AND PINUS CONTORTA FOREST. IN FEATHERMOSS, WITH CLEMATIS COLUMBIANA, LINNAEA BOREALIS, ANTENNARIA RACEMOSA, SMILACINA STELLATA, AND POTENTILLA FRUTICOSA. Land owner/manager: LEWIS & CLARK NATIONAL FOREST, JUDITH RANGER DISTRICT Comments: NO AQUILEGIA FLAVESCENS PRESENT. Information source: ROE, LISA S. MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515 EAST 6TH AVE., HELENA, MT 59620. (445). 1991. MONT. Montana Natural Heritage Program 32 Element Occurrence Record: Aquileqia brevistyla Dccurrence number: 007 Global rank: G5 Forest Service status: SENSITIVE State rank: SI Federal Status: Survey site name: HAY CANYON EO rank: B EO rank comments: LARGE POPULATION, NOT EASILY PROTECTED. County: JUDITH BASIN USGS quadrangle: INDIAN HILL Township: 012N Range: OllE Section: 14 Precision: S Tovmship-range comments: N2SW4 ; 15SE4 ; 22NV-J4NE4 . Survey date: 1991-07-03 Elevation: 5200 First observation: 1991 Slope/aspect: 0-30% / N, S, W Last observation: 1991-07-03 Size (acres) : 40 Location: LITTLE BELT MOUNTAINS, HAY CANYON NEAR THE SOUTH FORK JUDITH RIVER, CA. 14 MILES SOUTHWEST OF UTICA. Element occurrence data: 800-1000 STEMS. General site description: PLANTS SCATTERED ALONG CANYON BOTTOM AND ROADSIDE, IN CALCAREOUS, ROCKY SOILS. PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII/PINUS CONTORTA FOREST, WITH CLEMATIS COLUMBIANA, LINNAEA BOREALIS, ARCTOSTAPHYLOS UVA-URSI, GALIUM BOREALE AND FRAGARIA VIRGINIANA. Land owner/manager: LEWIS & CLARK NATIONAL FOREST, JUDITH RANGER DISTRICT Comments: PORTIONS OF POPULATION IN DISTURBED HABITATS (ROADSIDE GRAVELS) . Information source: ROE, LISA S. MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515 E. SIXTH AVE., HELENA, MT 59620. (447) 1991. MONT. Montana Natural Heritage Program 3 3 Element Occurrence Record: Aquilegia brevistyla Occurrence number: 008 Global rank: G5 Forest Service status: SENSITIVE State rank: SI Federal Status: Survey site name: SOUTH FORK JUDITH RIVER EO rank: C EO rank comments: SMALL POPULATION; ROADSIDE. County: JUDITH BASIN USGS quadrangle: INDIAN HILL Township: 012N Range: QUE Section: 01 Precision: S Tov;nship-range comments: NE4SW4 Survey date: 1991-07-03 Elevation: 5040 First observation: 1991 Slope/aspect: 0-5% / WEST Last observation: 1991-07-03 Size (acres) : 1 Location: LITTLE BELT MOUNTAINS, SOUTH FORK JUDITH RIVER, CA. 14 MILES SOUTHWEST OF UTICA, ON BENCH ON EAST SIDE OF ROAD. Element occurrence data: 10-15 PLANTS. General site description: CANYON BOTTOM, IN ROCKY CALCAREOUS SOILS BENEATH PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII AND PINUS CONTORTA, WITH CLEMATIS COLUMBIANA, JUNIPERUS COMMUNIS, LINNAEA BOREALIS AND ARNICA CORDIFOLIA, ACER GLABRUM, ARCTOSTAPHYLOS UVA-URSI AND GOODYERA REPENS . Land owner/manager: LEWIS & CLARK NATIONAL FOREST, JUDITH RANGER DISTRICT Comments: NONE. Information source: ROE, LISA S. MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515 E. SIXTH AVE., HELENA, MT 59620. Montana Natural Heritage Program 34 Element Occurrence Record: Aquileqia brevistyla Occurrence number: 009 Global rank: G5 Forest Service status: SENSITIVE State rank: SI Federal Status: Survey site name: SOUTH FORK JUDITH RIVER EO rank: C EO rank comments: POPULATION MAY CONTAIN HYBRIDS. County: JUDITH BASIN uses quadrangle: INDIAN HILL Township: 012N Range: OllE Section: 23 Precision: S Township-range comments: CENTER Survey date: 1991-07-02 Elevation: 5240 First observation: 1991 Slope/aspect: 0-20% / NORTHEAST Last observation: 1991-07-02 Size (acres) : 1 Location : LITTLE BELT MOUNTAINS; SOUTH FORK JUDITH RIVER, CA . 0.5 MILE NORTH OF RUSSELL POINT, ON WEST SIDE OF RIVER WHERE A SMALL CREEK FLOWS INTO ^ THE SOUTH FORK. Element occurrence data: CA. 2 5 PLANTS. POPULATION MAY CONTAIN HYBRIDS. General site description: IN ROCKY CALCAREOUS SOIL, IN SHADED LOCATION, GROUND COVERED BY FEATHERMOSS, WITH CLEMATIS COLUMBIANA, LINNAEA BOREALIS, PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII AND JUNIPERUS COMMUNIS. Land owner/manager: LEWIS & CLARK NATIONAL FOREST, JUDITH RANGER DISTRICT Comments : TWO COLLECTIONS: ONE KEYS EASILY TO A. BREVISTYLA, THE SECOND SHOWS CHARACTERS INTERMEDIATE BETWEEN A. BREVISTYLA AND A. FLAVESCENS. Information source: ROE, LISA, S., MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515 E 6TH AVE. HELENA, MT 59620. (466-1,2). 1991. MONT. Montana Natural Heritage Program 35 Element Occurrence Record: Aquilegia brevistyla Occurrence number: 010 Global rank: G5 Forest Service status: SENSITIVE State rank: SI Federal Status: Survey site name: SMITH CREEK EO rank: EO rank comments: County: JUDITH BASIN uses quadrangle: RUSSIAN FLAT DAISY PEAK Township: OllN Range: OllE Section: 8 Precision: S Tov;nship-range comments: NW4SW4 Survey date: Elevation: 5880 First observation: 1991 Slope/aspect: 30 % / NORTHEAST Last observation: 1991-07-18 Size (acres): 1 Location: LITTLE BELT MOUNTAINS; FROM UTICA, FOLLOW THE SOUTH FORK JUDITH RIVER ^ CA. 21 MILES SOUTHWEST TO THE INTERSECTION WITH SMITH CREEK. SITE IS ^ CA. 0.12 MILE UP SMITH CREEK FROM THE CONFLUENCE. Element occurrence data: TWO PLANTS, PAST FLOWER. General site description: ON MESIC, LIMEY SHALE OUTCROP, IN PARTIAL SHADE OF A LOWER SLOPE. PICEA ENGELMANNII/LINNAEA BOREALIS, WITH: THALICTRUM OCCIDENTALE, ATHYRIUM FILIX-FEMINA, GALIUM TRIFLORUM, RIBES LACUSTRE , ACER GLABRUM, FEATHER MOSSES AND CALYPSO BULBOSA. Land owner/manager: LEWIS & CLARK NATIONAL FOREST, JUDITH RANGER DISTRICT Comments: PLANTS WERE IDENTIFIED ON THE BASIS OF SHORT-STYLED CAPSULES; COLLECTIONS NEED TO BE MADE IN FLOWER FOR POSITIVE IDENTIFICATION. Information source: FIELD, DANA, LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL FOREST, BOX 869, GREAT FALLS, MT 59403. 42 VI. PHOTOGRAPHS A. Aquilegja brevistvla curved spurs. flower, Dry Pole (001) . Note short, 44 Aquileqia brevistyla - habit, Dry Pole (001) 45 :r^^ V ^Ur.- ^iT) ^)^ C. Aquileqia brevistyla - habitat. Note vegetation cover, 46 !»^^^ D. Aquileqia brevistyla - habitat, Dry Pole (001) . South Fork Judith River drainage, Montana. 47 Putative hybrid betv/een Aquileqia brevistyla and A. f lavescens. Dry Pole (001) , South Fork Judith River drainage, Montana. Note long, straight spurs, exserted stamens, and blue coloration.