Full text of "Sensitive plant species surveys, Butte District, Beaverhead and Madison Counties, Montana"

See other formats

MONTANA STATE LIBRARY

3 0864 0010 1656 0

i/Y^//.fJcn3

SENSITIVE PLANT SPECIES SURVEYS

BUTTE DISTRICT, BEAVERHEAD AND MADISON COUNTIES, MONTANA
BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT

By:

Bonnie L. Heidel and Jim Vanderhorst

Montana Natural Heritage Program

State Library Building

P.O. Box 201800

1515 E. 6th Avenue

Helena, MT 59620-1800

For:

Bureau of Land Management

P.O. Box 36800

Billings, MT 59107-6800

STATE DOCUMENTS COLLECTION

AUG 1 V 1997

MONTANA STATE LIBRARY

1515 E. 6th AVE.
HELENA, MONTANA 59620

Agreement No. 1422-E950-0006
Task Order No. 34

PI r/ic'/

I i. ^ r'} - • ■

February 1996

Stan unalyx. tea

11! DM

.".V

1996 Montana Natural Heritage Program

This document should be cited as follows:

Heidel B L. and J. Vanderhorst. 1996. Sensitive plant surveys in Beaverhead and Madison counties,
'mT. Unpublished report to the Bureau of Land Management. Montana Natural Heritage
Program, Helena. 85 pp. plus appendices.

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

Systematic sensitive plant species surveys were conducted in three study areas on lands administered by
the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in the Butte District, primarily in the Dillon Resource Area. A
total of thirteen sensitive species were documented in 46 new occurrences. The acquired new
information rounds out the sensitive species resource baseline in the Dillon Resource Area, as
highlighted below:

Relative abundance was documented for two watch species that are relatively common in the Big
Hole and Grasshopper study areas, respectively: Astragalus platytropis and Townsendia nuttaUii

Significant new information was collected for two species, Kochia americana and Oryzopsis
contracta, which were virtually unknown in Montana before this study and unknown from BLM
lands.

Significant new information was collected for six sensitive species, two of wliich are
recommended for change to watch designation. Largest known populations of the following
geographically restricted or globally rare sensitive species were documented, shedding light on
the habitat requirements and complementary management actions in the Grasshopper Study
Area: Astragalus scaphoides. Astragalus terminalis, Lesquerella pulchella, and Lomatium
attenuatum. Largest known populations of the peripheral species Stephanomeria spinosa were
also found in the Upper Madison Valley Study Area.

Information was collected for Erigeron linearis, Lesquerella pulchella, and Lomatium
attenuatum at new population or subpopulation sites from settings of human-caused disturbance,
shedding light on habitat requirements and effects of disturbance.

Finally, additional distribution information was collected on species that were once considered as
State Species of Special Concern, including some which remain on the Watch List because of
their limited distribution.

This work documents the sensitive species that are present in each of the study areas in order to
determine species status and management needs and to develop all levels of management plans on BLM
lands in and adjoining these areas.

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

We thank the following Bureau of Land Management professionals for their interest and helpful
discussions including Don Heinze, Sandy Brooks, Brian Hockett, and Sally Sovey. Information
provided by Walter Fertig of the Wyoming Natural Diversity Database greatly aided in reviewing
rangewide species' status. Use of the herbaria at Montana State University and the University of
Montana is gratefully acknowledged. The GIS maps were produced by Cedron Jones. Data
processing and report production assistance or encouragement were gratiously provided by
Katharine Jurist, Debbie Dover, Margaret Beer and Cedron Jones.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Page

I. INTRODUCTION ^

II. STUDY AREAS ^

III. METHODS ^°

IV. RESULTS ^^

A. BIG HOLE STUDY AREA

1 . Astragalus platytropis ^°

2. Kochia americana ^

3. Phacelia lutea ^^

B. GRASSHOPPER STUDY AREA

1 . Astragalus scaphoides ^°

2. Astragalus terminalis ■'^

3. Erigeron linearis ^

4. Lesquerella pulchella ^°

5. Loniatium attenuatum ^^

6. Oryzopsis contracta ^°

7. Phacelia incana -^^

8. Sphaeromeria argentea -"

9. Taraxacum eriophorum "-

10. Townsendia nuttallii ^^

C. UPPER MADISON RIVER VALLEY

1. Astragalus terminalis '^

2. Stephanomeria spinosa '°

VI. DISCUSSION ^^

VII. LITERATURE CITED ^^

APPENDICES

Appendix A. Preliminary list of target species potentially occurring in the study areas.

Appendix B. Survey routes for BLM sensitive plant species searches.

Appendix C. Element occurrence records and maps of all State Species of Special Concern in the study
areas.

Appendix D. Color xeroxes of sensitive species and their habitats.

TABLES AND FIGURES

Page

Table 1 . Fieldwork schedule 10

Table 2. Target species documented in the study areas 13

Figure 1 . Butte District Study Areas 4

Figure 2. Big Hole Study Area 5

Figure 3. Grasshopper Study Area 6

Figure 4. Upper Madison Valley Study Area 7

Figure 5. Sage Creek Study Area (treated separately from this report) 8

Figure 6. Sensitive plant species in the Butte District Study Areas 14

Figure 7. Astragalus platytropis illustration 17

Figure 8. Astragalus platytropis distribution 18

Figure 9. Kochia americana illustration 24

Figure 10. Kochia americana distribution 25

Figure 1 1 . Phacelia lutea illustration 2S

Figure 12. Astragalus scaphoides illustration 30

Figure 13. Astragalus scaphoides distribution 31

Figure 14. Erigeron linearis illustration 35

Figure 1 5. Erigeron linearis distribution 36

Figure 16. Lesquerella pulchella specimen xerox 39

Figure 17. Lesquerella pulchella distribution 40

Figure 18. Lomatium attenuatum illustration 45

Figure 19. Lomatium attenuatum distribution 46

Figure 20. Oryzopsis contracta illustration 50

Figure 21 . Oryzopsis contracta distribution 51

Figure 22. Phacelia incana illustration 54

Figure 23. Phacelia incana distribution 55

Figure 24. Sphaeromeria argentea illustration 58

Figure 25. Sphaeromeria argentea distribution 59

Figure 26. Taraxacum eriophorum illustration 63

Figure 27. Taraxacum eriophorum distribution 64

Figure 28. Townsendia nuttallii specimen xerox 67

Figure 29. Townsendia nuttallii distribution 68

Figure 30. Astragalus terminalis illustration 72

Figure 3 1 . Astragalus terminalis distribution 73

Figure 32. Stephanomeria spinosa illustration 77

Figure 33. Stephanomeria spinosa distribution 78

INTRODUCTION

Sensiti\'e species surveys were conducted at the landscape level in three areas on the Butte District of the
Bureau of Land Management (BLM) in Beaverhead, Madison and Silver Bow counties, Montana. A
fourth area of the Dillon Resource Area was surveyed in concert with this study but reported separately
(Lesica and Vanderhorst 1995).

The primary purpose of the study was to fill critical gaps in the Dillon Resource Area botanical baseline
by targeting key landscape areas and sensitive species targets that had not yet been systematically
addressed. This study should provide a framework for determining which species are truly sensitive, the
habitat requirements of those species, and initial management considerations. Priority w-as placed on
locating and evaluating those vascular plant species considered for designation as sensitive by the
Montana State Office of the Bureau of Land Management (Bureau of Land Management 1995). An
ancillary purpose was to collect information on and to review the status of other Montana State Plant
Species of Special Concern that may warrant consideration by the BLM as being sensitive (Heidel
1995).

Sensitive species provide potential pharmaceutical, agricultural and genetic resources. They are also
indicators of special habitats and habitat conditions, thereby augmenting the understanding and capacity
to manage the landscape and its processes. Safeguarding vulnerable members of the flora and fauna is
instrumental in maintaining the complement of native species that are adapted to southwestern Montaiia,
as well as in maintaining the ecosystems to which they belong.

This work does not represent exhaustive documentation of all sensitive plant locations, but does consist
of systematic searches to document the full complement of sensitive species in the study areas. It builds
upon the body of information garnered from botanical surveys for the BLM to detemiine the status of
rare plant species in the Butte District, to identify conservation priorities, to integrate the practices and
benefits of sensitive species management in Bureau planning and operations (Willoughby et al. 1992),
and to provide a baseline for reference at all levels of District planning and operations, from that of the
individual project to those which span the District or Resource Area.

STUDY AREAS

This study was designed to fill major geographic gaps in the picture of botanical diversity at the
south end of the Butte District, with particular emphasis on the Dillon Resource Area. The three
study areas were identified using available biological information and also by consultation with
Bureau of Land Management personnel in the Dillon and Headwaters Resource Areas. These
areas had not previously been systematically surveyed for sensitive plant species but were
considered as having high potential for sensitive plant species. Areas include: the Big Hole
Study Area west of Twin Bridges, the Grasshopper Study Area west of Dillon, and the Upper
Madison Valley study area south of Ennis (Figure 1). A fourth area around Sage Creek was
surveyed during the same time and reported separately (Lesica and Vanderhorst 1995). All areas
are located mainly within Beaverhead County, but also to a lesser extent in Madison County and
in a comer of Silver Bow County.

The three BLM study areas treated in this report are in low elevation settings of intennontane
valleys or foothills, and they constitute the largest share of public land in these settings. They are
administered not as discrete management units but as allotments and other project units. The
names used to refer to the separate study areas are strictly for the purpose of distinguishing them
in this report.

Climate of all three areas is semi-arid. The closest weather stations are in Dillon at 5218 ft., and
in Ennis at 4953 ft. Mean monthly temperatures in Dillon for January and July are 20.2° F and
66.4° F, respectively; mean annual precipitation is 9.6 inches (NOAA 1982). Mean monthly
temperatures in Ennis for January and July are 22.6° F and 64.7° F, respectively; mean annual
precipitation is 11. 5 inches (NOAA 1982). At both stations, May and June are the wettest
months.

The study areas are within an area of the state possessing an exceptionally di\'erse flora and
relatively high levels of vascular plant endemism (Lesica et al. 1984). The endemic species are
referred to as either state endemics found only in southwestern Montana, or as regional endemics
found also in immediately adjoining areas of neighboring states. The rest of the southwestern
Montana flora is made up of many species with biogeographic affinities that include the common
Northern Rocky Mountain and the Great Plains elements, as well as Great Basin, Southern
Rocky Mountain, Snake River Plain, and Columbia Plateau species. Many are arid climate
species favored by the combination of soil, climate, and location features unique to Montana.
Thus, the presence of species which are at the margins of their ranges is also high, and the
majority of the Montana Species of Special Concern from this area are made up of taxa wliich are
peripheral in the state.

All of the three present study area units are known to harbor sensitive species, but they had not
previously been systematically surveyed. Botanical status survey studies conducted in or near
the four study areas have provided single-species baselines, including sur\'eys tor Arabisfecunda
(Lesica 1985, 1993, Schassberger 1988, \990) Astragalus scaphoides {Lesica \984), Lesquerella

pulchella (Heidd \993), and Penstet}w?i le/nhiensis {ShtWy 1987, 1990). Subsequent multi-species
survey studies conducted in southwestern Montana have helped to document the breadth of botanical
biodiversity, to determine habitat requirements, and to identify potential habitat in other study areas,
e.g., Bannack State Park (Vanderhorst 1995); Highland Mountains (Lesica 1992); Tendoy Mountains
(Vanderhorst and Lesica 1994, Vanderhorst 1995); Horse Prairie (Vanderhorst 1995); and the Centennial
Valley (Culver 1993).

The individual study areas are described in the following text and are presented in this same sequence
throughout the report.

Big Hole Study Area

The Big Hole Study Area lies in the outlying McCartney Mountain and its foothills at the south end of
the Highland Mountains, north of the large bend in the Big Hole River (Figure 2). It is mainly in
Beaverhead County, extending into Madison County, and barely into Silver Bow County. The area
consists of nearly contiguous BLM lands interrupted at times by patented mining claims or private lands
(usually along the rivers and roads).

The lowest point, <5000 ft., is found along the Big Hole River; the highest point, >8000 ft., is found in
the Highland Mountains at the boundary with the Deerlodge National Forest. Parent materials in the
Highland foothills are predominantly undifferentiated Tertiary sediments, with Precambrian gneiss,
schists, and related rocks. Areas with Colorado Shale, Kootenai Formation, and Boulder Batholith are
centered around McCartney Mountain (Ross et al. 1955).

Vegetation of the Big Hole Study area is predominantly grassland and sagebrush steppe, grading into
forest types with Douglas fir and lodgepole pine in the Highland Mountains and around McCartney
Mountain. The BLM lands skirt the Big Hole valley and its floodplain vegetation, with steep
escarpments occurring along the western segment.

Grasshopper Study Area

The Grasshopper Study Area lies in the foothills at the south end of the Pioneer Mountains, Beaverhead
County (Figure 2). Grasshopper Creek is the largest central landmark feature in the study area, though
the study area extends beyond the Grasshopper Creek watershed. The Beaverhead National Forest lies
at higher elevations to the north, and Bannack State Park is located at the western edge of the study area.
State school lands and private lands interrupt the otherwise continuous study area.

Amongst the study areas, this section has the most extensive area of limestone surface geology. This is
of particular significance, as several of the target species are calciphiles ("calcium-loving" plants).
Where these limestone beds come into contact with igneous intrusive rocks are found the largest lode
deposits of precious minerals. The lowest points are <5500 ft. along the Grasshopper Creek and
Beaverhead River; the highest points are >6500 ft. on Henneberry Ridge. The entire area contains a wide
variety of sedimentary rocks oriented in bands that are undifferentiated members from the Cambrian,
Mississippian (including limestones), Pennsylvanian, Pemiian, and Triassic Eras. The prevailing
outcrops are undifferentiated Tertiary sediments, interrupted by Tertiary volcanic rock (Ross 1955).

Vegetation is predominantly sagebrush steppe, with limestone ridges of sparse grass cover or mountain
maliogany scrub, and occasional limber pine and Douglas fir woodland (on sheltered slopes and at upper
elevations). Well-developed riparian vegetation is found along the Grasshopper Creek, Beaverhead

River, and its major tributaries.

Upper Madison Valley Study Area

The Upper N4adison Valley Study Area consists of scattered tracts, excluding foothills, along a valley
segment of the Madison River in Madison County (Figure 3). This study area is made up of
discontinuous BLM tracts, forming an interrupted pattern in comparison to the other study areas. These
scattered BLM tracts represent the largest areas of public lands at low elevations in the vicinity.

Madison River valley bottom and stream terraces are mainly made up of Tertiary sediments and of more
recent alluvium, of which the coarse sand, gravel, and cobble is interbedded with imper\'ious layers.
Coarse sediments have developed into extremely dry soils, and the impervious layers are associated with
springs, seeps, and other wetland features. Elevation ranges from ca. 5000 ft. at the north end to ca.
6000 ft. at the north end.

Vegetation is an arid grassland, interrupted by the above-mentioned wetlands and riparian thickets.
Dominant grasses are Agropyron spicatum, and to a lesser extent Stipa comata. These grasses represent
an admixture of the Agropyron spicatum/Bouteloua gracilis h.t. and Stipa comata/Bontelona gracilis h.t.
(Mueggler and Stewart 1980), with little of the short grass component on the coarse cobble substrate.
The ground cover of Selaginella densa is extensive in some areas of the valley, depending on soil texture
and land use history.

METHODS

Prior to fieldwork, the Biological Conser\'ation Database (BCD) maintained by the Montana
Natural Heritage Program was queried for records of BLM sensitive species and of other state
Species of Special Concern known from the study area or from immediately adjoining areas.
This search resulted in a list of 16 species and information about them (Appendix A); numerous
other species were found at higher elevations. We refer in this report to "sensitive species;" this
is a general term used to encompass all proposed sensitive species and Montana Natural Heritage
Program Species of Special Concern that may represent, or previously represented species
considered for BLM designation. Primary focus was placed on those species in or around the
study area which have been proposed for designation as sensitive by the BLM in its draft list for
the 1995 Montana Rare Plant Conference: Arabis fecimda, Astragalus scaphoides, Astragalus
terminalis, C ar ex parry ana ss^. idahoa, Lomatium attemmtum, Penstemon lemhiemis,
Taraxacum eriophorum, and Thelypodium paniculatum (Bureau of Land Management 1995).
Secondary consideration was given to those species known from the area which had not been
addressed in previous studies and which had unresolved status questions (e.g., Stephauomeria
spinosa). Specimens were reviewed in select cases in order to develop the search images. All
sensitive species targets and their phenology are summarized in Appendix A.

The phenology of most of the sensitive species targeted for fieldwork was conducive to their
location and identification; most fieldwork was conducted in June, early in the growing season,
when plants were flowering or in early fruit. Although already past flowering at this time,
Lomatium attenuatum and Townsendia nuttaUii were still identifiable. Wetland plants were
surv'eyed after mid-July, along with the remainder of the late-fiowering species. Sur\'eys were
conducted in the three areas over the 1995 growing season as follows:

Table 1. FIELDWORK SCHEDULE

STUDY AREA

DATES

FIELD BOTANIST

Big Hole

2-5, 12-13, 28-29 June

Heidel

Big Hole

6-8 July

Vanderhorst

Grasshopper

13-18 June,
19-23 July

Heidel

Grasshopper

9-11 July

Vanderhorst

Upper Madison Valley

25-27 July

Vanderhorst

Upper Madison Valley

31 August- 1 September

Heidel

The field routes surveyed are mapped in Appendix B.

Searches were conducted on foot in both known and potential habitats of target species, including
particularly large, intact, and/or well-developed habitat settings. Special attention was paid to unusual
habitats occurring in wetland and rock outcrop settings. Efforts were made to visit all large sectors of
the study areas during effective times of the field season.

Field information was compiled on the Plant Species of Special Concern Survey Form, and the
populations mapped onto U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps (7.5'). Data collected included
detailed information on vegetation, slope/aspect, soil, population size, species biology, and management
considerations. Photographs were taken of target species and their habitats (35 mm slides). These have
been printed to accompany this report and also conveyed as slide duplicates. Lists of vascular plant
species other than those of special concern were not maintained for the scattered areas making up this
study.

Voucher specimens of the target species were collected if they provided new distribution or phenological
stage information and when adequate material was available in keeping with the Montana Native Plant
Society's collecting guidelines (^4NPS 1993). Specimens will be deposited at the University of
Montana Herbarium (MONTU) and at the Montana State University Herbarium (MONT). Some
collections were made of other species if field identification proved difficult or when their presence in
the study area represented a major extension of the known range. Following the field season, unresolved
taxonomic questions were researched in both of the above herbaria, and determinations or verifications
were made in consultation with taxonomists. Such was the case for the genus Hordeum (John H.
Rumely, Montana State University) and the genus Erigeron (Sarah Gage, University of Washington).

Technical references most commonly used to key plants were Dom (1984) and Hitchcock and Cronquist
(1973). Nomenclature used in this report generally follows these references.

RESULTS

In the course of this project, 46 new occurrences of 13 target species were documented (Table 1).
Additionally, new information was collected at sites of previously known occurrences. Six of the
target species, Astragalus scaphoides, Astragalus terminalis, LesquereUa pulchella, Lomatium
attenuatum, Sphaeromeria argenfea, and Taraxacum eriophorum, are on the proposed BLM
sensitive species list. Four are recommended for retaining as sensitive; two, Lomatium
attenuatum and Sphaeromeria argentea, are recommended for redesignation as watch. Two
species are proposed for deleting from watch status consideration: Astragalus pJatytropis and
Townsendia nuttallii. The infonnation compiled for each is presented in the following text by
study area. Only one species was found in more than one of the study areas: Astragalus
terminalis. We have also included information on Phacelia lutea, which is known in Montana
only from one historic collection, located in the Melrose vicinity of the Big Hole Study Area.
Tliree species addressed in this report have also been documented in the Sage Creek area
{Astragalus terminalis, Sphaeromeria argentea, and Townsendia nuttallii), and are cross-
referenced between reports. The results section does not include information on previously-
documented species that are in the study area for which no new infonnation was collected
{Penstemon lemhiensis in Grasshopper Study Area).

An overview of kno\vn sensitive species distribution in the study areas and their surroundings in
southwestern Beaverhead County is presented on a summary map (Figure 4), with the local and
statewide distributions of individual species elaborated on maps that accompany the text for each
species.

In addition, new populations often species that were once on the Montana Plant Species of
Special Concern tracking list but have since been deleted were documented in the study area:
Arenaria kingii. Astragalus lentiginosus. Delphinium bicolor ssp. novum, Eriogonum ovalifolium
var. nevadense, Gentiana aquatica, Gilia inconspicua, Mimulus suksdorfii, Pediocactus
simpsonii, Sphaeromeria capitata, and Stanleya viridiflora. Some of these remain on the watch
list as species of limited distribution. Interpretation of all results is presented in the discussion
section.

The body of general infonnation provided on each species in the following text includes
infonnation stored and maintained in the Plant Characterization Abstract (PCA) Database that is
contained in the BCD. Topics taken from the PCA include description information, distribution
information, and habitat information. Sources for this information include that taken from floras,
from Lesica and Shelly (1991), from monographs, and from earlier reports, as expanded and
revised during this field study.

o 1—3
Ci CO

is a a vi

03 :>

'3)

;> c/0 00 >

c/2 :>

C/2&Ot/3l>OV-iC/200C/Dt>OC/2

u o

o a

(N — '

00 ►_ "^

OOqGOC/JOOOOQOOOOO)

oooooaaooo

< o a

^:5

^(^mO(N^-^m

•S2 -S S

5 5 "a g

^5 §1

O'^'^tij^oOa^co't-.^ ;d^oo

■5. c.^ c^

<
> =o

00 K

to 3

St.

3 -a
I I

8 8

'" !

c
.2

CO
0)

-a

>»

w ra

-J

- ^

-M

ro — 1

~ c

o c
<u o

w ra

+■>

5 o

Q)
CO

■M

• o

^ o CO

CO o z

C3>

c
m

.j:1:. :..

BIG HOLE STUDY AREA

Surveys in the Big Hole Area produced the largest number of new sensitive species records for a single
species: Astragalus platytropis. Also documented were new county records for two species that were
previously considered for BLM status and tracked by the state but have since been dropped: Gentiana
aquatica and Mimidus suksdorfli in Silver Bow County, and Gilia inconspicua in Madison County.
Wliile large areas have been heavily grazed, there were notable exceptions. Limestone outcrops,
alkaline flats, and wetlands were the primary habitats in this study area for the various target species.
Almost all of the spring-fed wetlands north of Rochester were on private land, and those that were
investigated on BLM lands were found to be degraded. We were unsuccessful in relocating Phacelia
scopulina, which is historically known from Montana only in the Melrose vicinity and described in the
following text. In the course of searching for it, we instead found Kochia americana, which had not
otherwise been collected in Montana since 1931.

Both Astragalus platytropis and Kochia americana are plants of southern biogeographic affinities. Red
sage is a peripheral Great Basin species at its northern limits. Broad-keeled milkvetch is a disjunct
southern cordilleran species at distinctively low elevation zones in its northern disjunct populations. The
Phacelia scopulina is a disjunct Columbia Plateau species at its eastern limits.

There are several sensitive species present immediately north of the study area, but they are either on
different substrates, in more mesic settings, and/or at higher elevations than those of the Big Hole Study
Area.

Astragalus platytropis Gray

BROAD-KEELED MILKVETCH

Bean Family (Fabaceae)

CONSERVATION STATUS

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: None.

Bureau of Land Management: Broad-keeled milkvetch was considered for watch status
on the draft list circulated in the spring of 1995.

Montana Natural Heritage Program rank: G5 S2 (imperiled) prior to this study; reranked
following this study to S3 (vulnerable), and moved the watch list as a species of limited
distribution.

DESCRIPTION: Broad-keeled milkvetch is a small perennial herb with leaves clustered at the
base of the plant on short branches of the rootcrown clothed with old leafstalks. Pinnately
compound leaves, 1-9 cm long, have 7-15 oblong to elliptic, often blunt-tipped leaflets. Foliage
is sparsely-covered with gray or silver hairs. Flower stalks arise among the leaves and bear 3-9
flowers near the tip. Whitish, pea-like flowers are 6-9 mm long with an upper petal that is barely
reflexed and nearly the same length as the others. The calyx is 3-5 mm long and sparsely
covered with white or black hairs. The inflated fruits lie along the ground when they mature and
are conspicuously purple-mottled, papery, and 15-33 mm long, resembling small Chinese
lanterns (Figure 7, Appendix D-1). The fruit mature in the latter half of June and persist at least
tliiough July.

Superficially, broad-keeled milkvetch resembles the widespread Astragalus miser var. hylophilus
in vegetative condition, except that it has leaves with petioles usually much longer than the
blade, and typically has a trailing growth form. The only other species of milkvetch in Montana
with inflated pods that lie along the ground is the widespread Astragalus crassicarpus (ground
plum), which has a very fleshy green or red pod rather the papery-textured, mottled pod of ^.
platytropis.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

Global distribution: Nevada and California to western Utah, with disjunctions in
southeastern Oregon, east-central Idaho, and southwestern Montana.

Montana distribution: Centered in one contiguous area of southwestern Montana in
Beaverhead, Madison and Silver Bow counties. It is found in valley margins and
foothills to montane slopes in and between the East Pioneer Mountains, Highland
Mountains, and Tobacco Root Mountains (Figure 8).

A. plCtyUcpiS

Hitchcock etal 1984

Figure 7.

Big Hole distribution: The Big Hole Study Area is in the center of the known distribution of
this species in Montana, represented by 18 occurrences which are all on BLM lands, including
those 14 new occurrences documented during the course of this study (Figure 8).

HABITAT: In the center of its range, it occupies stony crests, screes, and talus in montane and
subalpine settings and is strongly or obligately calciphile. However, in the north disjunct areas of its
global distribution, it occupies gravelly ridgetops and barren ridges in the sagebrush belt (Bameby
1989).

The elevation range of the species in Montana extends from ca. 4600 to 6800 ft., from the edge of the
Tobacco Root Mountains along the lower Jefferson River valley to the open montane slopes of the
Higliland Mountains. The settings are most often on ridgetops, but the species may also be found over
the full range of slope positions, often appearing as an outlier of hilltop population centers. The
substrates are all calcareous but are not all derived from limestone. Parent materials include alluvium,
calcareous argillite, and gabbro (volcanic).

In Montana, broad-keeled milkvetch is most often found on thin-soil slopes and ridgetops o\erlying
Madison Group limestone as it outcrops in sagebrush foothills and montane elevations (Appendix D-2).
The dominant species is either Cercocarpus ledifolius ox Agropyron spicatum. The species is not
restricted to this type of habitat, however. In fact, a wide variety of elevations, substrates, and plant
associations were documented in this study as compared with previous habitat characterizations.

Local dominants of the sparsely- vegetated settings include:

Agropyron spicatum h.t.

Artemisia tridentata/Agropyron spicatum h.t.

Stipa comata - Bouteloua gracilis h.t.

The following is a representative list of associated species compiled fi-om this species' habitat range:

Agropyron spicatum
Artemisia frigida
Artemisia nova
Artemisia tridentata
Astragalus adsurgens
Astragalus crassicarpus
Asti-agalus purshii
Aster scopulorum
Bouteloua gracilis
Erigeron compositus
Erigeron tM>eedyi
Eriogonum cespitosum
Eriogonum ovalifolium

Gutierrezia sarothrae
Haplopappiis acaidis
Ipomopsis congesta
Lepidium ramosissimum
Lesquerella alpina
Koeleria macrantha
Opuntia polyacantha
Oxytropis sericea
Paronychia sessiliflora
Penstemon aridus
Phlox bryoides
Plantago patagonica
Poa scabrella
Selaginella densa
Senecio cana
Stipa comata

POPULATION INFORMATION: The largest known populations are along relatively low
elevation limestone ridges, where numbers are in the hundreds (e.g., east of Melrose above Camp
Creek). The majority of occurrences have low numbers of plants, often fewer than 10, and are
widely scattered across the landscape in clusters or subpopulations. Dispersal of the inflated
balloon-like seed may be a factor in producing its scattered, low-density population distribution
patterns.

Individuals appear to be relatively long-lived, as judging by the many old leaf remnaiits found at
the root crowns of the specimens collected at two separate sites.

The small size of most populations provides the rationale for retaining broad-keeled milkvetch
on the watch list as a vulnerable species of limited distribution despite the many populations,
relatively broad ecological amplitude, extent of potential habitat, and low level of threats. It is
possible that the small populations originally developed from one or a few individuals, and it
could be argued that only the large populations are significant to species consers'ation, and that
EG specifications should be set to disregard or downplay the many small occurrences.
Alternately, it could be argued that this species is a generalist in the area where it occurs and
typically has very low population numbers.

This pattern of being locally widespread but with very low population numbers is shared with
Townsendia nuttallii in the Grasshopper Study Area, which is treated similarly.

MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS: There are many low-level threats across its range of
habitats. Mining activities are concentrated in the low elevation limestone ridges that are its
primary potential habitat, but these are localized. Livestock grazing takes place in the general
vicinity of most populations, but the species' habitat is typically on secondary ranges, where the
livestock use is light or absent.

If noxious weeds encroach upon its major populations, then this species should return to the list of State
Species of Special Concern. Spotted knapweed has invaded below the large Camp Creek population
along the public road. Newly-arrived invasions of leafy spurge and knapweed are also at the south end
of the Big Hole Study Area. Off road vehicle use is localized and mainly outside of broad-keeled
milkvetch population boundaries, though it may accelerate the spread of noxious weeds (Appendix D-3).

As a Montana watch species of limited distribution, it would be appropriate to continue collecting new
distribution information and to note any status changes.

Kochia americana S. Wats.

RED SAGE

Goosefoot Family (Chenopodiaceae)

CONSERVATION STATUS

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser\'ice: None.

Bureau of Land Management: None. Species not previously known from BLM lands. No
status recommendations are made at this time.

Montana Natural Heritage Program rank: G5 SH (state historical) was the original rank;
reranked to SU (state unkno\\Ti) as a result of the questions raised in this study.

DESCRIPTION: Red sage is a multi-stemmed perennial, ca. 10-50 cm tall, with stems that are woody
at the base, usually simple or branched, bearing succulent subterete leaves 5-25 mm long. It has an
inconspicuous five-lobed radially symmetrical flower that is sessile in groups of 2-5 in leaf axils along
the length of the stems. Flowers are usually perfect, with five stamens and 2-3 stigmas; imperfect
flowers lack stamens. The mature perianth is eventually keeled, with a membranous wing up to 3 mm
long and 5 mm broad (after Hitchcock et al. 1980; Figure 10; Appendix D-IO). The whole plant usually
turns a red color after fruiting, hence its common name.

Red sage is recognizable in its vegetative condition throughout the growing season, but definitive
identification cannot be made without flowering or fruiting material. In the vegetative condition, the
plant resembles a seablite, Suaeda moquinii (S. intermedia), though Suaeda moquinii has not been
documented from southwestern Montana to date. The seablite by contrast has a mature perianth which
is beaked, without keels or wings. Red sage flowers and fruits late in the growing season, and was just
beginning to flower on 17 August under the slightly cool, late growing season conditions of 1995.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

Global distribution: Southeastern Oregon to California, east through southern Idaho to extreme
southern Montana, Wyoming, Colorado and New Mexico (Hitchcock et al. 1980).

Montana distribution: Red sage is known only from two historic collections and from
the recent study (Figure 10). The 1888 specimen of Frank Tweedy (#49) is from
"alkaline flats, Beaver Head, Montana," a landmark 12 miles south of Twin Bridges in
Madison County along the border with Beaverhead County. The 1931 specimen of B. C.
Park (#227) is part of the U.S. National Forest Herbarium collection (RM), so it is
presumed to have been collected on national forest lands. The legal description included
on the collection label places it on the Beaverhead National Forest near Medicine Lodge
Peak, but the label also mentions an elevation of 7000 ft., which is over 600 ft. lower than
any terrain in this area. It also describes the setting as dry, with sandy soil, associated
with Artemisia tridentata and Opimtia. Efforts to relocate it were unsuccessful, and
habitat in the area appears to be inappropriate (Vanderhorst 1 994), so it is not included in
the distribution map and is considered unmappable.

Big Hole distribution: Red sage is known from one area on the west side of the Big
Hole river ca. 7 miles south of Melrose, entirely on BLM lands (Figure 10).

HABITAT: In general, red sage occupies alkaline plains and hills (Dom 1984) of semi-arid
settings. In Montana, it is expected to be restricted to southwestern intemiontane valley sites
where salts accumulate.

Habitat at the Big Hole study site is consistent with the general habitat characterization and with
what little habitat infonnation is provided for the two earlier collections of this species in the
state. It occupies a localized setting of alkaline flats on sandy alluvium and claypans at the base
of the valley slopes where salts accumulate. It is present in highest numbers when co-dominant
with Distichilis sthcta in an understory of Sarcobatus venniculatus and Artemisia tridentata
(Appendix D-1 1). It is also present in washes and other sparsely-vegetated settings. A few waifs
were found on adjoining gravelly grassland slopes.

The following is a representative list of associated species in the species' primary habitat:

Agropyron spicatum
Artemisia tridentata
Atriplex nuttallii
Bouteloua gracilis
Descurainia richardsonii
Distichilis stricta
Lappula redowskii
Opuntia polyacantha
Sarcobatus venniculatus
Sitanion hystrix

POPULATION INFORMATION: The population is spread out across two sections in an area
of at least 360 acres. It is locally abundant and co-dominant in less than half of this area. At

23
minimum, the population consists of 10,000 individuals.

The plant appears to be relatively long-lived, as judging by the presence of many plants with stout
woody bases and numerous old, broken-off stems. Small plants were also present without woody bases,
appearing to represent a mixed age structure that includes immature individuals.

MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS: Red sage appears to be palatable to livestock early in the
growing season but avoided tliroughout mid and late summer. The Big Hole populations were in two
different pastures, and many plants in the Section 28 pasture that was grazed early in the season were
browsed to the ground. The grazed plants produced vigorous new stems, though they had fewer stems
than ungrazed plants. No signs of grazing were found on red sage in the Section 27 pasture. Livestock
was not seen in the pasture during a June and an August visit, but the site appeared to be grazed later in
the season. In preliminary obser\'ations, we did not discern a difference in their densities and survival
with the presence or absence of grazing. It is possible that habitat alterations incidental to grazing, such
as gullying and increases in the numbers of exotic species, pose threats. Allotment information already
on hand may help to elaborate or to modify this assessment.

In Section 27, red sage is also part of a plant association that is being considered for addition to the state
vegetation classification. It is codominant with Distichilis sthcta in the understory of Sarcobatus
vermiculatus - Artejnisia tridentata.

The large population and possible lack of response to grazing provide reason to question whether this
species belongs on the list being tracked as Montana Species of Special Concern. Most of its potential
habitat is on low elevation alkali flats, which are likely to be concentrated on private lands. It remains
on the list because the information collected at this single site is insufficient for extrapolation across all
of southwestern Montana. It is appropriate to search for this species in the course of allotment studies
locally in both the Dillon and Headwaters Districts.

Kochia omericona

Hitchcock etai, 1984

Figure 9,

Phacelia lutea (Hook & Arn.) J. T. Howell

var. scopulina (A.Nels.) Cronq.

DWARF PHACELIA

Waterleaf Family (Hydophylaceae)

CONSERVATION STATUS

U.S. Fish and Wildlife: None.

Bureau of Land Management: None. It has not been documented on BLM lands and
therefore has not been considered.

Montana Natural Heritage Program rank: G4 SH (state historical).

DESCRIPTION: Dwarf phacelia is a low annual, branched at the base into several prostrate
stems that form mats up to 5 dm (20 in.) across. The alternate to nearly opposite, oblong, lance-
shaped leaves, 5-30 mm long, have petioles and entire to lobed margins. Foliage has short,
spreading hairs. Flowers are borne on short, narrow, coiled stalks arising from axils of upper
leaves. Flowers have 5 linear sepals, 3-7 mm long, and yellow, tubular corollas, 3-5 mm long,
flaring into five short lobes. The style, ovary, and elliptic seed capsule, 3-6 mm long, are hairy.
Stamens are shorter than the corolla.

The combination of amiual prostrate stems, lobed leaves, and flaring, tubular, yellow corollas
distinguish this species within the genus. A hand lens may be needed to examine the small
flowers.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

Global distribution: Dwarf phacelia is found in central and eastern Nevada, adjoining
Utah, and southeastern Oregon; disjunct in southwestern Wyoming and southwestern
Montana.

Montana distribution: The only Montana record is based on an out-of-state specimen,
so label information was secured from the New York Botanical Garden before fieldwork.
The collection was made by P. A. Rydberg (#2771) in 1895 from "Melrose," which lies
near the junction of three county borders (Beaverhead, Madison and Silverbow).

Big Hole distribution: Efforts to relocate the species were unsuccessful. As an amiual
species, its numbers are expected to vary much from year to year. It appeared that the
alkali flats setting south of Melrose in which red sage was found may be consistent with
the general habitat conditions of the dwarf phacelia; further surveying at the site is
warranted.

HABITAT: No habitat information is provided on the single Montana collection of this species. In the
Intermountain Flora (Cronquist et al. 1984), the only habitat characterization provided is that of the
species in all its varieties: "Alkaline, usually barren clay (rarely sandy) banks and flats in the deserts and
foothill."

POPULATION INFORMATION: None available.

MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS: It is appropriate to search for this species in the course of
on-the-ground range work in the Melrose vicinity of both the Dillon and Headwaters Districts. Extended
survey at the red sage site is also warranted.

PhaceLia lutea var. scopulina

1/2 ^ viy

) var. sc

Cronquist, et al. 1984

Figure 11.

GRASSHOPPER STUDY AREA

Surveys in the Grasshopper Study Area yielded the highest number of records for different
sensitive species among the tliree areas, reflecting the area's botanical diversity and extent of
appropriate habitat. New records were documented for ten species, in addition to those already
known, for Astragalus scaphoides, Lesquerella pulchella, Penstemon lemhiensis, Bannack State
Park species, and various others.

The Grasshopper Study Area sensitive species are made up primarily of state and regional
endemics (Astragalus scaphoides, Astragalus terminalis, Lesquerella pulchella, Lomatium
attenuatum, Oryzopsis contracta, Penstemon lemhiensis, Taraxacum eriophorwn, and
Townsendia nuttallii). Secondarily, the area consists of peripheral species. Phacelia incana and
Sphaeromeria argentea are centered in the Great Basin/Salmon Plains. Also present are southern
cordilleran species which are at their northern limits. One of the other peripheral species,
Erigeron linearis, is a western species at its eastern limits.

Astragalus scaphoides (Jones) Rydb.

BITTERROOT MILKVETCH

Bean Family (Fabaceae)

CONSERVATION STATUS

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: 3C (USDI Fish and Wildlife Service 1993). Ranking
signifies that the species has "proven to be more abundant or widespread than previously
believed and/or.... (is) not subject to any identifiable tlireat" and is based in large part on
the numbers of populations in Idaho.

Bureau of Land Management: Astragalus scaphoides was included on the BLM draft
list of sensitive species for Montana distributed for review in 1995.

Montana Natural Heritage Program rank: G3 SI (critically imperiled in the state)
prior to this study. There are now 17 Montana occurrences of this species, only one of
which is extirpated. The number of new records provides basis for reranking it as "S2"
(imperiled in the state), assuming that the extant populations are not subject to immediate
tlireat.

DESCRIPTION: Astragalus scaphoides is a stout herbaceous perennial with several erect
stems, 2-6 dm (8-24 in.) high, from a branched rootcrown. Pimiately-compound leaves are 10-25
cm (4-10 in.) long with 15-21 narrowly elliptic leaflets. Foliage is glabrous to sparsely hairy.
Infloresences are borne in the axils of upper leaves and have 15-30 spreading, crowded flowers

that become more remote as the plant matures. Yellowish-white flowers are ca. 20 mm long with a
reflexed upper petal and a blackish-hairy calyx, 8-10 mm long. Glabrous, green to reddish, oblong pods
are 15-20 mm long and 2-chambered in cross-section. Each pod is on a stem as long as the pod that
spreads out and then arches up, holding the fruit nearly erect (Figure 12; Appendix D-4). Astragalus
scaphoides flowers in mid-late June and produces fruit from June-July.

The long fruit stalks arch out and up, holding the pods like a candelabra. The pods are also 4-6 mm
wide, collectively distinguishing it from the similar species, A. atropubescens and A. terminalis.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

Global distribution: Astragalus scaphoides is a narrow endemic restricted to Lemhi County,
Idaho, where it is in the foothills of the Bitterroot Mountains and adjoining valleys, and in a
separate area of the foothills and high plains in southwestern Beaverhead County, Montana.

Montana distribution: Astragalus scaphoides is found in southwestern Beaverhead County in
the drainages of the Grasshopper, Horse Prairie, and Medicine Lodge Creeks, and in the upper
Beaverhead River, constituting a total of 17 Montana occurrences. The majority, including all of
the largest occurrences, are on BLM lands (Figure 13).

Grasshopper distribution: Twelve of the 17 Montana occurrences are from the Grasshopper
Study Area (Figure 13). One is an historic collection made on private land at the mouth of
Grasshopper Creek that is presumed extirpated, and one is an historic collection made near the
Bannack townsite that has also likely been destroyed.

HABITAT: Astragalus scaphoides is distributed across "open valleys, low hills, (and) canyon benches
..." (Bameby 1964) in foothills and lower montane settings. In the study area, it occurs on lower slopes,
terraces, and flood plains, extending high on slopes when the slopes are gentle or sheltered. It occupies a
wide range of slopes and aspects. Mesic microhabitat appears to be good potential habitat throughout
the study area, though large areas of potential habitat have been altered and are unoccupied such as the
valleybottoms of Grasshopper Creek and tributary mouths (see management discussion). With higher
elevations, as found outside the study area in the Tendoy Mountains, the species extends onto exposed,
southerly slopes. Its elevation in Montana ranges from 5300-6900 ft.

It typically grows in sagebrush grasslands dominated by Artemisia tridentata and Agropyron spicatum.
Under heavy grazing, the sage takes on a rank, spindly form and Astragalus scaphoides is absent or
present in only trace amounts (e.g., segments of Cold Springs Creek, Appendix D-6), with or without,
population remnants at the base of the valley slope (Appendix D-15). Other shrub species which are
subdominant or in some cases replace big sagebrush in these habitats include Artemisia nova and
Chrysothamnus nauseosus. Common or subdominant grasses at the sites include Stipa comata,
Oryzopsis hymenoides, Festuca idahoensis, and Poa secunda. Although there are several other species
of milkvetches in the vicinity, mc\\xd\ng Astragalus agrostis, A. adsurgens. A. atropubescens, A.
drummondii, and A. lentiginosus, they are not regularly found in the same mesic setting as A.
scaphoides.

Astragalus scaphoides

From Hitchcock and Cronquist 1961

Figure 12

A representative list of associated species includes the following:

Agropyron spicatum
Allium textile
Artemisia nova
Art ernes ia trident at a
Aster scopulorum
Chrysopsis villosa
Chrysothamnus nauseosus
Festuca idahonis
Leptodactylon piingens
Lupimis argenteus
Opuntia polyacantha
Oryzopsis hymenoides
Phacelia linearis
Phlox longifolia
Poa secimda
Stipa comata

The soil substrates vary greatly. In the study area, they are derived from limestone, diabase and
other volcanic materials, and from basin sediments, most often as stony loams but also including
clayey and gravelly soil textures.

POPULATION INFORMATION: Population numbers range from <50 to >5000 plants. Two
of the three large populations (>5000) in Montana are in the study area, located north of
Henneberry Ridge (#017), and in the Coal Creek headwaters area (#016).

Reproduction is by seed and the species is relatively long-lived. It can go dormant through entire
growing seasons (Lesica and Steele 1994), an adaptation which confounds population size and
trend estimates. The cool, moist conditions early in the 1995 growing season appeared to have
favored it. Previously documented populations were revisited in 1995; observed numbers were
high.

MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS: This highly palatable species is grazed in preference
to Agi-opyron spicatum (P. Lesica pers. obs.). High stocking rates and repeated spring grazing
will eliminate fruit production and thus, the population's ability to sustain itself over the long
term. Monitoring oi Astragalus scaphoides under different grazing regimes has suggested that A.
scaphoides can persist if predation is moderate, or absent during some years, as with rotation
grazing (Lesica 1995).

The current study and favorable growing season afforded an opportunity to independently study
distribution of Astragalus scaphoides across the landscape in relation to management activities.
The largest Montana populations of this species are north and south of Grasshopper Creek in

very large pastures that are either grazed in winter, or which have extensive secondary ranges. Heavy
spring grazing has been shown to damage populations (Lesica and Elliott 1987). In the study area, the
species tends to be oriented along valleys, and in several locations could be traced from headwaters
sporadically to Grasshopper Creek inlets over 2 miles away, disappearing where cattle use is heaviest.
There are also fence line contrasts that corroborate this pattern, e.g.. Astragalus scaphoides being locally
common on the BLM side of a fence and uncormnon in the adjoining state school land section that was
in poorer range condition (#008; Appendix D-5).

Astragalus scaphoides has one of the narrowest global distributions of plant species in this study. The
species is locally common in Idaho (Bameby 1964, Lesica and Elliott 1987) but not in Montana. Only
three populations in the state have populations exceeding 5000, including the Coal Creek and
Henneberry Ridge populations in the Grasshopper Study Area (#016, 017). Nearly all known Montana
occurrences are on BLM-administered lands. BLM management of this species and of these key sites
are critical in its conservation.

Spotted knapweed is encroaching in another major population (EO#008), and could become a grave
management problem for this species throughout the study area.

Astragalus terminalis Wats.

RAILHEAD MILKVETCH

Bean Family (Fabaceae)

The greatest numbers of railhead milkvetch were found in the Upper Madison Valley Study Area;
Grasshopper Study Area species information can therefore be found in the Upper Madison Valley Study
Area results.

Erigeron linearis (Hook.) Piper

LINEARLEAF FLEABANE

Aster Family (Asteraceae)

CONSERVATION STATUS

U. S. Fish and Wildlife Ser\'ice: None.

Bureau of Land Management: This species was not previously known from lands
administered by the Bureau of Land Management, so it has not been reviewed for ELM
status. It is not recommended for ELM designation at this time because of the questions
raised about the naturalness of the study area population.

Montana Natural Heritage Program rank: G5 SI.

DESCRIPTION: Linearleaf fleabane has unbranched stems, 5-30 cm (2-6 in) tall, from a stout
taproot and branched rootcrown. The mostly basal leaves are linear and 1-9 cm (0.5-3.5 in) long;
the bases of the stems and leaves are enlarged and straw-colored or purplish, and the herbage is
covered with fine gray hairs. The flower heads are usually solitary at the ends of the stems; the
involucral bracts are 4-7 mm long and are covered with long, appressed hairs and occasionally
also with glads. The 15-45 yellow rays are 4-1 1 mm long. The yellow disk flow^ers are 3-5 rmn
long (Figure 14; Appendix D-9). There are 10-20 pappus bristles at the top of each seed (achene).
Plants were near peak flowering at 14 June 1995.

This is the only yellow-flowered fleabane in Montana. The Erigeron genus is distinguished from
other yellow-flowered genera in the Aster Family with which it might be mistaken in having
involucral bracts that are in only one series.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

Global distribution: Southern British Columbia, south through eastern Washington and
Oregon to northern Nevada and Yosemite National Park, east through central Idaho to
Yellowstone National Park and southwestern Montana.

Montana distribution: The three collections include one in the Eitterroot Valley made
on private lands in 1973, one historic collection west of Dillon, and the recent study area
collection which may correspond to the vague location information of the historic
collection (Figure 15).

Grasshopper distribution: The single study area collection was confined to a small
discrete area. It may be a part of the native flora elsewhere in the local landscape, or an
accidental introduction that was brought in with mining activity (Figure 15).

^" A

Hitchcock etai 1984

Figure 14.

HABITAT: The rolling foothills setting is on granular, diabase-derived sediment with vegetation
dominated by Artemisia tridentata/Agropyron spicatum. It is consistent with all available information
on the Ravalli County collection site in being dry, rocky, and east-facing. The area where Erigeron
linearis is present corresponds with a gap in Artemisia tridentata dominated by Agropyron smithii. The
Vi ha opening in sage cover is traversed by a faint 2-track leading to an old mining test dig nearby.
There is no apparent break in the physical environment. Other native species that are common on the
adjoining hillside are absent in the small opening, while disturbance-favored species are locally
common. The population site may have been grubbed or accidentally burned such that the sage was
killed. Otherwise, a highly restricted microhabitat condition such as a claypan could be present apart
from disturbance. Associated species include:

Agropyron smithii
Arenaria kingii
Bromus tectorum
Chysopsis villosa
Haplopappus acaidis
Oxytropis sericea
Phlox biyoides

POPULATION INFORMATION: The population consisted of ca. 50 individuals. Most were multi-
stemmed and vigorous.

MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS: The origin of this occurrence, whether natural or associated
with disturbance, must first be resolved to determine whether or not it warrants management concern.
To help resolve such questions, the species should be sought during range work in this area of the
allotment.

Lesquerellapulc/tella Rollins
BEAUTIFUL BLADDERPOD
Mustard Family (Brassicaceae)

CONSERVATION STATUS

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: None.

Bureau of Land Management: Proposed sensitive in the draft list that was circulated in
1995.

Montana Natural Heritage Program rank: G2 82.

DESCRIPTION: Beautiful bladderpod is a herbaceous perennial with unbranched, prostrate to
ascending stems arising from a branched rootcrown and taproot. The basal leaves have short
petioles and elliptic, entire-margined blades. The alternate stem leaves are smaller and lack
petioles. Foliage is covered with dense, silvery, branched hairs. Yellow, stalked flowers are
borne at the top of the stems in a narrow inflorescence that elongates as the fruit matures. Each
flower has 4 separate petals, 4 separate sepals, and 4 long and 2 short stamens. The flattened,
broadly elliptic capsules (silicles) have a keel on each face (from Rollins 1995; Figure 16;
Appendix D-12). Flowering is between late May to mid June in normal years for the foothills
settings; in early June to early July in nonnal years for the subalpine settings. Within the study
area, a second flowering has been observed in mid- to late August during a growing season that
was early and droughty (Heidel 1993).

It is one of several endemic Lesquerella species in Montana, which occupy similar kinds of
habitat and require mature fruits for identification. Until recent taxonomic research (Rollins
1995), it was provisionally treated as Lesquerella carinata based on personal communications
with Rollins (Schassberger 1991, Heidel 1993). The flattened, unlobed, keeled silicles separate
this plant from species ofPhysaria and Lesquerella in our area, except L. carinata var. languida
which has narrowly elliptic fruits.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

Global distribution: Endemic to southwestern Montana

Montana distribution: This species is known only from Beaverhead County, from nine
occurrences in the Pioneer Mountains area and one in the Centermial Mountains (Figure
17). This is a correction to its reported distribution in Heidel (1993) which mistakenly
ascribed a specimen of I. paysonii from Deerlodge County to it.

Grasshopper distribution: Known from five occurrences along the western edge of the
study area, representing half of the kno\NTi occurrences for this species throughout its
rangewide. All five are wholly or partly on ELM lands (Figure 17).

Lesquerella pulchell
Vanderhorst #5186

Figure 16.

2 cn

C 05

W CM

3 >.

Z i!j

55 S

HABITAT: Lesquerella pidchella is a calciphilic species which occupies harsh habitat under low
competition. In the study area it is restricted to limestone outcrops of the Madison Group in north-south
bands centered around Bannack. Note: This is not the only Madison Group outcrop in the study area,
and in the extensive Madison Group dolomite outcrops around Henneberry Ridge, only the common
bladderpod species, Lesquerella alpina, has been found.

It spans a 6200-7590 ft range of elevation in the study area, extending upward into lower elevations of
the adjoining Beaverhead National Forest. It is also at subalpine elevations of the same Pioneer
Mountains area, and known from a single subalpine area in the Centennial Mountains which is from
quartzite rather than limestone. Its subalpine elevations range from 8600-9200 ft. This bimodal
distribution in elevation zone may reflect its preference for open habitats under low competition. The
following habitat description focuses on the foothills habitat of the species as found in the study area,
which is typical for the foothills habitat of the species in general. Description of the subalpine habitats
of the species is summarized briefly at the end.

In the study area it occupies some of the most arid, exposed microhabitats on gravelly, shallow substrate
over bedrock. It is often on mid and upper slopes, with the angle of slope and the aspect depending on
local outcrop variables. The settings tend to be sparsely-vegetated pockets within scrub and grassland
communities of the foothills. Local dominant is Agropyron spicatum, with or without Cercocarpus
ledifoUus (Appendix D-13). Tree cover of Pinus flexilis is patchy and restricted.

A representative list of species commonly occurring with it include:

Achillea millefolium
Agropyron spicatum
Allium textile
Arenaria kingii
A rtem is ia frigida
Aremisia tridentata
Carex rossii
Castilleja pallescens
Cercocarpus ledifoUus
Chaenactis douglasii
Delphinium bicolor ssp. novum
Douglasia montana
Draba oligosperma
Erigeron t^veedyi
Gilia congesta
Gutierrezia sarothrae
Haplopappus acaulis
Juniperus scopulorum
Linum lewisii
Lesquerella alpina

Lomatium attenuatwn
Mimulus suksdorfii
Penstemon aridus
Petrophytum cespitosum
Phlox bryoides
Pinus flexilis
Poa secimda
Pseudotsuga menziesii
Senecio canus
Sphaeromeria argentea
Townsendia mittaUii

The preference of this species for low-competition settings was evident in the study area by its
sporadic colonization of a gravelly open stream bed in low numbers below the BLM population
near Bannack.

It was also found on an abandoned two-track road at a point over limestone bedrock leading to
the Ermont Mill and No. 2 Mine. This was located close to a well-established "natural"
population and was made up of comparatively few plants. In its natural setting, the habitat is
subject to frost heaving. Wliile there is also rodent burrowing activity in the area, the species
does not usually occur in these disturbed mounds.

In the Centennial Mountains and upper elevations of the Pioneer Mountains Lesquerella
pulchella, has been documented in parkland and open ridge top settings, where a preliminary list
of associated species includes:

Abies lasiocarpa
Carex geyeri
Carex rossii
Dryas octopetala
Ehtrichium naman
Geum rossii

Hedysarum siiphurescens
Lesquerella alpina
Lloydia serotina
Picea engelmanii
Pinus albicaulis
Poa alpina

Pseudotsuga menziesii
Silene acaulis
Valeriana dioica

POPULATION INFORMATION: Population numbers in the study area range from <100 to
>5000. All of the largest populations of this species >1000 plants are on BLM lands, and tliree

of the four are in the Grasshopper Study Area, including:

Badger Pass BLM

Bannack spanning BLM and state

Rocky Hills BLM

A fifth population at Black Lion Mountain on Beaverhead National Forest was described as "conamon"
without an estimate of population size. As a state endemic, these data represent its global populations
numbers.

Most of these low elevation populations cover small areas because the outcrop habitat is limited and the
discontinuous nature of the outcrop habitat accounts for the discontinuous distribution pattern across the
landscape.

Individuals are relatively short-lived and dependent on seed production (Schassberger 1991). The
populations may vary in size and extent with yearly climate shifts. The population structure and
dynamics appear to be very similar to that of I. carinata var. languida (Greenlee 1994, from
Vanderhorst 1995).

MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS: It was recommended that this species' status be reviewed
after the species was published in the literature, and more complete sun'ey studies were conducted
(Heidel 1993). The information gathered in this study has not significantly expanded its distribution or
allayed concerns over potential threats. While it has similar habitat requirements to Lomatium
attenuatum, they are narrower and more restricted to settings with mining activity. It is also more short-
lived. For these reasons, it is recommended for retaining as sensitive by the BLM.

Many of the study area population sites adjoin active mines, and most are marked with mining claims.
One of the largest populations is located at Bannack among four other Montana Species of Special
Concern, and major strides in biodiversity conservation and public education might be made by
protecting the areas administered by both state and federal agencies at one time.

Noxious weed invasion has not entered this species' habitat to date, though there is potential for it to
encroach upon and to out-compete short-lived perennials in this setting, as is happening in the case of
Lesquerella carinata var. languida habitat, which is being encroached upon by Centaurea maculosa
(Vanderhorst 1995).

CONSERVATION STATUS

Lomatiiim attenuatum Evert

TAPERTIP BISCUITROOT

Parsley Family (Apiaceae)

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Sen-ice: 3C (USDI Fish and Wildlife Service 1993); This
signifies that the species has "proven to be more abundant or widespread than previously
believed and/or.. ..(is) not subject to any identifiable tlireat."

Bureau of Land Management: Lomatium attenuatum is included on the BLM's list of
proposed sensitive species for Montana (USDI Bureau of Land Management 1993).

Montana Natural Heritage Program rank: G2 SI; in Wyoming, the species has
recently been reranked as S2 from S3 (Fertig 1996), and its global rank changed from G3
to S2 accordingly.

DESCRIPTION: Taper-tip biscuitroot is a perennial herb with 1 to several stems, 10-25 cm (4-
10 in.) high, from a long, thick taproot and a simple or branched rootcrowTi. The few alternate,
elliptic leaves are 3-times divided into narrow ultimate segments, 2-5 mm long and less than 2 m
wide. The leaf petioles form a dilated sheath that enfolds the stem. Foliage is mildly sandpaper-
like but without hair. Tiny yellow flowers are borne in hemispherical clusters, subtended by 0-6
separate, linear bracts (involucel), that are arranged at the ends of 5-8 stalks, 3-5 mm long, in an
umbrella-like inflorescence at the top of the stem. Five separate petals, 1-2 mm long, sunnount
an ovary that matures into a glossy, glabrous, flattened elliptical fruit 5-8 mm long, with four low
ridges on each face (from Evert 1983; Figure 18; Appendix D-14). The flowers appear with the
leaves by early May. Individual plants ha\e a range in maturity between umbellets on a plant so
that flowering and fruiting is staggered and extended for several weeks in favorable years.
Flowering continued into early June in 1995.

Lomatium is a difficult genus; a hand lens or microscope and technical key are essential for
determination. This species is most similar to L. cous, which it resembles in habit and leaf
dissection. The latter has an involucel of elliptic bracts and is less scabrous.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

1. Global distribution: The species is known only from Park County in northwestern

Wyoming (Evert 1983, Dom 1992) and fi-om southwestern Beaverhead County, Montana.

2. Montana distribution: Lomatium attemmtum was first discovered in the state in 1993 by

Peter Lesica on BLM land in the Tendoy Mountains (Vanderhorst and Lesica 1 994).
Additional populations were found in 1 994 in the Tendoy Mts. and to the north near

Lomatium attenuatum

From Evert 1983

Figure 18.

Baniiack (Vanderhorst 1995) for a total of eight records (Figure 19. Seven of them are wholly or partly
on BLM lands. Note: Specimens of Z.. cons have been reviewed and annotated at both MONT and
MONTU.

3. Grasshopper Study Area distribution: The species was documented to a greater extent around

Bamiack, and eastward toward Dillon in the Grasshopper Creek Study Area, representing four of
the eight known occurrences in the state (Figure 19).

HABITAT: In Montana, Lomatium attenuatwn grows in talus and gravelly to rocky soils derived from
Madison Group limestone, an outcrop substrate associated with a range of landform that supports
distinctly calciphilic vegetation. Evert (1983) describes the soils where the species is found in Wyoming
as "lithosols derived from volcanic material or limestone." The species has not been found associated
with \'olcanics in Montana. It spans an ele\'ation of 6200-8500 feet in the state, but occurs at the lower
end of this range in the Grasshopper Study Area.

In the Study Area, Lomatium attenuatwn grows in semi-arid grassland (Appendix D-15), mountain
mahogany (Cercocarpus ledifolius) communities and limber pine {Pinusflexilis) parkland. It occupies
the following habitat types:

Agropyron spicatum h.t.
Cercocarpus ledifolius h.t.
Pinus flexilis h.t.

A representative list of associated species includes:

Agropyron spicatum
Allium textile
Artemisia frigida
Cercocarpus ledifolius
Cryptantha celosioides
Delphinium bicolor ssp. novum
Lesquerella pulchella
Petrophyton cespitosum
Phacelia incana
Pinus flexilis
Sphaeromeria argentea
Townsendia spathulata

The vegetation is typically sparse and stress-resistant, and Lomatium attenuatum is not found in dense
vegetation. It is sometimes found in disturbance settings. An example is its occurrence at edges of the
street in Bannack; however, it here occurs in very low numbers (accidental introduction) in comparison
to its natural habitat.

POPULATION INFORMATION: Population numbers range from 10 to > 10.000 in the state.
The latter population is in the study area and represents the largest known population of this
species in Montana, one which straddles Bannack State Park and adjoining BLM lands (#003).
Most other populations are in the thousands except for those few which were found on small,
isolated outcrop areas. Reproduction is by seed.

MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS: Immediate management requirements have not been
identified because the slopes where it grows have limited forage production for grazing and do
not produce commercial timber. However, the global rank of this species has recently been
changed from G3 (globally \ailnerable) to G2 (globally imperilled) because it has a narrow
distribution throughout its range in Montana and Wyoming. E\'en if it has no immediate threats
to support BLM designation as sensitive, it is critical that it remain on the BLM watch list and its
status be further evaluated in Montana. The species could potentially be impacted by road
construction, mining activities, or \seed in\asion.

Oryzopsis contracta (Johnson) Shechter

CONTRACTED INDIAN RICEGRASS

Grass Family (Poaceae)

CONSERVATION STATUS

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser\ice: None at present. It was recently listed as a Category 2
(C2) species by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1993), although surA-ey and
herbarium studies in Wyoming documented a broad distribution, and limited degree of
threats. This provided the basis for reconamending that it be dropped from further
consideration.

Bureau of Land Management: None. It was not previously kno\Mi from BLM lands in
Montana.

Montana Natural Heritage Program rank: G3 SH (state historical); reranked SU as a
result of this study.

DESCRIPTION: Contracted Indian ricegrass is a tufted perennial with glabrous stems 12-28
inches tall. The inflorescence is a panicle with branches that are initially contracted (hence the
common name) but which become stiffly spreading at maturity (Figure 20; Appendix D-16, D-
17). Spikelets are single-flowered, slender, and 3/8 inch long. The lemmas are covered by short,
white, silky hairs that do not exceed the lemma; the lemmas have an awn 1/4-3/8 inches long
(from Fertig 1994, Wyoming Rare Plant Technical Committee 1995).

Oryzopsis contracta can be recognized by its contracted or stiffly spreading panicle branches,
slender 1 -flowered spikelets, and long-awned lemmas with short, silky white hairs. These hairs
are equal or less than the length of the lemma (Fertig 1994).

It was initially described as a variety of Oiyzopsis hywenoides (Johnson 1945) which it most closely
resembles. A more detailed study by Shechter and Johnson (1966) led to recognition of this grass as a
distinct species. It is intemiediate betvseen Oiyzopsis hymenoides and O. micrantha, and is likely to
have been overlooked or misidentified in Montana because of its overall resemblance to and habitat
ON'erlap with the former. Common Indian ricegrass (Oiyzopsis hymenoides) differs from O. contracta in
having a wide-spreading, wa\')'-branched panicle, plump florets, lemmas with relatively short awns
(usually <6 mm), and long silky hairs that exceed the body of the lemma (Wyoming Rare Plant
Teclinical Committee 1994). The pedicel angles of branching are noticeably different in the field,
providing a quick basis for making distinctions when matured inflorescences are present. Littleseed
ricegrass {Oiyzopsis micrantha) is distinguished by having glabrous lemmas and strictly contracted
panicle branches.

Note: Oiyzopsis (ricegrass) is a widespread genus represented by five species in Montana. In a recent
revision by Barkworth (1993), it has been split into three genera. By this treatment, Oiyzopsis contracta
becomes a synonym of Acherantherum contr actum in a genus which includes most of the former species
of Oiyzopsis in addition to the short-awned species of Stipa (Fertig 1994).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

Global distribution: Oiyzopsis contracta is a regional endemic of extreme southwestern
Montana, central and western Wyoming, and north-central Colorado (Fertig 1994).

Montana distribution: This species was first recognized as part of the Montana flora when an
herbarium specimen deposited in RM that had been originally identified as Oiyzopsis
hymenoides was annotated by Walter Fertig, Wyoming Natural Diversity Database, to O.
contracta. The collector, C. W. Griffin, gave the location only as Beaverhead National Forest
which at the time of this 1921 collection spamied tliree counties. Based on this collection, the
species was assigned a state rank of "SH" (known only fi-om historic records in the state). After
the field season, it was detennined that a duplicate of this specimen fi-om Beaverhead National
Forest was deposited at MRC. Its collection label included additional location informafion,
mentioning the Sheep Creek Ranger Station. This was interpreted by Peter Stickney to
correspond with a site in the Tendoy Mountains, 7 miles west of Lima, in T13S, RlOW, Sec. 36.
The five additional sites documented in this study span the Study Area (Figure 21).

Herbarium specimens in Oiyzopsis hymenoides folders have been checked at MONT (Rumely
pers. commun.) and at MONTU (Heidel pers. obs.) without finding additional collections for
annotation to O. contracta. Any small herbaria with collections from southwestern Montana
should also be checked for misidentified specimens.

Oryzopsis contracta

111. by Isobel Nichols.

From Fertig 1994

Figure 20.

Grasshopper distribution: Five sites were documented in the Grasshopper Creek study area in
the preliminary sur\ey (Figure 21). They span much of the Study Area and include:

Albers Spring roadside

Bannack State Park areas and separate BLM lands to west

Ermont Gulch

Grasshopper Creek mouth

Henneberry Ridge areas

HABITAT: The documented range of habitats in Montana corresponds with that in Wyoming,
summarized as dry, shallow, sandy, or gravelly soils on slopes or rolling plains in open,
sagebrush-grassland communities (Fertig 1994). The Montana topographic positions of
Oiyzopsis contracta are on mid to lo\\'er slopes (0-30%) with most commonly south and west
aspects (Appendix D-18). In Wyoming, it is often also found on upper slopes and ridgetops on
all aspects. The known range of elevation in Montana is 5400-6080 ft. Soils are consistently
well-drained and light-colored, derived from various parent materials including Madison Group
limestone, alluvial gravel or sand, and quartzite.

The vegetation is consistently sparse, whether found in a dry microhabitat or in a generally harsh
landscape. It is dominated by Agropyron spicatum (Appendix D-19), with or without Artemisia
tridentata var. wyomingensis, and less often with Artemisia arbuscida. A representative list of
frequently associated species in Montana follows:

Agropyron spicatum

A?-enaria kingii

Artemisia arbuscida

Artemisia frigida

Artemisia tridentata var. uyomingensis

Aster scopulorum

Bromus tectorum

Cordylanthus ramosus

Gutierrezia sarothrae

Lesquerella alpina

Phacelia linearis

Phlox longifolia

Poa secunda

Stipa comata

In the study area landscapes, it was sympatric with common Indian ricegrass, which seems to
have a broader ecological amplitude than contracted Indian ricegrass. However, the highest
population densities of the two species were in slightly different locations, perhaps
corresponding with microhabitat preferences. In general, contracted Indian ricegrass was lower
on the catena than common Indian ricegrass.

POPULATION INFORMATION: Population numbers varied by several orders of magnitude among
sites, from 10-100 individuals at roadsides and slopes of the heavily grazed Grasshopper Creek mouth to
10,000+ in the Henneberr>' Ridge area. Individuals were widely spaced and usually consisted of a few
multi-stemmed spikes (2-5).

Phenology varied little within and between populations. The first spikelets were beginning to emerge in
mid- June, and the inflorescence persisted with intact spikelets through at least mid-August in the 1995
growing season, which was relatively mild and slightly late.

MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS: Like common indian ricegrass, contracted ricegrass is
considered to be a decreaser under livestock grazing (Fertig 1994). This notion is supported by the
species' obsers'ed presence inside the fenced Bannack Cemetery versus its virtual disappearance
inmiediately outside the Cemetery, where the land is grazed. Because of its habitat specialization, it is
occasionally restricted to localized disturbance areas, e.g., the Albers Spring roadside right-of-way.

Phacelia incana A. Brand

HOARY PHACELIA

Waterleaf Family (Hydrophyllaceae)

CONSERVATION STATUS

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Senice: None.

Bureau of Land Management: Proposed as watch in the draft list circulated for review in
1995.

Montana Natural Heritage Program rank: G3G4 SI

DESCRIPTION: Hoary phacelia is a small annual 3-15 cm (1 1/4-6 in) tall. Its leaves are elliptical to
egg-shaped and at least the lower petioles are longer than the blade. The foliage has a soft texture,
covered by hairs which are mostly distinctly glandular-tipped. The mostly terminal inflorescences may
appear leaf-opposed, and are elongate and usually few-flowered. The very inconspicuous flower has a 5-
lobed fused white to bluish corolla, 3.5-4.5 mm long and 2-3 mm wide, which is barely longer than the 5
narrow green calyx lobes (Figure 22; Appendix D-20). There are 5 stamens and a single style. It
flowers in June. The duration of flowering and extent of branching seems dependent on year-to-year
climate and microhabitat moisture.

Other annual phacelias in Montana are easily distinguished from P. incana by their larger size and
generally lobed lea\'es, except sometimes P. linearis, which has large pink flowers. Other minute
annuals may superficially resemble it, e.g. species of Collinsia, Ciyptantha and Mimulus, but have
different floral structure, leaves, and hairs.

Mi %i

■"% ^

1/2
JRJ k 12.5

Phacelia incar

Cronquist et al. 1994

Figure 22,

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

Global distribution: Common in eastern Nevada and western Utah and also known
sporadically from northeastern Utah, northwestern Colorado, Wyoming, and central
Idaho (Cronquist et al. 1984) to southwestern Montana.

Montana distribution: Southwestern Beaverhead County, including four records
around the periphery of the Tendoy Mountains and two in the Grasshopper Study Area
(Figure 23).

Grasshopper distribution: Bannack and Clark Canyon Reservoir areas (Figure 23).

HABITAT: Cronquist et al. (1984) describe the habitat as "stony, often calcareous slopes."
Within the study area, P. incana grows on dry limestone ridges, often in fine soils below rubble,
especially in small accumulations of leaf litter below mountain mahogany. Its elevations in the
Study Area range from 6050-6200 ft, while it has been documented at 7080 ft. elsewhere in the
state.

Dominant woody vegetation on these slopes is Cercocarpus JedifoUus, often \\\\\\ Artemisia
tridentata (Appendix D-21). It typically grows beneath these shrubs. A representative list of
associated species include:

Agropyron spicatwn
Chenopodiwn
Collinsia parviflora
Cryptantha watsonii
Descurainia richardsonii
Malacomia africana
Oryzopsis hymenoides
Phacelia has tat a
Phacelia linearis

In the Tendoy Mountains, it was also associated with four other restricted calciphilic species:
Agastache cusickii, Hutchinsia procumbens, hdimulus suksdorfii, and Stanleya viridiflora
(Vanderhorst and Lesica 1994).

POPULATION INFORMATION: The t\vo populations discovered in 1995 ranged in
estimated numbers from 200 to >1000 plants. The Bannack population was recun-ent in separate
subpopulations, while the Clark Canyon Reser\'oir population seemed restricted to a single area
<5 m^, suggesting that it may have recently become established. The largest known population is
in the Tendoy Mountains on BLM land and approaches or exceeds 10,000 plants.

As an amiual, its numbers would be expected to vary greatly from year to year. In general, its

numbers might be expected to be higher in relatively cool, moist years - conditions which corresponded
in large part with those of the 1995 growing season.

MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS: Phacelia incana has a very limited knowTi distribution in
Montana but it is inconspicuous and occupies habitat which is not quickly traversed. This also means
that it is not readily affected by land use activities apart from mining. Invasion by exotic annuals
{Bromus tectorum and more recently Malacomia africana) is on the increase in the Bannack population.
This study supports previous recommendations that this species be considered as a BLM watch species.

Spltaeromeria argentea Nutt.

CHICKEN SAGE

Aster Family (Asteraceae)

CONSERVATION STATUS

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: None.

Montana Bureau of Land Management: Species was not on the list of proposed sensitive
species included in the original draft list that was circulated, and may or may not have been
added to the draft in preparation.

Montana Natural Heritage Program rank: G3 S2.

DESCRIPTION: Chicken sage is a perennial herb or subslirub with many flowering stems, 5-20 cm
(2-8 in) high, and numerous short, sterile stems arising fi-om a branched rootcrown. The alternate leaves,
up to 15 mm long, are narrowly fan-shaped and usually 3-lobed at the tip. Foliage is aromatic and
densely covered with appressed, gray hair. Several, short-stalked flower heads are borne on the stem
tips. Each hemispheric head has 2-3 series of overlapping, membranous-margined, involucral bracts (3-
4 mm high), and numerous disk flowers. Ray flowers are lacking (Figure 24; Appendix D-22). The
seeds are without bristles or awTis (pappus) on top.

The leaves, heads, and subshrub habit make this plant resemble a tiny sagebrush. S. capitata fomis
dense mats and has more deeply divided leaves and dense clusters of flower heads.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

Global distribution: Central Idaho, northeast Nevada, southwest Montana, and northwest
Wyoming.

Montana distribution: 12 occurrences in southwestern Beaverhead County (Figure 25).

Grasshopper distribution: There are six known populations in the Grasshopper Study Area
(Figure 25).

Sphaeromeria argentea

From Hitchcock et al. 1984

Figure 24.

■o

■i-j

C/D

~ o

'k_

(13

+ii

C/)

-1

;:; o CO
(/) U Z

<u ,—

z §

m C

HABITAT: Sphaeromeria argentea occurs in two distinct habitats in the Grasshopper Study

Area:

1) low sagebrush grassland in localized sandy clay pockets within sagebrush steppe dominated

by Artemisia arbuscula/Agropyron spicatum (Appendix D-23); and 2) limestone outcrop

ridgetops and slopes covered by dry bunchgrass communities of Agropyron spicatum/cushion

plant at the most sparsely-vegetated local extreme (Appendix D-24).

Associated species in low sagebrush grassland of the Study Area include:

Agropyron spicatum
Antennaria microphylla
Arenaria kingii
Artemisia arbuscula
Aster scopuloriim
Astragalus plattensis
Crepis modocensis
Delphinium bicolor ssp. novum
Erigeron tweedyi
Festuca idahoensis
Penstemon aridus
Phlox try aides
Poa secunda

Associated species in the limestone outcrop habitat include:

Agropyron spicatum
Arenaria kingii
Artemisia arbuscula
Artemisia frigida
Erigeron compositus
Erigeron tM'eedyi
Eriogonum mancum
Haplopappus acaulis
Linum lewisii
Oryzopsis hymenoides
Phlox bryoides
Townsendia nuttallii

In the Sage Creek Study Area, the species was also found in heavy soil of eroding slopes at ca.
6,300 ft.; common associated species include Haplopappus acaidis and Erigeron tM'eedyi (Lesica
and Vanderhorst 1995). The species also occurs in this area on dry rocky bunchgrass slopes not
confined to limestone parent material; common associated species include Ceratoides lanatus,
Selaginella densa, Antennaria microphylla, Astragalus miser, Haplopappus acaulis, Eriogonum

mancwn, and Erigeron caespitosus. Finally, the low sagebrush grassland of the Sage Creek Study Area
was relatively extensive, made up oi Artemisia arbitscula /Festuca idahoemis h.t. at ca. 6,600 ft.;
common associated species include Chrysothammis viscidiflorus, Antennaria micvophylla, Agropyron
spicatum, and Phlox hoodii. These settings in both study areas are arid, alkaline, and have low
vegetation competition.

POPULATION INFORMATION: Population numbers range from 50 to 300 in most populations, but
the Bannack area population approaches 10,000. It appears to be centered on the State Park
(Vanderhorst 1995). The largest kno\\ai population of the species is in Horse Prairie (Vanderhorst
1995). Numbers can be difficult to estimate because the species fomis mats or aggregates that camiot be
distinguished as individuals.

MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS: Sphaeromeria argentea is a low, aromatic subslmib that did
not show signs of being grazed. Some of its habitat settings are within primary range, as at the Emiont
Gulch site, where the affect of trampling alters the substrate. Grazing, mining, and other activities
sometimes promote the spread of exotic species and pose indirect management concerns. Mining
activity is a potential threat to the species in its limestone outcrop habitat. Invasion by exotic species has
not occurred in the study area sites, but potentially includes Bromus tectorum, Centaurea maculosa, and
Meli lotus spp.

This species is recommended for BLM Watch status because of the generally low population numbers,
restricted range, and widespread (though low) levels of existing threats.

Taraxacum erioplioriim Rydb.

ROCKY MOUNTAIN DANDELION

Aster Family (Asteraceae)

CONSERVATION STATUS:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Ser\'ice: None.

Bureau of Land Management: Proposed sensitive on the draft list that was circulated
in 1995.

Montana Natural Heritage Program rank: G4 SI.

DESCRIPTION: Rocky Mountain dandelion is a stemless, herbaceous perennial with erect to
ascending, glabrous, or sparsely hairy flower stalks up to 3 dm (12 in.) tall when mature. The
basally-disposed, tongue-shaped leaves, 6-20 cm (2-8 in.) long, are glabrous and have wavy
margins and broadly-winged petioles. The sap is milky. Solitary, terminal flower heads are
borne on 1 to many leafless stalks. Each head has 2 series of erect, lance-shaped involucral
bracts; the inner, 15-25 m high, are much longer than the outer. The ray flowers are yellow, and
disk flowers are absent. The reddish, 4-angled, narrowly elliptic seeds (achenes) are 3-4 mm long
and have a slender beak, 2-4 times as long, surmounted by numerous long, spreading, white
bristles (pappus).

Rocky Mountain dandelion can be distinguished from the two exotic species by the erect rather
than refle.xed outer involucral bracts (Figure 26; Appendix D-26, D-27). It is distinguished from
other native dandelions by the reddish, distinctly 4-angled achenes. A hand lens may be
necessary to identify this plant.

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

Global distribution: Hitchcock and Cronquist (1973) describe the distribution as
"cordilleran," referring to the mountains of western North America. The species is
infrequent and widely scattered on tundra in Colorado (Weber 1987) and occurs mostly in
the mountains in Wyoming (Dom 1992).

Montana distribution: Southwestern Beaverhead County (four collections) and one
historic collection that cannot be mapped from the Tobacco Root Mountains in Madison
County (Figure 27).

Grasshopper distribution: It was found only in one area of Henneberry Ridge (Eli
Spring; Figure 27). This wetland is located entirely on BLM lands as sho\\Ti in the 1993
Interagency Visit Map for southwestern Montana, but was shov^Ti to occur on private
lands in the previous 1990 map.

^^IIIL

ToroxoC'jm eriophorun

Cronquist etal. 1994

Figure 27.

HABITAT: The Eli Spring setting occupied moist, open meadows in the spring-fed headwaters of a
watercourse at 6550 ft., at the low end of species' elevation range in Montana. It was confined to the
broad meadows above the Spring rather than the more degraded meadows with flowing u'ater below.
The Eli Spring setting is low and wet compared to its knowai habitat at the other Beaverhead County
sites, where it ranges in elevation from 6920 to 9500 ft. Most sites are variously dominated by big
sagebrush {Artemisia tridentata var. tridentata). Great Basin wild rye {Elymus cinereus), Douglas fir
(Pseudotsuga menziesii), and Idaho fescue {Festuca idahoensis).

A Granite Co. collection of this species, found at >9000 ft., is from alpine turf habitat; verification of
this specimen is recommended in order to better determine distribution and ecological amplitude for the
species in Montana.

The Eli Spring soils are silty and saturated or semi-saturated. The long history of grazing has caused
pronounced development of hummocks ca. 0.5 m high in all of the potential habitat (Appendix D-28).
Between them is standing water. The Taraxacum eriophorum is found only on the crests of the
hummocks, a narrow zone where the vegetation is less dense than the hummock tops and hummock
sides. The hummock tops are dominated by Jimcus balticus and Muhlenbergia richardsonis. The wet
troughs between are dominated by Carex nebrascensis and C. aquatilis. Additional associated species
include Hieracium gracile, Potentilla anserina, Trifoliwn longipes, Antemiaria spp., and Crepis spp.
The introduced dandelion, Taraxacum laevigatum, is common around the wetland borders and barely
gets onto outer hummocks.

POPULATION BIOLOGY: Population size was estimated to be > 1000 plants, but this may be high.
Plants reproduce strictly by seed. The majority of the population was in rosette stage and not producing
flowers, making population estimates more difficult and also suggesting low viability. Immature Crepis
spp. was similar in overall appearance to the non-flowering Taraxacum eriophorum plants, further
confounding population estimates.

MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS: This species' habitat is rare in the study area, and the
species is uncommon tliroughout its range. In the wake of a grazing history that has caused hummocks,
it is not known if the habitat condition can be significantly improved. It was common to find flowering
heads grazed off. Two experimental treatments might be considered. Temporary fencing above the
spring would keep livestock out of its habitat during pasture use and may begin to heal o\-er hummocks.
Prescribed burning of a segment of the wetland basin in early spring or in fall could be done in order to
determine whether a reduction in vegetation cover would benefit the species. With either fomi of
treatment, some level of monitoring should be established in order to assess management response.

This study supports previous recommendations that T. eriophorum warrants BLM sensitive species
designation in Montana.

Townsendia nuttallii Dorn

NUTTALL TOWNSEND-DAISY

Aster Family (Asteraceae)

CONSERVATION STATUS:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: None.

Montana Bureau of Land Management: None.

Montana Natural Heritage Program rank: G3-S2S3.

DESCRIPTION: Nuttall Townsend-daisy is a small, cushion-forming, stemless perennial
arising from a taproot and branched rootcrown. The clustered basal leaves are narrow and linear,
but they expand into a small spoon-like tip. They are 5-20 mm long and 1-3 mm wide with
entire margins. Foliage is densely covered with long, straight, silvery hairs. Flower heads are
borne among the basal leaves. Each head has 3-4 series of narrow, pointed, green, and hairy
involucral bracts, 4-9 mm long. The white to (more conimonly) lavender ray flowers are ca. 8
mm long, and the yellow disk corollas are 4-5 mm long (Figure 28). The flattened, lance-shaped
seeds (achenes) have only a few scattered hairs when mature and are topped by straight, stiff
bristles (pappus) ca. 5-6 mm long in disk flowers and ca. 0.5 mm long in ray flowers (from Dorn
1988).

Townsendia niittaUii is very similar to T. hookeri, but the latter has achenes that are hairy when
mature, and the pappus of both its ray and disk flowers is long. It also has leaves which are
broadest at the tip, while Townsendia hookeri always has linear leaves. Its distribution also
overlaps with T spathulata, which, by comparison, has broad involucral bracts, obovate leaves,
and foliage covered by loose, woolly hairs. The basal rosette leaves resemble, but are much
smaller than, Senecio canus (shown side-by-side in Appendix D-29).

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

Global distribution: Western 2/3 of Wyoming, adjoining Utali, and southwest Montana;
a regional endemic which Hartman et al. (1991) also expect to be Idaho.

Montana distribution: 10 occurrences in southwestern Beaverhead County and one in
Granite County (Figure 28). (Note: specimens in the Townsendia hookeri folders have
been reviewed and annotated as appropriate at both MONT and MONTU).

Grasshopper distribution: 6 occurrences scattered across the Study Area (Figure 28).

Townsendia nuttallii
Heidel #1345

Figure 2i

HABITAT: Townsendia fiuttallii is most common on limestone outcrops with sparse bunchgrass cover
{Agropyron spi cat urn/ cushion plant h.t.), as found in western and southeastern portions of the Study
Area, where it is limited to limestone outcrops (Appendix D-30). It was found mainly on limestone but
extended onto alluvium and conglomerate bedrock substrates in the Sage Creek Study Area (Lesica and
Vanderhorst 1995). The specimen label for the Granite County material indicated that it was not
restricted to a given soil substrate. In Montana, its elevation ranges from 4200 ft. in Granite County to
8200 ft. in the Tendoy Mountains.

Associated species in the Study Area include:

Agropyron spicatwn
Arenaria kingii
Artemisia frigida
Artemisia tridentata vaseyana
Draba oligosperma
Erigeron compositus
Eritrichium howardii
Haplopappus acaulis
Lesquerella alpina
Phlox hoodii

In the Sage Creek Study Area, the species occupied similar habitat in addition to sagebrush grasslands
{Artemisia tridentata vaseyana/Festuca idahoensis) and grasslands {Agropyron smithii) of alluvial fans
at 6,500-7,400 ft. Common associated species include Poa secimda, Oxytropis lagopus, Eriogonum
mancum, Phlox hoodii, Artemisia frigida, Cymopterus bipinnatus, Antennaria microphylla, Astragalus
miser, and Penstemon aridus (Lesica and Vanderhorst 1995). In the Tendoy Mountains, it was collected
on a high rocky knob with Lomatium cons, Polemonium pulcherrimum, Phlox hoodii, Oxytropis
lagopus, and Saxifraga rhomboidea (Vanderhorst and Lesica 1994).

POPULATION INFORMATION: Townsendia nuttallii tlowers very early and is low and
inconspicuous. It is sparsely distributed but occurs over large areas of widespread habitat. Thus,
population size is difficult to estimate. For example, in the Hemieberry Ridge area, it was found in four
adjoining sections spanning a 6100-7000 ft. elevation. None of the populations had more than 3 plants,
and they occupied only a fraction of what appeared to be suitable habitat. The plants observed may
represent outliers from a core population that was not found. Alternately, the plants may represent
widely-spaced subpopulations that make up a landscape megapopulation with an inherently sparse,
sporadic pattern of distribution.

There is only one record of this species being called "fairly common" in Montana, although numbers
were not estimated. The other records with quantitative estimates ranged from 1-50. The small size of
most populations and the species' relatively limited global distribution are the basis for retaining Nuttall
Townsend-daisy on the watch list as a vulnerable species of limited distribution, despite the number of
populations and the extent of potential habitat.

This pattern of being locally widespread in very low population numbers is shared with
Astragalus platytropis in the Big Hole Study Area, which is treated similarly.

MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS: Townsendia nuttaUii is a low-growing plant in an
exposed, sparsely-vegetated setting, and it completes its life cycle early in the growing season.
For these reasons, it is little-affected by livestock grazing and might respond positively to
grazing that reduces competition. Mining activity is a low-level tlireat to the species because it is
localized and the species is widely-dispersed in low densities. Invasion by exotic species is
minimal or absent in the study area but poses the greatest potential direct threat to the species.
Species which might invade and dominate in its habitat include Bromus tectorum and Centaurea
maculosa. Grazing, mining, and other activities can occasionally promote the spread of exotic
species, thus posing indirect management concerns.

UPPER MADISON VALLEY STUDY AREA

Sur\'eys in the Upper Madison Valley Study Area expanded on the previously available
information regarding two sensitive species. Astragalus terminalis and Stephajiomeria spinosa;
the largest concentration of occurrences and the largest population numbers known to the state
were documented. Wliile there are no immediate threats to these species in the Study Area,
knapweed is beginning to spread throughout the valley; in addition, subdivision of the rangeland
that represents their primary habitat is widespread outside of the BLM tracts.

The Stephanomeria spinosa studied is a Great Basin species at the northeastern end of its range,
while the Astragalus terminalis is a regional endemic that spans an unusually wide range of
elevations in Montana at the northern end of its distribution.

Astragalus terminalis Wats.

RAILHEAD MILKVETCH

Bean Family (Fabaceae)

CONSERVATION STATUS:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: None.

Montana Bureau of Land Management: Proposed sensitive in the draft list circulated in 1995.

Montana Natural Heritage Program rank: G3G4-S2.

DESCRIPTION: Railhead milkvetch is a tufted perennial herb with several erect stems, 5-30 cm (2-12
in.) high, fi"oni a taproot. The leafy stems are short though caulescent. The pinnately compound leaves
are 5-20 cm (2-8 in.) long with 13-21 oblong leaflets that have blunt tips. Foliage is sparsely covered
with gray hairs that branch at the base and spread in opposite directions appressed to the surface of
leaves or stem. Inflorescences are borne in the axils of upper leaves and have 10-30 spreading, crowded
flowers that become more remote as the plant matures. White, pea-like flowers are 12-16 mm long with
a reflexed upper petal and a purple-spotted lower petal. The calyx is covered with white or black hairs
and is 4-5 mm long. Glabrous, cigar-shaped fruits lack a basal stem, are 3-sided in cross-section, and are
15-20 mm long (Figure 30; Appendix D-7). The alpine ecotype is much smaller than plants from the
valleys (Lesica and Vanderhorst 1995).

Astragalus terminalis is similar to A. scaphoides and A. atropubescens but can be distinguished by the
nearly sessile fruits, while fruits of the other 2 species have stalks that are 3-20 mm long.

GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION

Global distribution: East-central Idaho, northwest Wyoming, and southwest Montana.

Montana distribution: 1 1 occurrences in southern Beaverhead and Madison counties: the
Grasshopper Study Area, the Centennial Mountains, the Sage Creek Study Area, the Tendoy
Mountains, and the Upper Madison Valley Study Area. Almost all sites are on ELM lands
(Figure 31).

Grasshopper and Upper Madison Valley distribution: The Grasshopper Study area has 3
occurrences, and the Upper Madison Valley has 3 occurrences. The plant is also known from the
Sage Creek study area (Lesica and Vanderhorst 1995; Figure 31).

HABITAT: For the Intermountain region, Barneby (1989) describes the habitat as "open stony hillsides
and benches along rivers, commonly associated with low sagebrush and calcareous bedrock." This is
consistent with its habitat in the study areas, while in Montana as a whole. Astragalus terminalis occurs
over a range of elevations from grasslands and open eroding slopes in the valleys to near timberline from
5560-9560 ft. It consistently occupies relatively barren settings that tend to be alkaline.

r^:

TRT

Hitchcock, et at. 1984

Figure 30.

Associated species differ somewhat according to the particular area in which this species is found
in Montana. In the Grasshopper Study Area, it occupied sagebrush and grassland slopes that
tended to be in secondary range between gentler slopes. In the Upper Madison Valley Study
Area, it occupied grasslands in droughty but level valley bottom and terrace settings (Appendix
D-8). Separate lists of associated species associated are presented below for the Grasshopper and
the Upper Madison Valley study areas:

Grasshopper associated species:
Agropyron spicatum
Artemisia trident at a
Artemisia tripartita
Oxytropis besseyi
Phlox bry aides

Upper Madison Valley associated species:

Agropyron spicatum

Antennaria microphylla

A rtem is ia frigida

Astragalus adsurgens

Bouteloua gracilis

Chrysopsis villosa

Chrysothamnus viscidus

Grindelia squarrosa

Koeleria macrantha

Poa secunda

Seloginella densa

Senecio canus

Sphaeromeria coccinea

Stephanotneria spinosa

Outside the study areas, the species has been documented from barren clay buttes, dry subalpine
meadow, and Festuca idahoensis/Agropyron spicatum h.t.

POPULATION INFORMATION: Population numbers in the study areas ranged from
estimates of 50-10,000+. Two of the largest known populations in the state are from the Upper
Madison Valley Study Area, followed by one of the Grasshopper Study Area populations and by
BLM populations documented in previous studies.

MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS: Distribution patterns of Astragalus terminalis in this
study area correspond with secondary ranges at low elevations. Its densities inside an exclosure
in the Upper Madison Valley Study Area were much higher than outside the exclosure (#007);
additionally, many of the plants in a nearby population had inflorescences removed, probably by
game. No plants were found across the cattle guard in contiguous habitat grazed by cattle. These

obsen'ations suggest that A. terminalis is palatable and may decrease under some livestock grazing
regimes.

The largest Grasshopper Study Area population was discovered years earlier when its population
numbers were much lower and livestock use was noted as heavy. The apparent rebound in numbers
corresponds with improved range conditions over the 12-year interval, and reflects species' recovery
potential.

The Upper Madison Valley segment contains the highest kno\\Ti numbers of this species for Montana,
and the species is broadly distributed here. This may be due to the area's extreme aridity and its
relatively low forage productivity. Increases in stocking levels or rotation frequency may detrimentally
affect this species.

Knapweeds are invading this species' habitat from roadsides in the Upper Madison Valley Study Area.
These exotics possess a high potential for proliferation in the milkvetch's habitat both there and in the
Grasshopper Study Area.

The Dillon Resource Area harbors the great majority of this species' occurrences in Montana, including
the largest of known populations. The species' viability in Montana hinges on BLM livestock and
noxious weed management decisions, and it remains appropriate for designation as sensitive.

Stepbanomeria spinosa (Nutt.) S. Tomb
SPINY SKELETONWEED
Aster Family (Asteraceae)

CONSERVATION STATUS:

U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: None.

Montana Bureau of Land Management: This species was on the watch Hst distributed
for review by the BLM in Montana in 1995.

Montana Natural Heritage Program rank: G4 SI.

DESCRIPTION: Multi-steninied perennial. 1.5-8 dm (6-32.5 in.) tall, with spreading, spine-
tipped branches from a taproot and branching caudex, with tufts of pale or brownish wool at the
base. Leaves all cauline, the lower linear, entire, 3 cm (1 1/4 in.) long or less, the others reduced
and scale-like. Heads are numerous, erect, pink or lavender to red-purple; seldom white (Figure
32). Involucre is 7-13 mm (3/8-1 1/16 in.) high with graduated bracts and well-developed outer
bracts. The seed has numerous bristles (pappus) 7-9 mm (3/8-1/2 in) long that have downward
pointed sidebranch bristles.

The flower resembles that of other Stepbanomeria and Lygodesmia species in the state, but the
conspicuously spine-tipped branches readily distinguish it (Appendix D-25).

GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

Global distribution: Widespread in the Great Basin, west to southern California,
extending north locally to southern British Columbia and southwestern Montana.

Montana distribution: This species has been documented six times in the state (Figure
33). Five of the six records are from the upper Madison River valley centered in the
study area. It is not known whether the historic records from the Ennis area and the
Moose Creek Canyon area are extant. The sixth record is based on a 1952 specimen
collected in the Centennial Valley.

Upper Madison Valley distribution: The three recent records span ca. 10 discontinuous
miles of valley. The historic Moose Creek record is ca. 3 miles southeast, and the historic
Ennis record is 15-20 miles north. The potential for habitat on private land or state land
has not been evaluated. The three study area occurrences may represent the only ones for
this species in Montana on public land (Figure 23).

Cronquist et al. 1994

Figure 32.

HABITAT: Stephwwmeria spuiosa occupies arid grasslands on stony loam at low elevations from ca.
5000-6400 ft (Appendix D-8). The Upper Madison Valley study area may resemble the historic
Centennial Valley collection site in that both have substrate derived fi-om coarse alluvium.

The grassland setting is predominantly Agropyron spicatum h.t., but Stipa comata, Festuca
idahoensis, Bouteloua gracilis, and ground cover of Selaginella densa are locally co-dominant or
abundant.

Associated species include the following:

Agropyron spicatum
Antennaria microphylla
Artemisia frigida
Astragalus adsurgens
Astragalus terminal is
Bouteloua gracilis
Br emus tectorum
Chrysopsis villosa
Festuca idahonis
Gutierrezia sarothrae
Koeleria macrantha
Musineon divaricatum
Oxytropis sericea
Phlox hoodii
Poa secunda
Selaginella densa
Senecio canus
Stipa comata

POPULATION INFORMATION: Population numbers in the study area range from 60 to an
"extensive" population that is thought to contain more than 200 plants. These populations represent the
largest knovvTi numbers for the species in Montana. The tliree other historic collections described the
species as "rare" or did not describe its frequency at all.

The species reproduces strictly by seed and is likely to flower during most years because it is drought-
tolerant.

MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS: The Dillon Resource Area harbors the only known extant
occurrences of this species in Montana, with possible extension onto the Wall Creek WMA. We have
no evidence to indicate that it is affected negatively or positively by livestock management practices.
The geographic restriction of the species and the encroacliment of knapweed upon its habitat provides
the basis for considering its designation as a BLM watch species.

DISCUSSION

This study narrows a gap in the biodiversity picture for the exceptionally diverse Dillon Resource
Area. It also helps to close information gaps for little-known species in Montana and builds
upon the BLM status recommendations presented in earlier Dillon Resource Area reports for
other species. It strengthens the available information-base for making sound resource
management decisions as highlighted below by species and by area.

Astragalus platytropis and Townsendia nuttaUii are relatively common in the Big Hole and
Grasshopper study areas, respectively. Although populations are often small for the former and
habitat is somewhat restricted for the latter, both species are widespread and have few, if any,
apparent threats. The latter is most widespread in the Sage Creek Study Area (Lesica and
Vanderhorst 1995).

Significant new information was collected on two species, Kochia americana and Oryzopsis
contracta. Both were virtually unknown in Montana before this study and not documented from
BLM lands. Preliminary information indicates that they have been overlooked, are present in
substantial numbers, and are subject to limited tlireats. It is not appropriate to consider these
species for BLM designation as sensitive, but they are currently being left on the list of Montana
Species of Special Concern with a state rank of "SU" (status unknown) while infomiation is
being collected to document their status elsewhere in the state.

The largest known Montana populations of three endemics were documented, shedding light on
the habitat requirements and complementary management actions {Astragalus scaphoides,
Lesquerella pulchella, and Lomatium attenuatum). The largest known population of one
peripheral species was similarly documented {Stephanomeria spinosa).

New information was collected for several of the species in a setting of human-caused
disturbance, helping to reveal natural dispersal patterns, habitat requirements, and tolerance to
disturbance (Erigeron linearis, Lesquerella pulchella, and Lomatium attenuatum).

Additional distribution information was collected on species that had once been considered
designated as State Species of Special Concern; several of these remain on the Watch List
because of their limited distribution (Arenaria kingii. Astragalus lentiginosus, * Delphinium
bicolor ssp. novum, Eriogonum ovalifolium var. nevadense, Gentiana aquatica, * Gilia
inconspicua, Mimulus suksdorfii*, Pediocactus simpsonii, Sphaeromeria capitata, * and Stanleya
viridiflora).

The study areas contain a broad array of terrestrial, low elevation sensitive species and sensitive
species habitats of southwestern Montana, particularly the Grasshopper Study Area. But all tliree
of the study areas contained special features that warrant mention. The Big Hole Study area
represents the center of distribution iox Astragalus platytropis in the state, and has select
grassland and steppe allotment areas in excellent condition. Most of the fieldwork was

conducted east of Highway 15 where there are large blocks of contiguous BLM lands. Lands west of
Highway 15 were not included apart from initial efforts to relocate Phacelia scopiiUna. Because the
intact condition or particular type of outcrop habitat was not found, we did not locate sensitive species in
wetlands or on limestone outcrops. Nevertheless, when conducting project reviews, these habitats
should still be recognized as potentially harboring sensitive species. Access was not obtained to survey
McCartney Mountain, which would have been appropriate to include since its stratigraphy and forest
and meadow habitats differ from the remainder of the study area.

The Grasshopper Study Area has the largest known populations for several globally rare plants in the
state, \nc\nd\ng Astragalus scaphoides, LesquerellapiilcheUa, Lomatium attenuatum, and Oryzopsis
contracta. It is also central among Penstemon lemhiensis occurrences in Montana; these occurrences
had been addressed in a management strategy (Elzinga 1995). A wide range of upland habitats support
sensitive species across this Study Area, though the greatest number are on limestone outcrops. The
Bannack locale harbors a noteworthy concentration of rare species that potentially affords both special
conservation and public education opportunities. The

Upper Madison Area has the largest knowTi populations for two rare state plants. Astragalus terminalis
and Stephanomeria spinosa. They are in relatively extensive valley bottom habitat, but little of this
habitat is on public land. Several diverse, largely-intact, spring-fed wetlands were documented,
representing significant contributions to species and landscape diversity in the arid valley bottom setting;
nevertheless, no rare species were discovered in the late-season wetland setting surveys.

Greatest immediate management concerns in all tliree of the study areas are recent incursions of noxious
weeds, particularly spotted knapweed (Centawea maculosa), and less frequently, leafy spurge
(Euphorbia esula). Special effort should be taken to aggressively control weed management and to keep
watch on activities that potentially foster the spread of noxious weeds (road maintenance, off-road
travel, and other forms of recreation, mining, or range development activities).

Special management attention should be given to globally rare species that are now restricted to only
fractions of their potential habitat, on which they had previously been widespread: Astragalus
scaphoides and A. terminalis. The localized abundance of these species in the study areas is interpreted
to represent excellent range condition and non-conflicting livestock management to date. Existing
allotment management practices do not provide a guarantee for survival; the case for status quo
management and impacts to these species are therefore appropriate to address in all future reviews of
allotment management plans, particularly critical at the largest of their populations.

LITERATURE CITED

Bameby, R. C. 1989. Intermountain Flora. Volume 3, Part B. Fabales. The New York Botanical
Garden, Bronx. 279 pp.

Barkworth, M. E. 1993. North American Stipae (Graminae): taxonomic changes and other comments.
Phytologia 74: \-25.

Cronquist, A., A. H. Holmgren, H. H. Holmgren, J. L. Reveal, and P. K. Holmgren. 1984.
Intermountain flora. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx, NY. 573 pp.

Culver, D. 1993. Sensitive plant species inventory in the Centemiial Valley, Beaverhead County,

Montana. Unpublished report to the Bureau of Land Management. Montana Natural Heritage
Program, Helena. 42 pp. plus appendices.

Dom, R. D. 1984. Vascular plants of Montana. Mountain West Publishing. 276 pp.

Dom, R. D. 1988. Vascular plants of Wyoming, 1st ed. Mountain West Publishing. 340 pp.

Dom, R. D. 1992. Vascular plants of Wyoming, 2nd ed. Mountain West Publishing. 340 pp.

Elzinga, C. 1995. Conserv-ation strategy iox Penstemon lemhiemis. Unpublished report to Bureau of
Land Management and the U.S. Forest Service. Aldersprings Ecological Consulting,
Aldersprings, ID.

Evert, E. F. 1983. A new species oi Lomatium (Umbelliferae) from Wyoming. Madrono 30:143-146.

Fertig, W. 1994. Status report on Oryzopsis contracta, a USFWS Category 2 candidate species.

Unpublished report to the Bureau of Land Management. Wyoming Natural Diversity Database,
Laramie. 41 pp.

Fertig, W. 1996. Wyoming plant species of special concern. Wyoming Natural Diversity Database,
Laramie. 32 pp.

Greenlee, J. 1994. The conservation biology of Lesquerella cahnata var. languida (Brassicaceae).
Unpublished report to The Nature Conservancy. University of Montana, Missoula. 51 pp.

Heidel, B. L. 1993. Status review oi Lesquerella sp. novum. Unpublished report to the Bureau of Land
Management. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena. 40 pp. plus appendices.

Heidel, B. L. 1995. Montana plant species of special concern. Unpublished list. Montana Natural
Heritage Program, Helena.

Hitchcock, C. L. and A. Cronquist. 1973. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington
Press, Seattle.

Hitchcock, C. L., A. Cronquist, M. Owiibey, and J. W. Thompson. 1984. Vascular plants of the Pacific
Northwest (5 vols.). University of Washington Press, Seattle.

Johnson, B. L. 1945. Cyto-taxonomic studies in Oiyzopsis. Bot. Gaz. 107:1-32.

Lesica, P. 1984. The distribution and reproduction effort of the rare plant, Astragalus scaphoides in
Montana and Idaho. Unpublished report to The Nature Conservancy. 14 pp. plus appendices.

Lesica, P. 1985. Report on the conservation status of Arabis fecimda, a potential candidate species.
Unpublished report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.

Lesica, P. 1992. Vascular plant and sensitive plant species inventory for the Highland Mountains,

Deerlodge National Forest. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena. 21 pp. plus appendices.

Lesica, P. 1995. Demography of Astragalus scaphoides and effects of herbivory on population growth.
Great Basin Naturalist 55 : 1 42- 1 50.

Lesica, P. and J. Elliott. 1987. Distribution, age structure, and predation of Bitterroot milkvetch

populations in Lemlii County, Idaho. Unpublished report to Bureau of Land Management, Boise.
Conservation Biology Research, Helena.

Lesica, P., G. Moore, K. M. Peterson and J. H. Rumely. 1984. Vascular plants of limited distribution in
Montana. Monogr. No. 2, Montana Academy of Sciences, Supplement to the Proceedings, Vol.
43.

Lesica, P. and J. S. Shelly. 1991. Sensitive, threatened, and endangered vascular plants of Montana.
Occasional Publication No. 1. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena. 88 pp.

Lesica, P. and B. M. Steele. 1994. Prolonged dormancy in vascular plants and implications for
monitoring studies. Nat. Areas J. 14:209-212.

Lesica, P. and J. Vanderhorst. 1995. Sensitive plant survey of the Sage Creek Area. Unpublished report
to the Bureau of Land Management. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena. 36 pp. plus
appendices.

Montana Native Plant Society. 1993. Guidelines for collection of native plants. Kelseya 6(3):4.

Mueggler, W. G. and W. L. Stewart. 1980. Grassland and shrubland habitat types of western Montana.
USDA Forest Service General Technical Report INT-66. Intemiountain Forest and Range
Experiment Station, Ogden, UT.

Rollins, R. C. 1995. Two Lesquerellas (Cruciferae) of south central and western Montana.
A^ovo« 5:71-75.

Ross, C. P., D. A. Andrews, and I. J. Witkind. 1955. Geological map of Montana (1 :500,000).
Montana Bureau of Mines, Butte.

Schassberger, L. A. 1988. Update to the report on the conservation status of Avabisfeciiuda, a
candidate threatened species. Unpublished report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service,
Denver. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena. 36 pp. plus appendices.

Schassberger, L. A. 1990. Status review ofArabisfecunda, Beaverhead National Forest.
Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena. 45 pp.

Schassberger, L. A. 1991. Status review of Lesquerella carinata and Lesquerella paysonii.

Unpublished report to the Deerlodge National Forest. Montana Natural Heritage Program,
Helena. 40 pp.

Shechter, Y. and B. L. Johnson. 1966. A new species of Oryzopsis (Graminae) from Wyoming.
Bhttonia 18:342-347.

Shelly, J. S. 1987. Status review of Penstemon lemhiensis, Beaverhead and Bitterroot National
Forests. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena. 72 pp.

Shelly, J. S. 1990. Status review update and establishment of demographic monitoring studies:

Penstemon lemhiensis. Unpublished report to the U.S. Forest Service, Missoula. Montana
Natural Heritage Program, Helena. 6 1 pp.

USDC National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association. 1982. Monthly normals of temperature,
precipitation and heating and cooling degree days, Montana, 1951-1980. National
Climate Center, Ashville, NC.

USDI Bureau of Land Management. 1995. Draft list of sensitive, watch and peripheral species in
Montana. Unpublished report. 5 pp.

USDI Fish and Wildlife Service. 1993. Plant taxa for listing as Endangered or Threatened
Species: Notice of Review. Federal Register 58(188):51 144-51 190.

Vanderhorst, J. 1995. Report on the conser\'ation status of Lesquerella carinata var. languida, a
candidate threatened species. Unpublished report to the Bureau of Land Management.
Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena. 45 pp. plus appendices.

Vanderhorst, J. 1995. Sur\'ey of Bannack State Park and vicinity for Montana plant species of
special concern. Unpublished report to Bannack State Park. Montana Natural Heritage
Program, Helena. 43 pp.

Vanderhorst, J. 1995. Sensitive plant sun'ey in the Horse Prairie Creek drainage, Beaverhead

County. Unpublished report to the Bureau of Land Management. Montana Natural Heritage
Program, Helena. 69 pp.

Vanderhorst, J. and P. Lesica. 1994. Sensitive plant sur\'ey in the Tendoy Mountains, Beaverhead

County, MT. Unpublished report to the Bureau of Land Management. Montana Natural Heritage
Program. 59 pp. plus appendices.

Weber, W. A. 1987. Colorado flora: western slope. Colorado Associated University Press, Boulder, CO.
530 pp.

Willoughby, J., E. Hastey, K. Berg, P. Dittbemer, R. Fellows, R. Holmes, J. Knight, B. Radtkey, and R.
Rosentretter. 1992. Rare plants and natural communities: a strategy for the future. Bureau of
Land Management, Washington, D.C.

Wyoming Rare Plant Teclinical Committee. 1995. Wyoming rare plant field guide. Cheyenne, WY.

Appendix A. Preliminary list of surAey target species occurring in or adjoining the study areas.

Study Area/Species target'

Phenology

Big Hole
Arabis fecunda
Astragalus platytropis
Carex parryana ssp. idahoa
Erigeron asperugineus
Penstemon lemhiensis
Phacelia scopulina
Thlaspi parviflorum

May - June

July - August

July

late June - early July

June

late June - early July

Grasshopper

Astragalus scaphoides
Astragalus terminalis
Erigeron linearis
Lesquerella pulchella
Lomatium at tenua turn
Penstemon lemhiensis
Sphaeromeria argentea
Thelypodium paniculatum

mid June - early July

July

June

early June

May-early June

late June - early July

mid June - early July

June - early July

Upper Madison Valley

Astragalus terminalis
Castilleja gracillima
Castilleja longispica
Eleocharis rostellata
Stephanomeria spinosa

July

July - August

June - July

July -August

August

'Species which have previously been documented in nearby study areas were also sought, without planning the fieldwork around them as
tentative targets.

Appendix B. AREAS SURVEYED.

Grasshopper Study Area

Sig Hole Study Area

Upper Madison Valley Study Area

Appendix C. ELEMENT OCCURRENCE PRINT-OUTS AND MAPS.

February 6, 199S

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: ASTRAGALUS SCAPHOIDES
Common Name: BITTERROOT MILKVETCH

Global rank: G3
State rank: SI

Forest Service status:
Federal Status:

PROPOSED SENSITIVE
3C

Element occurrence code: PDFAB0F7V0 . 0 01
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

BON ACCORD BENCH
A

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: BANNACK

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
008S OllW 08 SE4; 9 SW4

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

1984-06-11

1983

1984-06-11

Elevation: 5900
Slope/aspect: 13% /
Size (acres) : 30

Location:

2 KM SOUTHEAST OF BANNACK.

Element occurrence data:

CA. 200-300 INDIVIDUALS; NO SIGNS OF RECENT LIVESTOCK GRAZING; 30% OF
REPRODUCTIVE PLANTS PRODUCED FRUIT (LESICA, UNPUBLISHED) .

General site description:

GRAVELLY SILT FROM LIMESTONE PARENT MATERIAL; WITH ARTEMISIA
TRIDENTATA, A. NOVA, AGROPYRON SPICATUM, AND STIPA COMATA.

land owner/manager:

BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA
PRIVATELY OWNED LAND (INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE)

Information source:

LESICA, P. 1984. REPORT ON THE CONSERVATION STATUS
OF ASTRAGALUS SCAPHOIDES, A CANDIDATE THREATENED
SPECIES. UNPUBLISHED REPORT TO THE U.S. FISH AND
WILDLIFE SERVICE, DENVER, CO, 20 PP. PLUS
APPENDICES.

Specimens: LESICA, P. (2697, 2988). 1983, 1984. (MONTU)

^u°^>i /A-«=/r Mr-^v /

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: ASTRAGALUS SCAPHOIDES
Common Name: BITTERROOT MILKVETCH

Global rank: G3 Forest Service status: PROPOSED SENSITIVE
State rank: SI Federal Status: 3C

Element occurrence code: PDFAB0F7V0 . 002
Element occurrence type:

COLD SPRING CREEK
C

SEE U84LES01MT.

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: BANNACK

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
008S OllW 15 SW4; 16 E2SE4

Precision: S

Survey date: 1984-06-11 Elevation: 5750 -

First observation: 1984 Slope/aspect: 27% / SW

Last observation: 1984-06-11 Size (acres): 30

Location:

"LOCATED 2 KM SOUTHEAST OF THE BON ACCORD SITE" (EO #001); CA. 5 KM
SE. OF BANNACK.

Element occurrence data:

CA. 100 INDIVIDUALS; EVIDENCE OF LIGHT TO MODERATE LIVESTOCK GRAZING;
25% OF REPRODUCTIVE PLANTS PRODUCED FRUIT (LESICA, UNPUBLISHED) .

General site description:

PARENT MATERIAL UNKNOWN; WITH ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA, A. FRIGIDA,
AGROPYRON SPICATUM, STIPA COMATA.

Land owner/manager:

BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA
PRIVATELY OWNED LAND (INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE)

information source: LESICA, P. 1984. REPORT ON THE CONSERVATION STATUS
OF ASTRAGALUS SCAPHOIDES, A CANDIDATE THREATENED
SPECIES. UNPUBLISHED REPORT TO THE U.S. FISH AND
WILDLIFE SERVICE, DENVER, CO, 20 PP. PLUS
APPENDICES.

Specimens :

February 6, 1996 3 0

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: ASTRAGALUS SCAPHOIDES
Common Name: BITTERROOT MILKVETCH

Global rank: G3 Forest Service status: PROPOSED SENSITIVE
State rank: SI Federal Status: 3C

Element occurrence code: PDFAB0F7V0 . 003
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

BANNACK
C

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle : BANNACK

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
008S OllW 05 SW4

Precision: S

Survey date: 1983-06-27 Elevation: 5800

First observation: 1983 Slope/aspect: 0-20% / SOUTH

Last observation: 1995-06-14 Size (acres): 2

Location:

FROM BANNACK GO EAST 0.5 MI. ALONG GRASSHOPPER CR . AND TTIRN NORTH ON
OLD MINING ROAD FOR 0.1 MILE.

Element occurrence data:

1995: OVER 100 PLANTS NEARING PEAK FLOWERING. VIGOROUS GROWTH. LIGHT
BROWSING POSSIBLY BY HORSES. 1988: 11-50 PLANTS. SEED PRODUCTION EST.
AT 5-10% OF MAXIMUM.

General site description:

ON EDGE OF SMALL DRAINAGE, HEAVY SOIL WITH GRAVEL EXTENDING UP LOWER
GRAVEL SCREE SLOPE; ASSOCIATED WITH AJ^TEMISIA TRIDENTATA, AGROPYRON
SPICATUM, STIPA COMATA .

Land owner/manager:

PRIVATELY OWNED LAND {INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE)

Comments :

SITE IS AN OLD MINING CLAIM. OBSERVED IN 1995 BY B. HEIDEL.

Information source: HEIDEL, BONNIE. [BOTANIST] MONTANA NATURAL

HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515 EAST SIXTH AVENUE, P.O. BOX
201800, HELENA, MT 59620-1800. WORK: 406/444-3009.

Specimens: LESICA, P. (2673). 1983. MONTU.

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: ASTRAGALUS SCAPHOIDES
Common Name: BITTERROOT MILKAAETCH

Global rank:
State rank:

Forest Service status:
Federal Status:

PROPOSED SENSITIVE
3C

Element occurrence code:
Element occurrence type:

PDFAB0F7V0.004

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

SHEEP CORRAL GULCH

LARGE POPULATION, FAIR TO GOOD CONDITION

RANGELAND .

County: BEAVERHEAD
USGS quadrangle: GRANT

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
008S 012W 26 27; 35

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

1986-06-21

1983

1986-06-21

Elevation: 6400
Slope/aspect: 7% /
Size (acres) : 150

Location :

NEAR HEAD OF SHEEP CORRAL GULCH, CA .

6.5 AIR MILES NORTH OF GRANT.

Element occurrence data:

EST. 1500-2000+ INDIVIDUALS, 2 SUBPOPULATIONS ; EVIDENCE OF LIVESTOCK
GRAZING MODERATE TO HEAVY IN 1984, LIGHT IN 1986; CATTLE OBSERVED ON
THE SITE IN EARLY JUNE, 1984; 13% OF REPRODUCTIVE PLANTS PRODUCED
FRUIT (LESICA, UNPUBLISHED) .

General site description:

DIABASE PARENT MATERIAL; WITH ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA, GUTIERREZIA
SAROTHRAE, AGROPYRON SPICATUM, AND ORYZOPSIS HYMENOIDES .

Land owner/manager:

3LM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA
STATE LAND - UNDESIGNATED

Comments:

Information source: SHELLY, J. S. 198 6. [FIELD SURVEYS IN BEAVERHEAD
COUNTY OF 18-22 JXWIE . ]

Specimens: LESICA, P. (2976). 1984. MONTU.

SHELLY, J. S. (1154) AND G. V. KING. 1986. MONTU.

February 6, 1996 32

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: ASTRAGALUS SCAPHOIDES
Common Name: BITTERROOT MILKVETCH

Global rank: G3 Forest Service status: PROPOSED SENSITIVE
State rank: SI Federal Status: 3C

Element occurrence code: PDFAB0F7V0 . 0 07
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name: MOUTH OF GRASSHOPPER CREEK

EO rank: X
EO rank comments: NOT RELOCATED DURING 1983 FIELD SURVEY BY LESICA.
PRESUMED EXTIRPATED.

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: DALYS

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
008S OlOW 25 26; 27

Precision: G

Survey date: 1983 Elevation: 5300 -

First observation: 1947 Slope/aspect:

Last observation: 1960-06-10 Size (acres): 0

Location: „ ..^. „„

GRASSHOPPER CREEK W. (SIC) OF DILLON; HITCHCOCK RECORD SAYS "12 MILES

SOUTH OF DILLON. "
Element occurrence data:

General site description:
SAGEBRUSH HILLS.

Land owner/manager:

PRIVATELY OWNED LAND (INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE)

"omments:

EXACT LOCATION UNKNOWN.

information source: LESICA, P. 1984. THE DISTRIBUTION AND REPRODUCTION
EFFORT OF THE RARE PLANT ASTRAGALUS SCAPHOIDES IN
MONTANA AND IDAHO. UNPUBLISHED REPORT PREPARED FOR
THE NATURE CONSERVANCY, BIG SKY FIELD OFFICE,
HELENA, MT. 14 PP.

Specimens: BYERSON, D. (835). 1960. MONT. WTU .

HITCHCOCK, C. L. (15799). 1947. NY. MONT. WTU.

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: ASTRAGALUS SCAPHOIDES
^Common Name: BITTERROOT MILKVETCH

Global rank: G3
State rank: SI

Forest Service status: PROPOSED SENSITIVE
Federal Statiis: 3C

Element occurrence code: PDFAB0F7V0 . 00 8
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

CLARK CANYON SCHOOL SECTION

IvlAJOR POPULATION COMPLEX WITH MANAGEMENT CONCERNS.

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: ELI SPRING

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:

009S OllW 25 SW4SW4; 35 NE4NE4 ; 36 NW4NW4

009S OllW 26 NW4, SW4

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

1986-06-22

1986

1995-06-15

Elevation: 5860
Slope/aspect:
Size (acres) : 70

Location:

CA. 2.25 AIR MILES NORTH OF CLARK CANYON RESERVOIR, ALONG DIRT ROAD
HEADING NORTH TO HEITOEBERRY RIDGE;
MILES SW OF DILLON.

CA. 3 AIR MI. W. OF 1-15,

Element occurrence data:

6/15/95: ADDITIONAL SUBPOPULATIONS IN SEC. 26 WITH OVER 3 00 PLANTS.
THE POPULATION SEGMENTS ON BLM LAND HAVE EXCELLENT VIGOR AND
FLOWERING. ON THE MORE HEAVILY GRAZED STATE LAND THERE IS ALMOST NO
FLOWERING, AND DENSITY IS LOW. 1986: CA . 1500-2000 PLANTS, EARLY TO
MATURE FRUIT; CATTLE TRAILS TRAVERSE A PORTION OF THE HABITAT; A FEW
P-^^ANTS HAD BEEN GRAZED; MANY ACRES OF POTENTIAL HABITAT IN THE AREA;
r-ORE SURVEY WORK NEEDED. 6/13/94: 60% VEGETATIVE, 40% EARLY FRUIT,
1000-10,000 ESTABLISHED PLANTS, SOME BROWSED HEADS. 6/20/94: 2
SUBPOPULATIONS TO NORTHWEST WITH CA. 100 PLANTS, 50% FLOWERING, 50%
FRUITING.

General site description:

GRAVELLY LOAM SOILS; ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA/STIPA COMATA, W/ AGROPYRON
SPICATUM, ARTEMISIA FRIGIDA, LEPTODACTYLON PUNGENS, ORYZOPSIS
HYMENOIDES, PHACELIA LINEARIS, OPUNTIA.

Land owner/manager:

BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA
STATE LAND - UNDESIGNATED
Comments :

SPOTTED KNAPWEED IS ENCROACHING IN THE CORE POPULATION ALONG THE
ROADWAY IN SEC. 25. OBSERVED IN 1995 BY B. HEIDEL.
Information source: HEIDEL, BONNIE. [BOTANIST] MONTANA NATURAL

HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515 EAST SIXTH AVENUE, P.O. BOX
201800, HELENA, MT 59620-1800. WORK: 406/444-3 009.

Specimens: SHELLY, J. S. (1157) & G. V. KING. 1986. MONTU.

VANDERHORST, J. (5200). 1994. SPECIMEN #119505 . MONT.

February 6, 1996 24

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: ASTRAGALUS SCAPHOIDES
^ommon Name: BITTERROOT MILKVETCH

Global rank: G3 Forest Service status: PROPOSED SENSITIVE
State rank: SI Federal Status: 3C

Element occurrence code: PDFAB0F7V0 . 009
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

GRASSHOPPER CREEK

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: BANNACK

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
008S OllW 08

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

Elevation: 5900
1983 Slope/aspect:

1983-06-26 Size (acres) : 0

Location:

0.25 MILE NORTH OF GPJiSSHOPPER CREEK. (CA. 1.5 MILES SOUTHEAST OF
BANNACK . )

Element occurrence data:
UNCOMMON .

General site description:

ON A LOWER EAST-FACING SLOPE OF A SIDE DRAINAGE, CALCAREOUS PARENT.
ASSOCIATED SPECIES: ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA, AGROPYRON SPICATUM.

Land owner/manager:

BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA
PRIVATELY OWNED LAND {INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE)

Comments:

HERBARIUM LABEL READS "5700 FT."; OCCURRENCE MAPPED AT 5900 FT.

Information source: LESICA, PETER. DIVISION OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES,
UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA, MISSOULA, MT 59812. PHONE
406/728-8740.

Specimens: LESICA, P. (2673). 1983. SPECIMEN #92922 . MONTU. (MRPP
CARD) . .

^^'^

"W^

«^^q|

"^S^ ^

-^ 'I

r-r-

G'^'

. \

r^i,T=^

v^^

A^-

Jji

February 6, 1996 ^ j-

MONTANA NATUR?VL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: ASTRAGALUS SCAPHOIDES
Common Name: BITTERROOT MILKVETCH

Global rank: G3 Forest Service status: PROPOSED SENSITIVE
State rank: SI Federal Status: 3C

Element occurrence code: PDFAB0F7V0 . 014
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

HENNEBERRY FAS

HEAVILY GRAZED AND TRAMPLED.

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: DALYS

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
009S OlOW 10 SW4

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

1994-06-20 Elevation: 5400 - 5640

1994-06-20 Slope/aspect: 0-10% / SOUTH

1994-06-20 Size (acres) : 30

Location:

FIRST DRAINAGE OF BEAVERHEAD RIVER SOUTH OF PIPE ORGAN CREEK, WEST OF
FRONTAGE ROAD, HWY 91, AND BEAVERHEAD RIVER.

Element occurrence data:
I <50 PLANTS, FRUIT PRESENT.

General site description:

DRY, OPEN LOWERSLOPE, FINE SOIL. ASSOCIATED SPECIES: CHRYSOTHAMNUS
NAUSEOSUS, ELYMUS SPICATUS, ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA, OPUNTIA POLYCANTHA,
MELILOTUS OFFICINALE, ASTRAGALUS ATROPUBESCENS .

Land owner/manager:

HENNEBERRY FISHING ACCESS SITE

Comments:

SITE HEAVILY GRAZED AND TRAMPLED. MOST INFLORESCENCES BROWSED, SOME
PLANTS GRAZED TO GROUND.

Information source: VANDERHORST, J. [BOTANIST]. 1515 LAKE STREET,
OGDEN, UTAH 84401.

Specimens: VANDERHORST, J. (5197). 1994. SPECIMEN #119504 . MONT.

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: ASTRAGALUS SCAPHOIDES
Common Name: BITTERROOT MILKVETCH

'Global rank: G3
State rank: SI

Forest Service status: PROPOSED SENSITIVE
Federal Status: 3C

Element occurrence code;
Element occurrence type;

PDFAB0F7V0.015

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

HENNEBERRY RIDGE

SMALL POPULATION IN DEGRADED HABITAT.

County: BEAVERHEAD
USGS quadrangle: DALYS

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
009S OlOW 30 NE4

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

1995-06-17 Elevation: 6100 - 6120
1995-06-17 Slope/aspect: 0-5% / -
1995-06-17 Size (acres): 10

Location:

CA. 3 MILES NORTH OF CLARK CANYON. ACCESS FROM HENNEBERRY RIDGE.

Element occurrence data :

OVER 50 PLANTS, ALL IN NON-FLOWERING CONDITION.

General site description:

MIDSLOPE BASIN SOUTHEAST OF HENNEBERRY RIDGE IN SAGEBRUSH FOOTHILLS ON
GENTLE BOTTOMS OVER IGNEOUS BEDROCK. DOMINATED BY ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA
AND AGROPYRON SPICATUM. ASSOCIATED WITH ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM, DRABA
NEMOROSA, ANTENNARIA MICROPHYLLA, CHRYSOTHAMNUS VISCIDIFLORUS . THE
BASIN LIES BELOW Mi EMPTY IMPOUNDMENT AND IS GRAZED EARLY IN SEASON.

Land owner/manager:

BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA

C Timents :

EARLY SEASON GRAZING HAS DEGRADED COMPOSITION. THE SITE LIES BELOW AN
IMPOUNDMENT .

Information source: HEIDEL, BONNIE. [BOTANIST] MONTANA NATURAL

HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515 EAST SIXTH AVENUE, P.O. BOX
201800, HELENA, MT 59620-1800. WORK: 406/444-3009.

Specimens:

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: ASTRAGALUS SCAPHOIDES
Common Name: BITTERROOT MILICVETCH

Global rank: G3
State rank: SI

Forest Service status: PROPOSED SENSITIVE
Federal Status: 3C

Element occurrence code: PDFAB0F7V0 . 016
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

COLD SPRING CREEK

LARGE POPULATION, INTACT HABITAT.

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: BANNACK

Township: Range:
007S OllW
008S OllW

Section: TRS comments:

25 W2; 23 SE4NE4 ; 24; 25 SW4 ; 26 SE4 ;
10 NE4NW4, SE4SW4; 12 NE4

3 4 NE4; 3 5

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

1995-06-13
1995-06-13
1995-07-10

Elevation: 5840 - 6650
Slope/aspect: 0-20% / -
Size (acres) : 120

Location:

CA. 12 MILES WEST OF DILLON. TRAVEL CA. 3.5 MILES SOUTH FROM DILLON ON
HWY 91 TO BADGER PASS EXIT. GO CA. 6.5 MILES WEST, THEN CA. 3 MILES
SOUTHWEST ON FS RD 1801 TO TURN ABOVE MCDOWELL SPRING. POPULATION
EXTENDS CA. 5.5 MILES SOUTH ALONG COLD SPRING DRAINAGE.

Element occurrence data:

OVER 10,000 PLANTS, APPROACHING PEAK FLOWERING 13 JUNE 1995. THE
POPULATION IS IN SEVERAL SUBPOPULATIONS IN DIFFERENT ELEVATION
SEGMENTS OF WATERSHEDS, ALMOST CONTINUOUS BETWEEN WATERSHEDS.

General site description:

WELL-DRAINED STREAM TERRACES AND LESS-XERIC MIDSLOPES IN ROLLING
FOOTHILLS, DOMINATED BY ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA WITH ALTERNATELY FESTUCA
IDAHOENSIS OR AGROPYRON SPICATUM. SUBSTRATES ARE WELL-DRAINED ENTISOLS
OR LOAMS WITH SAND-SIZE DIABASE PARTICLES. OTHER ASSOCIATED SPECIES
INCLUDE: PHLOX LONGIFOLIA, LUPINUS SERICEUS, ASTER SCOPULORUM. HABITAT
IN GOOD TO EXCELLENT CONDITION.

Land owner/manager:

BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA
STATE LAND - UNDESIGNATED

PRIVATELY OWNED LAND (INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE)
Comments :

ALLOTMENT USED FOR WINTER GRAZING. LIMITED INVASION OF EXOTICS AND
INCREASERS. POPULATION BECOMES VERY SPARSE TOWARDS GRASSHOPPER CREEK
WHERE ITS HABITAT IS INTERRUPTED BY SPRINGS AND LIVESTOCK USE
INCREASERS. IT MAY BE PART OF POPULATION DOCUMENTED BY LESICA NEARBY
ON GRASSHOPPER CREEK.
Information source: VANDERHORST, J. [BOTANIST] . 1515 LAKE STREET,
OGDEN, UTAH 84401.

Specimens :

HEIDEL, B. (1338). 1995. MONT.
VANDERHORST, J. (5437, 5440). 1995. MONT.

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: ASTPJVGALUS SCAPHOIDES
Common Name: BITTERROOT MILKVETCH

Global rank: 03 Forest Service status: PROPOSED SENSITIVE
State rank: SI Federal Status: 3C

Element occurrence code: PDFAB0F7V0 . 017
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

HENNEBERRY RIDGE

LARGE POPULATION SPANNING MOST OF POTENTIAL

POSITIONS IN LOCAL WATERSHED.

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: ELI SPRING

Township: Range:
009S OllW
008S OllW

Section:
2

T
N
S

Precision:

Survey date :

First observation:

Last observation:

1995-06
1995-06
1995-06

16
16
16

TRS comments:

1 NW4
S2; 36 N2; 25 82

Elevation: 5600 - 6400
Slope/aspect: 0-20% / EAST, NE
Size (acres) : 80

Location:

CA. 7.5 MILES NORTH OF CLARK CANYON RESERVOIR, IMMEDIATELY NORTH OF
HENNEBERRY RIDGE, WITH EXTENSIONS DOWN MAJOR GRASSHOPPER CREEK
TRIBUTARIES.

Element occurrence data:

OVER 10,000 PLANTS, APPROACHING PEAK FLOWERING 16 JUNE 1995.
POPULATION IS CENTERED ON UPPER BENCHLANDS, WITH DISCONTINUOUS
STRINGERS DOWN MAJOR TRIBUTARIES OF GRASSHOPPER CREEK AND WITH
FLOODPLAIN POPULATION SEGMENTS.

General site description:

GENTLE SEGMENTS OF ROLLING AND CHOPPY SAGEBRUSH FOOTHILLS DRAINING
NORTHEAST FROM HENNEBERRY RIDGE INCLUDING BENCHLANDS WITH DIABASE
BEDROCK, AND TRIBUTARIES OF GRASSHOPPER CREEK WITH ALLUVIAL SUBSTRATE.
DOMINATED BY ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA AND AGROPYRON SPICATUM. ASSOCIATED
WITH PHLOX LONGIFOLIA AND ALLIUM TEXTILE. HABITAT IS IN GOOD TO
EXCELLENT CONDITION WHERE SAGEBRUSH STATURE IF SHORT; FAIR CONDITION
WHERE SAGEBRUSH IS TALL. NOT PRESENT WHERE SAGEBRUSH LOSES BUSHY
GROWTH FORM.

Land ovmer/manager :

BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA
STATE LAND - UNDESIGNATED

Comments :

DISTURBANCE BY LIGHT GRAZING.

Information source: HEIDEL, BONNIE. [BOTANIST] MONTANA NATURAL

HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515 EAST SIXTH AVENUE, P.O. BOX
201800, HELENA, MT 59620-1800. WORK: 4 06/444-3 009.

Specimens:

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

scientific Name: ASTRAGALUS TERMINALIS
Common Name: RAILHEAD MILKVETCH

Iblobal rank: G3G4 Forest Service status:
State rank: S2 Federal Status:

Element occurrence code: PDFAB0F8U0 . 002
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name: PIPE ORGAN ROCK

EO rank: B
EO rank comments: LARGE, DENSE POPULATION THREATENED BY WEED
INVASION.

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: DALYS

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:

009S OlOW

Precision: S
Survey date:
First observation:
Last observation:

03 E2NE4, E2SE4, S2NW4

1994-06-20 Elevation: 5700
1983 Slope/aspect:

1994-06-20 Size (acres) : 10

"^"^^^""io MILES SOUTH OF DILLON ON 1-15; TAKE FRONTAGE ROAD NEAR

GRASSHOPPER CREEK; SITE IS CA. 1 MILE SOUTH OF GRASSHOPPER CREEK.

l''^'":994°':i00rrLA^TriN flower. 19B3: S.^L POPULATION (LESS THAN 50
PLANTS); MUCH DISTURBANCE BY LIVESTOCK; THERE IS AN OLD ROAD.

'^""oiTH'^DloRTH^FfciNG SLOPES ABOVE DRY DRAINAGES. STONY TILL SOIL.;
SAGEBRUSH-BUNCHGRASS: ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA/AGROPYRON
SPICATUM/ARTEMISIA TRIPARTITA. WITH ELYMUS SPICATUS.

Land owner/manager:

BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA
PRIVATELY OWNED LAND (INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE)

''°"''"^SI?E IS IN EXCAVATED AREA AROUND STOCKPOND HEAVILY INFESTED WITH
CHEATgLsS, sSe?CLOVER and HOUNDSTONGUE; browsed HEADS OBSERVED^

seSIo^b Population not relocated in i994 by vanderhorst^ possibility

QTTF MISMAPPED BY LESICA IN 1983. HABITAT IN NE4 OF SECTION 3 IS
^ET?ER G^SsSnD wShOUT SAGEBRUSH. LOWER SLOPES INVADED BY MELITOTUS
OFFICINALE AND OTHER EXOTICS.

TTjQTra PPTFR DIVISION OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES,
Infor.at.on source: ;;^^i^3^^f ^^^ .^J^f^^, ,,3S0ULA, MT 59812. PHONE

406/728-8740.

specimens: VANDERHORST, J. (5201). 1994. ^^^^l^fj^^'lll;^^''''''^-
LESICA, P. (2701). 1983. SPECIMEN #092921. MONTU.

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: ASTRAGALUS TERMINALIS
Common Name: RAILHEAD MILKVETCH

> Global rank: G3G4 Forest Service status:
State rank: S2 Federal Status:

Element occurrence code: PDFAB0F8U0 . 004
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name: GRASSHOPPER CREEK

EO rank:
EO rank comments:

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: DALYS

ELI SPRING

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
008S OlOW 30 N2

Precision: M

survey date: Elevation: 5600 -

First observation: 1984 Slope/aspect:

Last observation: 1984-06-12 Size (acres) :

Location

NOR?H SIDE OF GRASSHOPPER CREEK, CA. 12 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DILLON.

Element occurrence data:
COMMON .

'^'"N'cli'c:JoSs1?ONEY^OIL ON STEEP SLOPES OF SIDE CANYONS; WITH PHLOX
MUSCOIDES AND OXYTROPIS BESSEYI .

Land owner/manager:

PRIVATELY OWNED LAND (INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE)
ELM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA

Comments :
NONE.

^^„ TPqTCA PETER DIVISION OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES,
in.ormatxon source. ^^ll^-^/^fH^l^,^^^ ,,3S0ULA, MT S9812. PHONE

406/728-8740.
specimens: LESICA, P. (2996). 1984. SPECIMEN #78288 . MONTU.

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM

Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: ASTRAGALUS TERMINALIS
Common Name: RAILHEAD MILKVETCH

•Global rank: G3G4 Forest Service status:
State rank: S2 Federal Status:

Element occurrence code: PDFAB0F8U0 . 007
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

MADISON BENCH

County: MADISON

USGS quadrangle: GRANITE MOUNTAIN

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
OlOS OOIE 06 S2

Precision: S

Survey date: 1990-07-19 Elevation: 5810

First observation: 1990 Slope/aspect: 0-30% / LEVEL, WEST

Last observation: 1995-07-26 Size (acres): 20

Location:

FROM CAMERON TAKE HWY 287 SOUTH 14 MILES TO BLM RECREATION AREA.
CONTINUE SOUTH 0.25 MILE. SITE IS ON EAST SIDE OF HWY JUST EAST OF
FENCE.

Element occurrence data:

1995: 2 NEW SUBPOPULATIONS , 1000-10000 PLANTS, 80% WITH MATURE FRUIT,
20% VEGETATIVE. 1990: 51-100 PLANTS IN MATURE FRUIT; ONLY SMALL AREA
SURVEYED, FULL EXTENT OF OCCURRENCE IS UNPCNOWN.

General site description:

DRY, OPEN ALLUVIAL BENCHES. COBBLY ALLUVIUM PARENT MATERIAL, SANDY,
ROCKY SOIL. FESTUCA IDAHOENSIS/STIPA COMATA COMMUNITY. ASSOCIATED
SPECIES: POA SANDBERGII, ARTEMISIA FRIGIDA, ASTRAGALUS ADSURGENS ,
STEPHANOMERIA SPINOSA, SELAGINELLA DENSA, ELYMUS SPICATUS, ANTENNARIA
MICROPHYLLA, BOUTELOUA GRACILIS, CHRYSOPSIS VILLOSA, CHRYSOTHAMNUS
VISCIDUS, KOELERIA MACRANTHA.

Land owner/manager:

PRIVATELY OWNED LAND (INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE)
BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA

Comments :

RANGE CONDITION INDICATES LIGHT GRAZING. SITE SURVEY SUMMARY ON FILE
AT MTHP. HEAVILY GRAZED AREAS OUTSIDE OF FENCE AND CATTLE GUARDS HAVE
NO PLANTS. SUBPOPULATION JUST ABOVE PICNIC AREA IS HEAVILY BROWSED BY
GAME. CENTAUREA IIACULOSA INVADING POPULATION AREA.

Information source: LESICA, PETER. DIVISION OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES,
UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA, MISSOULA, MX 59812. PHONE
406/728-8740.

Specimens: LESICA, P. (5190). 1990. MONTU.

VANDERHORST, J. (5479). 1995. MONTU.

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: ASTRAGALUS TERMINALIS
Common Name: RAILHEAD MILKVETCH

Global rank:
State rank:

G3G4
S2

Forest Service status:
Federal Status:

Element occurrence code;
Element occurrence type;

PDFAB0F8U0.010

Survey site name

EG rank

EO rank comments

MADISON RIVER

LARGE, EXTENSIVE POPULATION.

County: MADISON

USGS quadrangle: BUCKS NEST

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:

009S OOIW 12 NE4SW4; 13 SW4 ; 24 NW4 ; 23 NE4

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

1993-05-20
1995-08-31

Elevation: 5560 - 5740
Slope/aspect: 0-60% / EAST
Size (acres) :

Location :

CA. 15 MILES SOUTHEAST OF VIRGINIA CITY ALONG I4ADIS0N RIVER.

Element occurrence data:

COMMON OVER LARGE AREAS ON BOTH SIDES OF RIVER, REPRESENTING >10,000
PLANTS IN VIGOROUS CONDITION. CA. 50% OF PU^TS IN MATURE FRUIT AND
50% VEGETATIVE IN 1995.

General site description:

OPEN ALLUVIAL BENCHES AND FANS ALONG THE MADISON RIVER VALLEY COVERED
BY DRY GRASSLAND DOMINATED BY COMBINATIONS OF AGROPYRON SPICATUM,
STIPA COMATA, AND SELAGINELLA DENSA. STIPA COMATA/SELAGINELLA DENSA
HABITAT TYPE. OTHER ASSOCIATED SPECIES INCLUDE: ARTEMISIA FRIGIDA,
ANTENNARIA MICROPHYLLA, SENECIO CANUS , GRINDELIA SQUARROSA,
SPHAERALCEA COCCINEA.

L?nd owner/manager:

MADISON-WALL CREEK WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT AREA
PRIVATELY OWNED LAND (INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE)
BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA
STATE LAND - UNDESIGNATED

OBSERVED BY BONNIE HEIDEL ON 31 AUGUST 1995 (SECTIONS 13 AND 24 J M
VANDERHORST ON 25 JULY 1995 (SECTIONS 23 AND 24), AND PETER LESICA IN
1993 (SECTION 12) . ADDITIONAL POTENTIAL HABITAT ON STATE LANDS TO THE
SOUTH. A FEW CATTLE IN AREA; LIVESTOCK GRAZING REGIME INFORMATION
NEEDED.

Information source

HEIDEL, BONNIE. [BOTANIST] MONTANA NATURAL
HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515 EAST SIXTH AVENUE, P.O. BOX
201800, HELENA, MT 59620-1800. WORK: 406/444-3009.

Specimens: VANDERHORST, J. (5470). 1995. MONT.

LESICA, P. (5914). 1993. SPECIMEN #11844^

fcX=4St=4^

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

k Scientific Name: ASTRAGALUS TERMINALIS
'common Name: RAILHEAD MILKVETCH

Global rank: G3G4 Forest Service status:
State rank: S2 Federal Status:

Element occurrence code: PDFABOF8U0 . 014
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name: MADISON RIVER

EO rank :
EO rank comments:

County: MADISON

USGS quadrangle: BUCKS NEST
CAMERON

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
noes OOIW 24 NW4

Elevation: 5400 -
1995-07-26 Slope/aspect: LEVEL
1995-09-01 Size (acres) : 10

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

Location:

MADISON RIVER CA. 16 MILES SOUTH ON US HWY 287 FROM ENNIS . TAKE DIRT
ROAD DOWN TO RIVER; POPULATION IS IN A ROCKY FLOODPLAIN CHANNEL.

Element occurrence data:

1000 TO 10,000 PLANTS, 1 SUBPOPULATION . NEARLY ALL WITH MATURE FRUIT,
DISPERSING SEED.

General site description:

OPEN, DRY (SEASONAL MOISTURE) AiLUVIAi FLOODPLAIN BOTTOM. ROCKY, SANDY
SOIL ALLUVIUM PARENT MATERIAL. ASSOCIATED SPECIES: ASTRAGALUS
TERMINALIS, STIPACOMATA, POASP., STEPHANOMERIA SPINOSA, BOUTELOUA
GRACILIS, OXYTROPIS SERICEA, ALLIUM CERNUUM, ACHILLEA MILLEFOLIUM,
GLYCHORRHIZA LEPIDOTA, LIATRIS PUNCTATA.

Land owner/manager:

BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA

^°"""^OBSERVED BY J. VANDERHORST JULY 1995; REVISITED BY B. HEIDEL SEPTEMBER
1995.

Information source: HEIDEL, BONNIE. [BOTANIST] MONTANA NATURAL

HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515 EAST SIXTH AVENUE, P.O. BOX
201800, HELENA, MT 59620-1800. WORK: 4 06/444-3009.

Specimens: VANDERHORST, J. (5485). 1995. MONT.

February 5, 1996 52

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: ELEOCHARIS ROSTELLATA
Common Name: BEAKED SPIKERUSH

Global rank: G5 Forest Service status:
State rank: S2 Federal Status:

Element occurrence code: PMCYP091P0 . 005
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

WOLF CREEK HOT SPRINGS

NOT VERY EXTENSIVE POPULATION, MUCH OF AREA IS

DISTURBED. LIVESTOCK GRAZING.

County: MADISON

USGS quadrangle: SQUAW CREEK

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:

OlOS OOIE 09 NW4

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

1990-07-19 Elevation: 6100

1990 Slope/aspect: 0-3% / LEVEL, WEST

1990-07-19 Size (acres) :

Location:

FROM CAMERON, GO SOUTH ON HWY . 287 CA . 14 MILES TO ELM RECREATION
AREA. PROCEED SOUTH 0.25 MILE MORE TO GATE IN FENCE ON EAST SIDE OF
ROAD. GO THROUGH GATE AND FOLLOW TRAIL TO HOT SPRINGS.

Element occurrence data:

101-1000 PLANTS; STOLON PRODUCTION MAKES IT DIFFICULT TO DISTINGUISH
RAMETS AND GENETS.

General site description:

HOT AND COLD SPRINGS FLOW INTO MAN-MADE POND, WHICH THEN FLOWS THROUGH
A SMALL WET MEADOW. ELEOCHARIS ROSTELLATA/CAREX SIMULATA COMMUNITY.
ASSOCIATED SPECIES: CAREX OEDERI , PARNASSIA PARVIFLORA, TRIGLOCHIN
MARITIMUM. POND BERM AND AREAS BELOW POND INFESTED WITH EXOTICS.

Land owner/manager:

PRIVATELY OWNED LAND (INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE)

Comments:

FURTHER SPRING DEVELOPMENT COULD DESTROY THE REMAINING NATURAL WETLAND
COMMUNITIES.

Information source: LESICA, PETER. DIVISION OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES,
UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA, MISSOULA, MT 59812. PHONE
406/728-8740.

Specimens: LESICA, P. (5187). 1990. MONTU.

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: ERIGERON ASPERUGINEUS
Common Name: IDAHO FLEABANE

Global rank: 04 Forest Service status: SENSITIVE
State rank: 81 Federal Status:

Element occurrence code: PDAST3M0D0 . 005
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name: ROCHESTER CREEK

EO rank:
EO rank comments:

County: MADISON

USGS quadrangle: NEZ PERCE HOLLOW

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
002S 008W 36 SE4

Precision: M

Survey date: Elevation: 6000 -

First observation: 1934-06-12 Slope/aspect: 20% / WEST

Last observation: 1934-06-12 Size (acres) :

Location :

ROCHESTER BASIN. WEST OF ROCHESTER.

Element occurrence data:
I FLOWERING PERIOD JUNE. ABUNDANCE LIMITED.

General site description:

GRASS TYPE. SOIL ROCKY GRAVELLY SANDY LOAM . GENERALLY FOUND DRY OPEN
SITES WITH GR-YB-ST. USE: OVERGRAZING.

Land owner/manager:

STATE LAND - UNDESIGNATED

Information source: BOTANIST, MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515
EAST SIXTH AVENUE, HELENA, MT 59620-1800.

Specimens: BENSON, F. (B215) . 1934. MRC.

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: ERIGERON LINEARIS
Common Name: LINEARLEAF FLEABANE

Global rank: G5
State rank: SI

Forest Service status: SENSITIVE
Federal Status:

Element occurrence code:
Element occurrence type:

PDAST3M2B0.003

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

ERMONT GULCH

ACCIDENTAL? SMALL POPULATION.

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: ARGENTA

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
007S OlOW 6 SE4

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

1995-06-14
1995-06-14
1995-06-14

Elevation: 6020
Slope/aspect: 5% /
Size (acres) : 1

Location :

CA. 10 MILES WEST OF DILLON. FROM DILLON, TAKE HWY 91 SOUTHWEST CA.
3.5 MILES TO BADGER PASS EXIT. GO WEST CA. 6.5 MILES TO ERMONT GULCH
ROAD. TAKE THIS ROAD CA . 3 MILES NORTHWEST. POPULATION IS NORTH OF
I ROAD .

Element occurrence data:

OVER 50 MULTISTEMMED PLANTS, IN FLOWER 14 JUNE 1995. RESTRICTION OF
POPULATION TO SMALL AREA REMOVED OF ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA INDICATES IT

MAY BE ACCIDENTAL.

General site description:

ROLLING SAGEBRUSH FOOTHILLS ON ERMONT GULCH, LOCALLY DOMINATED BY
■-.GROPYRON SPICATUM, ON DRY GENTLE SLOPE OVER DIABASE. ASSOCIATED
SPECIES: HAPLOPAPPUS ACAULIS, ARENARIA KINGII, OXYTROPIS SERICEA,
CHRYSOTHAMNUS VISCIDIFLORUS .

Land owner/manager:

BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA

Comments:

DISTURBANCE BY OLD MINING OPERATION.

Information source;

HEIDEL, BONNIE. [BOTANIST] MONTANA NATURAL
HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515 EAST SIXTH AVENUE, P.O. BOX
201800, HELENA, MT 59620-1800. WORK: 4 06/444-3009.

Specimens: HEIDEL, B. (1343). 1995. MONTU.

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: KOCHIA A>1ERICA1^A
Common Name : RED SAGE

Global rank: G5
State rank: SU

Forest Service status;
Federal Status:

Element occurrence code: PDCHEOEOIO . 003
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name: BROWNE'S GULCH

EO rank: A
EO rank comments: PLANT SHOWS LIMITED RESPONSE TO GRAZING
DEGRADATION.

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: EARLS GULCH

Township: Range:
003S 009W

Section: T
27 N

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

1995-06-15
1995-06-15
1995-08-17

TRS comments:
N2; 28 E2; 22 S2

Elevation: 5160 - 5280
Slope/aspect: 0-10% / ALL
Size (acres) :

Location :

FROM GLEN/ROCK CREEK, EXIT ON US HWY 91. GO NORTH 2 MILES ON ROAD THAT
FOLLOWS THE VALLEY EDGE, ACCESSIBLE VIA BOTH BLM ROADS THAT LEAD
NORTHWEST.

Element occurrence data:

COMMON AND LOCALLY CODOMINANT WITH DISTICHILIS STRICTA UNDER ARTEMISIA
TRIDENTATA - SARCOBATUS VERMICULATUM OF ALKALINE FLATS. LESS COMMON IN
CLAYPAN PATCHES, LOCALIZED WASHES AND ADJOINING HILLS ASSOCIATED WITH
SAME SHRUBS AND WITH BOUTELOUA GRACILIS, AGROPYRON SPICATUM. EARLIEST
PUDS FORMED 15 JUNE 1995; MATURE FRUITS FORMED 15 AUGUST 1995.

General site description:

OPEN, STRAIGHT, ALKALINE FLATS AI^D WASHES IN ONE SEGMENT OF BIG HOLE
V.'VLLEY BOTTOM, LOWERSLOPE MARGIN MADE UP OF SANDY ALLUVIUM; CODOMINANT
WITH DISTICHILIS STRICTA UNDER ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA - SARCOBATUS
VERMICULATUM. ALSO IN CLAYPAN PATCHES, LOCALIZED WASHES, AND ADJOINING
HILLS ASSOCIATED WITH SOME SHRUBS AND WITH BOUTELOUA GRACILIS,
AGROPYRON SPICATUM. ADDITIONAL ASSOCIATED SPECIES: OPUNTIA
POLYACANTHA, SITANION HYSTRIX, LAPPULA REDOWSKII, ATRIPLEX NUTTALLII,
DESCURAINIA RICHARDSONII .
Land owner/manager:

BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA
PRIVATELY OWNED LAND (INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE)
Comments :

SURVEYED BY B. HEIDEL. SECTION 2 8 HEAVILY GRAZED BY CATTLE; AREA HAS
LONG HISTORY OF MODERATE TO HEAVY GRAZING AS EVIDENCED BY ABUNDANT
INCREASER SPECIES AND GULLIED WATER COURSES. POPULATION BOUNDARY
ROUGHLY ESTIMATED BECAUSE PLANTS EXTEND OUTSIDE OF BLM BOUNDARIES.

Information source:

HEIDEL, BONNIE. [BOTANIST] MONTANA NATURAL
HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515 EAST SIXTH AVENUE, P.O. BOX
201800, HELENA, MT 59620-1800. WORK: 406/444-3009.

Specimens: HEIDEL, B. (1355). 1995. MONTU, MONT.

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: LOMATIUM ATTENUATUM
Common Name: TAPER-TIP DESERT- PARSLEY

Global rank:
State rank:

Forest Service status:

Federal Status: 3C

Element occurrence code: PDAPI1B24 0 . 003
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

BANNACK

EXTENSIVE MINING AND GRAZING IN AREA BUT LIMITED

ON THESE RIDGES.

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: BANNACK

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
008S OllW 5 ALL; 4 W4

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

1994-06-12
1994-06-12
1995-06-14

Elevation: ^
Slope/aspect ;
Size (acres) :

iO - 7100

0-30% / WNW, ESE, SOUTH, WEST
160

Location:

RIDGES NORTHEAST OF BANNACK, OVERLOOKING TOWNSITE.

Element occurrence data:

1995: OVER 10,000 PLANTS WITH EXPANSION OF EO BOUNDAJ?IES ON ESE ASPECT
AND LARGER ADJOINING RIDGE SYSTEM. OCCASIONAL TO LOCALLY COMMON ACROSS
A WIDE ARRAY OF RIDGE SETINGS ON LIMESTONE, WITH WAIF DISPERSALS IN
STREAMCOURSES AND IN THE TOWNSITE. 1994: 1000-10,000 PLANTS, 50%
VEGETATIVE, 50% IN FRUIT, 1% IN FLOWER.

General site description:

MAINLY DRY, OPEN RESIDUAL UPPERSLOPE AND RIDGE CREST. LIMESTONE PARENT
MATERIAL, GRAVELLY CLAY SOIL. ASSOCIATED SPECIES: ELYMUS SPICATUS,
CERCOCARPUS LEDIFOLIUS, PINUS FLEXILUS, ARTEMISIA FRIGIDA,
LiTHOSPERMUM INCISUM, DELPHINIUM BICOLOR, LESQUERELLA SP., CRYPTANTHA
CELOSIOIDES, ALLIUM TEXTILE, PETROPHYTON CAESPITOSUM, SPHAEROMERIA
ARGENTEA, TOWNSENDIA SPATHULATA, PHACELIA INCANA.

Land owner/manager:

BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT,

DILLON RESOURCE AREA

Comments :

BANNACK STATE PARK IS APPLYING FOR A "R & PP" WITHDRAWAL WHICH
INCLUDES THIS SITE, WHICH WOULD ELIMINATE THREATS OF FUTURE MINING AND
POTENTIAL GRAZING. 5 SPECIES OF CONCERN OCCUR IN AREA. OBSERVED IN
1995 BY B. HEIDEL.

Information source:

HEIDEL, BONNIE. [BOTANIST] MONTANA NATUP-AL
HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515 EAST SIXTH AVENUE, P.O. BOX
201800, HELENA, MT 59620-1800. WORK: 406/444-3009.

Specimens: VANDERHORST, J. (5191). 1994. MONT.

•"^^

-/i^

JiWii^-i -■iiiirTri^^---f ^-

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: LOMATIUM ATTENUATUM
Common Name: TAPER-TIP DESERT- PARSLEY

Global rank: G3
State rank: S2

Forest Service status:
Federal Status:

Element occurrence code:
Element occurrence type:

PDAPI1B240.006

Survey site name

EG rank

EO rank comments

ROCKY HILLS

County: BEAVERHEAD
USGS quadrangle: GRANT

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:

008S OllW 30 NW4; 19 SW4 ; 31 NW4

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

Elevation: 6800 - 7587
1995-07-22 Slope/aspect: 1-15% / SOUTH, SW
1995-07-22 Size (acres) :

Location :

CA. 2.5 MILES DUE SOUTH OF BANNACK; GOING CA. 3 MILES SOUTH OF BANNACK
HWY ON WEST ROAD, CA . 3 MILES EAST ON BLM ROAD 1827, AND CA . 0.5 MILE
ON 2-TPJVCK (LEFT FORK) TO RIDGE. POPULATIONS LIE 0.2 MILE NORTH, 0.5
MILE NORTH, AND 1 MILE SOUTH.

Element occurrence data:

3 SUBPOPULATIONS . 3 PLANTS IN SECTION 31,
50 IN SECTION 19.

CA. 5 IN SECTION 30, AND CA.

General site description:

OPEN, DRY UPPERSLOPE. CALCAREOUS SILT WITH MUCH COBBLE. MADISON GROUP
PARENT MATERIAL. ASSOCIATED SPECIES: AGROPYRON SPICATUM (SPARSE
PHASE), SPAHEROMERIA ARGENTEA (NORTHERN 2 POPULATIONS), HAPLOPAPPUS
ACAULIS, PENSTEMON ARIDUS, POA SCABRELLA, TOWNSENDIA NUTTALLII, ALLIUM
TEXTILE, LINUM LEWISII, LESQUERELLA PULCHELLA (SOUTHERN
SUBPOPULATIONS) .

Land owner/manager:

BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA

Comments :

SURVEYED BY B. HEIDEL. LITTLE MINING ACTIVITY, NO SIGNS OF GRAZING.
LIKELY TO BE MORE SUBPOPULATIONS IN AREA.

Information source:

HEIDEL, BONNIE. [BOTANIST] MONTANA NATURAL
HERITAGE PROGRAl^, 1515 EAST SIXTH AVENUE, P.O. BOX
201800, HELENA, MT 59620-1800. WORK: 406/444-3009.

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: LOMATIUM ATTENUATUM
Common Name: TAPER-TIP DESERT- PARSLEY

Global rank: G3 Forest Service status:
State rank: 82 Federal Status:

Element occurrence code: PDAPI1B240 . 007
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

ROAD AGENTS ROCK

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: BANNACK

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
007S OllW 28 SW4; 29 SE4

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

1995-07-09
1995-07-09

Elevation: 6780 - 7173
Slope/aspect: 10-30% / NORTH, WEST
Size (acres) : 40

Location:

CA. 3 AIR MILES NNW OF BANNACK ON HILLS TO SOUTH OF ROAD AGENTS ROCK.
ACCESS VIA BON ACCORD ROAD FROM HWY 2 78.

Element occurrence data:

500-1000 PLANTS, 4 SUBPOPULATIONS . MATURE FRUIT.

General site description:

MOSTLY ON GRAVELLY ROCK OUTCROPS. OPEN, DRY CREST UPPERSLOPE,
MIDSLOPE. LIMESTONE PARENT MATERIAL, SEDIMENTARY UPLANDS. LOW
SAGEBRUSH, DOUGLAS FIR FOREST. WITH ARTEMISIA ARBUSCULA, PSEUDOTSUGA
MENZIESII, IVESIA GORDONII, ERIGERON CAMPOSITUS, ALLIUM TEXTILE,
HAPLOPAPPUS ACAULIS, ERIGERON TWEEDYI, DELPHINIUM BICOLOR SSP. NOVUM.

Laiid owner/manager:

ELM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA
PRIVATELY OWNED LAND (INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE)

Comments :

OBSERVED BY J. VANDERHORST.

Information source: VANDERHORST, J. [BOTANIST]. 1515 LAKE STREET,
OGDEN, UTAH 84401.

Specimens: VANDERHORST, J. (5436). 1995. MONT.

February 6, 19 96

MONTANA NATURAX, HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: LOMATIUM ATTENUATUM
Common Name: TAPER- TIP DESERT- PARSLEY

Global rank: G3 Forest Service status:
State rank: 32 Federal Status: 3C

Element occurrence code: PDAPI1B240 . 008
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

COLD SPRING CREEK

County : BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: BANNACK

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
007N OllW 36 CENTER; 35 NW4NE4

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

Elevation: 6320 - 6600
1995-07-10 Slope/aspect: 10-30% / SW
1995-07-10 Size (acres) : 1

Location:

FROM TENMILE HOUSE ON HWY 278, TAKE BON ACCORD ROAD WEST CA . 3 MILES
TO FORK. TURN LEFT AND FOLLOW CA. 1.5 MILES TO SECOND FORK. TAKE
ANOTHER LEFT, AND FOLLOW ROAD CA . 1.5 MILES. POPULATION IS ON
► WEST- FACING SLOPE TO SOUTH OF ROAD.

Element occurrence data:

10 PLANTS COUNTED, 1 SUBPOPULATION . 100% WITH MATURE FRUIT.

General site description:

OPEN, DRY LOWER TO MID ROCK OUTCROP SLOPE. ROCKY, SANDY GRAVEL. BASALT
(?) PARENT MATERIAL. ASSOCIATED SPECIES: ELYMUS SPICATUS, ARTEMISIA
TRIDENTATA, ERIGERON CAESPITOSUS, DELPHINIUM BICOLOR, PENSTEMON
ARIDUS.

Land owner/manager:

STATE LAND - UNDESIGNATED

ELM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA

Comments :

OBSERVED BY J. VANDERHORST ON 10 JULY 1995 AND ON 22 JULY 1995 BY B.

HEIDEL.

Information source: VANDERHORST, J. [BOTANIST]. 1515 LAKE STREET,
OGDEN, UTAH 84401.

Specimens: VANDERHORST, J. (5441). 1995. MONT.

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: PENSTEMON LEMHIENSIS
Common Name: LEMHI BEARDTONGUE

Global rank: G3
State rank: S2

Forest Service status: SENSITIVE
Federal Status: C2

Element occurrence code: PDSCR1L3N0 . 005
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

BADGER PASS

LARGE POPULATION, MOSTLY NATIVE HABITAT, FENCE
EXCLOSURE.

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: BANNACK

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
007S OllW 22 N2NW4

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

1986-06-20 Elevation: 7260 -
1972-06-27 Slope/aspect: 35% / SW, E-NE
1989-06-14 Size (acres) : 10

Location :

1.4 5 AIR MILES SSE. OF BADGER PASS, ADJACENT TO MICROWAVE TOWER ON
GRAVEL ROAD 1.3 AIR MI. S. OF BIG HOLE ROAD (ST. HWY . 278), CA. 4.5
AIR MI. NNE. OF BANNACK.

Element occurrence data:

198 9: VERY FEW PLANTS OBSERVED, i^J^D NONE FOUND INSIDE EXCLOSURE. 1986:
190 PLANTS COUNTED; CA. 75 PLANTS ARE WITHIN A FENCE EXCLOSURE WHICH
WAS CONSTRUCTED TO PROTECT PART OF THE POPULATION. 1972: SCARCE.

General site description:

GRAVELLY LOAM SOILS, MIDSLOPE; ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA/ PSEUDOTSUGA
MENZIESII/FESTUCA IDAHOENSIS/AGROPYRON SPICATUM, LUPINUS LEUCOPHYLLUS ,
ANTENNARIA MICROPHYLLA, GEUM, SEDUM, PINUS FLEXILIS, SELAGINELLA
DENSA.

Land owner/manager:

BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA

Information source: SHELLY, J. S. 1986. [FIELD SURVEYS IN BEAVERHEAD
COUNTY OF 18-22 JUNE.]

Specimens: SHELLY, J. S. (1147) AND G . V . KING. 1986. MONTU.
KOVALCHICK, B. L. (199). 1972. MRC .

February 6, 1996 49

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: PENSTEMON LEMHIENSIS
Common Name: LEMHI BEARDTONGUE

Global rank: G3 Forest Service status: SENSITIVE
State rank: S2 Federal Status: C2

Element occurrence code: PDSCR1L3N0 . 014
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name

EO rank

EG rank comments

ERMONT GULCH

SMALL POPULATION, NATIVE HABITAT IMPACTED BY

GRAZING.

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: ERMONT

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
006S OllW 33 NE4SE4; 34 W2

Precision

" Survey date

First observation

Last observation

1986-06-20 Elevation: 6740
1986 Slope/aspect:

1989-07-27 Size (acres) : 5

Location:

CA 4.3 AIR MI. WSW. OF ARGENTA, ALONG BEAVERHEAD N.F. RD . #7467 AT
HEAD OF ERMONT GULCH, CA. 2.2 AIR MI. N. OF BADGER PASS, PIONEER
MOUNTAINS .

Element occurrence data :

76 PLANTS COUNTED (1986); ONLY ONE PLANT SEEN IN 1989; AREA SUBJECT TO
MODERATE TO HEAVY GRAZING.

G^.neral site description:

SE-FACING SLOPE, LOAM SOILS; ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA/FESTUCA IDAHOENSIS,
ANTENNARIA MICROPHYLLA, KOELERIA MACRANTHA, COMANDRA UMBELLATA,
ERIOGONU"M.

Land owner/manager:

BEAVERHEAD NATIONAL FOREST, DILLON RANGER DISTRICT
BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA

Information source: SHELLY, J. S. 1986. [FIELD SURVEYS IN BEAVERHEAD
COUNTY OF 18-22 JUNE.]

Specimens: SHELLY, J. S. (1146) AND G. V. KING. 1986. MONTU .

February G, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: PENSTEMON LEMHIENSIS
Common Name: LEMHI BEARDTONGUE

Global rank: G3
State rank: S2

Forest Service status: SENSITIVE
Federal Status: C2

Element occurrence code: PDSCR1L3N0 . 019
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name: BADGER PASS NORTH

EO rank: B
EO rank comments: MODERATE -SIZED POPULATION; FAIR TO GOOD CONDITION
RANGELAND.

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: BANNACK

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:

007S OllW 09 NE4NE4; 10 NW4 ; 3 SW4

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

1987-06-18

1987

1989-07-28

Elevation: 6980
Slope/aspect :
Size (acres) : 4

Location:

SOUTHERN PIONEER MOUNTAINS, 0.7-1.2 AIR MILES NNE . OF BADGER PASS;
ABOUT 15 AIR MILES WEST OF DILLON.

Element occurrence data:

ABOUT 200 PLANTS COUNTED, POPULATION = EST. 300+ PLANTS, 3
SUBPOPULATIONS OBSERVED; FLOWERING; NUMEROUS PLANTS GROWING THROUGH
BRANCHES OF SAGEBRUSH SHRUBS; AREA IS LIGHTLY TO MODERATELY GRAZED;
PERMANENT MONITORING TRANSECT ESTABLISHED IN 1989.

General site description:

BROWN LOAM SOILS; ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA/FESTUCA IDAHOENSIS, WITH
PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII, BALSAMORHIZA SAGITTATA, LUPINUS SERICEUS,
ANTENNARIA MICROPHYLLA, ASTER STENOMERES .

Lend owner/manager:

BEAVERHEAD NATIONAL FOREST, DILLON RANGER DISTRICT

Comments :

Information source: SHELLY, J. S. 1987. [FIELD SURVEYS IN BEAVERHEAD
COUNTY OF 16-19 JUNE.]

Specimens: SHELLY, J. S. (1343). 1987. MONTU.

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: PENSTEMON LEMKIENSIS
Common Name: LEMHI BEARDTONGUE

Global rank: G3 Forest Service status: SENSITIVE
State rank: S2 Federal Status: C2

Element occurrence code: PDSCR1L3N0 . 040
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name: ERMONT GULCH

EG rank: B
EG rank comments: POSSIBLE THREATS FROM GRAZING OR COMPETITION.

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: ERMONT

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
006S OllW 27 SE4SW4

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

1990-06-28 Elevation: 6800

1990 Slope/aspect: 8-15% / SOUTHEAST

1990-06-28 Size (acres) : 0

Location:

CA. 3.5 MILES WEST OF ARGENTA, JUST WEST OF FS ROAD #7467.

Element occurrence data:
I 2 BLOOMING PLANTS (28 JUNE 1990) .

General site description:

ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA/FESTUCA IDAHOENSIS COMMUNITY, WITH PENSTEMON
ARIDUS, P. WHIPPLEANUS, P. RADICOSUS, KOELERIA CRISTATA, TARAXACUM
OFFICINALE, PSEUDOTSUGA MENZIESII, SENECIO SPP .

Land owner/manager:

ELM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA

Comments :

NONFLOWERING PLANTS NOT SEARCHED FOR.

Information source: HEINZE, DONALD. BUREAU OF LAND MANAGEMENT, 222
NORTH 32ND STREET, P.O. BOX 36800, BILLINGS, MT
59107-6800. 406/255-2913.

Specimens:

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: PHACELIA INCANA
Common Name: HOARY PHACELIA

Global rank: G3G4 Forest Service status:
State rank: SI Federal Status:

Element occurrence code: PDHYD0C270 . 006
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name: BANNACK

EO rank: AB
EO rank comments: LARGE POPULATION, PRIME POTENTIAL HABITAT,
POTENTIAL WEED COMPETITION.

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: BANNACK

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
008S OllW 5 S2

Precision: S

Survey date: 1995-06-14 Elevation: 6200 - 7000

First observation: 1995-06-14 Slope/aspect: 15-80% / S, E, W

Last observation: 1995-06-14 Size (acres):

Location :

BANNACK STATE PARK; RIDGE NORTHEAST OF TOWNS ITE AND NEXT RIDGE SYSTEM
TO EAST ON ELM LANDS.

Element occurrence data:

OVER 1000 PLANTS, IN EARLY FLOWERING 14 JUNE 1995. DISTRIBUTED IN
PATCHES ACROSS RIDGE COMPLEX WITH CORE SUBPOPULATIONS ON THE TWO
RIDGES.

G.neral site description:

EXPOSED LIMESTONE RIDGE SLOPES WITH OUTCROP AND COLLUVIUM COMBINATION,
DOMINATED BY CERCOCARPUS LEDIFOLIUS AND AGROPYRON SPICATUM. OFTEN MOST
COMMON ON LEAF LITTER BELOW CERCOCARPUS. ASSOCIATED SPECIES: ORYZOPSIS
HYMENOIDES, ARTEMISIA FRIGIDA, DESCURAINIA RICHARDSONII , THLASPI
ARVENSE .

Land owner/manager:

BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA
BANNACK STATE HISTORIC PARK

Information source: HEIDEL, BONNIE. [BOTANIST] MONTANA NATURAL

HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515 EAST SIXTH AVENUE, P.O. BOX
201800, HELENA, MT 59620-1800. WORK: 406/444-3 009.

Specimens: HEIDEL, B. (1346). 1995. MONT.

if^^|^&^^t^^%y=%

February 6, 199S

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: PHACELIA INCANA
Common Name: HOARY PHACELIA

Global rank: G3G4
State rank: SI

Forest Service status:
Federal Status:

Element occurrence code:
Element occurrence type:

PDHYD0C270.007

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

CLARK CANYON RESERVOIR

POPULATION MAY HAVE YET TO BECOME WELL-ESTABLISHED
IN POTENTIAL HABITAT.

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: GARFIELD CANYON

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
OlOS OlOW 6 NE4NW4

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

1995-07-21 Elevation: 6050 -
1995-07-21 Slope/aspect: 15-25% / SOUTH
1995-07-21 Size (acres) :

Location:

CA. 6.5 MILES NORTHWEST OF RED ROCK,
CLARK CANYON RESERVOIR.

0.75 MILE NORTH OF NORTH SHORE OF

Element occurrence data:

ONLY 1 HIGHLY LOCALIZED POPULATION OF OVER 200 PLANTS WAS FOUND IN AN
AREA OF 10 X 10 M. PLANTS WERE IN A WIDE RANGE OF PHENOLOGY, THOSE IN
THE OPEN TURNING RED AND WITHERING, WHILE THOSE UNDER CERCOCARPUS WERE
GREEN, MORE ROBUST, AND INCLUDED MANY THAT STILL HAD FLOWERS.

General site description:

EXPOSED LIMESTONE TALUS TO COBBLER RIDGESLOPE AND MIDSLOPE POSITION,
ON ABRUPT OUTCROPS ABOVE CANYON CREEK RESERVOIR. MADISON GROUP PARENT
MATERIAL. IN CERCOCAJIPUS LEDIFOLIUS/AGROPYRON SPICATUM HABITAT TYPE;
ALSO ASSOCIATED WITH GUTIERRIZIA SAROTHRAE, PENSTEMON AVIDUS, ERIGERON
TWEEDYI, ORYZOPSIS HYMENOIDES, CHENOPODIUM (WATSONII), ARENARIA
KINGII, ALLIUM TEXTILE, OROBANCHE LUDOVICIANA, EUROTIA LANATA.

Land owner/manager:

CLARK CANYON RESERVOIR

BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA

Comments :

SURVEYED BY B. HEIDEL. HEAVY DISTURBANCE BY MULE DEER BROWSING AND
SCAT.

Information source: HEIDEL, BONNIE. [BOTANIST] MONTANA NATURAL

HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515 EAST SIXTH AVENUE, P.O. BOX
201800, HELENA, MT 59620-1800. WORK: 406/444-3009.

Specimens: HEIDEL, B. (1401). 1995. MONTU.

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: PHACELIA SCOPULINA
Common Name: DWARF PHACELIA

Global rank: G4 Forest Service status:
State rank: SH Federal Status:

Element occurrence code: PDHYD0C4 90 . 001
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name: MELROSE

EO rank:
EO rank comments:

County: SILVER BOW
MADISON

USGS quadrangle: MELROSE

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
002S 009W 26

Precision: G

Survey date: Elevation: 5180

First observation: 1885 Slope/aspect:

Last observation: 1885 Size (acres) :

Location:

MELROSE (HISTORIC RECORD, GENERAL LOCATION ONLY) .

Element occurrence data:

General site description:

Land owner/manager:

PRIVATELY OWNED LAND (INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE)

Information source: BOTANIST, MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515
EAST SIXTH AVENUE, HELENA, MT 59620-1800.

Specimens: RYDBERG, P. A. (2771). 1895. NY.

February G, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: SPHAEROMERIA ARGENTEA
Common Name: CHICKEN SAGE

Global rank: G3
State rank: S3

Forest Service status:
Federal Status:

Element occurrence code:
Element occurrence type;

PDAST8S010.004

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

ROCKY HILLS

NEAR PRISTINE.

County: BEAVERHEAD
USGS quadrangle: GRANT

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
009S 012W 1 S2; 12 NE4

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

1994-06-29 Elevation: 6400 - 6800
1994-06-29 Slope/aspect: 20% / SW
1994-06-29 Size (acres) :

Location :

CA. 5 MILES NORTH OF GRANT ON GRAVEL ROAD TO BANNACK STATE PARK, TURN
EAST ON DIRT ROAD AND FOLLOW TO ROCKY WELL. TRAVEL OVERLAND CA. 1.5
AIR MILES WNW. PLANTS ARE ON SOUTHWEST SLOPES OF ROCKY HILLS.

Element occurrence data:

5000-10,000 PLANTS WITH 3 SUBPOPULATIONS , 100% IN EARLY BUD. SOME
INFECTED WITH FUNGUS (RUST?).

GenTal site description:

DRY, OPEN RESIDUAL MIDSLOPE. LIMESTONE PARENT MATERIAL, GRAVELLY CLAY
TOIL. ASSOCIATED SPECIES: PINUS FLEXILIS, CERCOCARPUS LEDIFOLIUS,
ELYMUS SPICATUS, HAPLOPAPPUS ACAULIS, KOELERIA MACRANTHA, ERIGERON
TWEEDYI, ERIGERON COMPOSITUS, PENSTEMON ARIDUS, IVESIA GORDONII,
PENSTEMON ERIANTHERUS, JUNIPERUS SCOPULORUM.

Land owner/manager:

BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA

Information source: VANDERHORST, J. [BOTANIST] . 1515 LAKE STREET,
OGDEN, UTAH 84401.

Specimens: VANDERHORST, J. (5211). 1994. MONT.

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: SPHAEROMERIA ARGENTEA
Common Name: CHICKEN SAGE

Global rank:

Forest Service status

State rank:

Federal Status

Element occurrence code: PDAST8S010 . OOE
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

BANNACK

NEAR-PRISTINE SITE.

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: BANNACK

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
008S OllW 5 SW4NW4

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

1994-06-12 Elevation: 6320 - 6440

1994-06-12 Slope/aspect: 0-30% / WNW

1994-06-12 Size (acres) : 40

Location:

SITE IS ON FIRST RIDGE NORTHEAST OF BANNACK, OVERLOOKING TOWNSITE.

•Element occurrence data:
1000-10,000 PLANTS, 100% FLOWERING.

General site description:

DRY, OPEN RESIDUAL UPPERSLOPE AJJD RIDGE CREST. LIMESTONE PARENT
MATERIAL, GRAVELLY CLAY SOIL. ASSOCIATED SPECIES: ELYMUS SPICATUS,
CERCOCARPUS LEDIFOLIUS, PINUS FLEXILUS, ARTEMISIA FRIGIDA, HAPLOPAPPUS
ACAULIS, PENSTEMON ARIDUS, OXYTROPIS LAGOPUS, LINUM LEWISII,
DELPHINIUM BICOLOR SSP . NOVUM, TOWNSENDIA SPATHULATA, LESQUERELLA SP.,
LOMATIUM ATTENUATUM.

Land owner/manager:

BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA

Comments :

THIS NEAR- PRISTINE SITE HOSTS FIVE LIMESTONE ENDEMIC PLANT SPECIES OF
CONCERN. BANNACK STATE PARK IS APPLYING FOR A LAND TRANSFER WHICH MAY
HELP PROTECT THE SITE FROM FUTURE MINING.

Information source: VA.NDERHORST, J. [BOTANIST]. 1515 LAKE STREET,
OGDEN, UTAH 84401.

Specimens: VANDERHORST, J. (5188). 1994. MONT.

February 6, 1995

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: SPHAEROMERIA ARGENTEA
Common Name: CHICKEN SAGE

Global rank: G3
State rank: S3

Forest Service status:
Federal Status:

Element occurrence code:
Element occurrence type:

PDAST8S010.006

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

ROCKY HILLS

LIMITED SIZE, GOOD CONDITION.

County: BEAVERHEAD
USGS quadrangle: GRANT

Township: Range: Section:
008S OllW 30

TRS comments:
NW4; 19 SW4

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

1995-07-22 Elevation: 6800 - 7000
1995-07-22 Slope/aspect: 1-10% / SOUTH, SW
1995-07-22 Size (acres) : 5

Location:

CA. 2.5 MILES DUE SOUTH OF BANNACK HWY ON COUNTY ROAD. CA. 3 MILES
EAST ON BLM RD 1827, CA. 0.5 MILE ON 2-TRACK FORK TO RIDGE.
POPULATIONS LIE 0.2-0.5 MILE NORTH.

Element occurrence data:

>200 PLANTS IN 2 SUBPOPULATIONS , EACH WITH >100 PLANTS. FRUITING WITH
A FEW PLANTS IN LATE FLOWER.

General site description:

RESTRICTED TO MICROHABITAT PATCHES. OPEN LIMESTONE GRAVEL OVER SLIT
UPPERSLOPE ASSOCIATED WITH ROCK OUTCROPS. MADISON GROUP PARENT
MATERIAL. ASSOCIATED SPECIES: AGROPYRON SPICATUM (SPARSE PHASE),
PENSTEMON ARIDUS, ARTEMISIA ARBUSCULA, PETROPHYTON CAESPITOSUM,
DELPHINIUM SPP., LOMATIUM ATTENUATUM, POA SCABRELLA, TOWNSENDIA
NUTTALLII, ERIOGONUM MANCUM.

Land ovmer/manager :

BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA

Comments :

SURVEYED BY B. HEIDEL. AREA TO THE NORTH IS EXTENSIVELY MINED,
ALTHOUGH THERE ARE FEW ADITS AROUND PLANTS.

Information source:

HEIDEL, BONNIE. [BOTANIST] MONTANA NATURAL
HERITAGE PROGPJ^i , 1515 EAST SIXTH AVENUE, P.O. BOX
201800, HELENA, MT 59620-1800. WORK: 406/444-3009.

Speed

February 6, 199S MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM

Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: SPHAEROMERIA ARGENTEA %

I Common Name: CHICKEN SAGE

Global rank: G3 Forest Service status:
State rank: S3 Federal Status:

Element occurrence code: PDAST8S010 . 007
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name: TENMILE HOUSE

EO rank:
EO rank comments:

County: BEAVERHEAD

uses quadrangle: BURNS MOUNTAIN

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
007S OlOW 21 NW4

Precision: S

survey date: Elevation: 5900 -

First observation: 1995-07-09 Slope/aspect: 5^ / EAST

Last observation: 1995-07-09 Size (acres) : 1

^°"^°"io AIR MILES WEST OF DILLON AND CA. 1 MILE SOUTHWEST OF TENMILE
HOUSE (JUNCTION OF HWY 278 WITH THE BON ACCORD ROAD) .

^ Element occurrence data: „^„„

CA. 5 0 PLANTS, 70% EARLY FLOWERING, 3 0% VEGETATIVE.

'^"^;PEn''dKy'cRESt''gSvELLV loam. ARTEMISIA ARBUSCUI^ HABITAT TYPE

ASSOCIATED SPEC ES: STIPA COMATA, ARTEMISIA FRIGIDA, PHLOX MUSCOIDES,
pSsTEMON ARIDUS, OXYTROPIS SERICEA, ELYMUS SPICATUS, ERIGERON
COMPOSITUS.

L-. d owner/manager:

BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA

''^'"'^ObSeRVED by J. VANDERHORST. MODERATE GRAZING IN THE PAST

Information source: VANDERHORST, J. [BOTANIST]. 1515 LAKE ST
OGDEN, UTAH 84401.

Specimens: VANDERHORST, J. (5438). 1995. MONT.

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

iScientific Name: SPHAEROMERIA ARGENTEA
'common Name: CHICKEN SAGE

Global rank: G3 Forest Service status:
State rank: S3 Federal Status:

Element occurrence code: PDAST8S010 . 008
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

CEDAR CREEK

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: ELI SPRING

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
009S OllW 35 SE4

Precision: S

Survey date: Elevation: 6120 - 6240

First observation: 1995-07-20 Slope/aspect: 0-5% / NORTH

Last observation: 1995-07-20 Size (acres) : 2

Location :

TRAVEL CA. 4 MILES WEST OF ARMSTEAD ON US HWY 324, NORTH 1 MILE TO THE

FORK, AND WEST 0.2 MILE PAST GATE AND BLM ROAD 1800 SIGN. POPULATION

IS SOUTH OF ROAD.
I
Element occurrence data:

LOCALLY COMMON, >3 00 PLANTS, IN FRUIT. MOST PLANTS <10 X 10 CM.

General site description:

SEGMENT OF OPEN, DRY, HARSH FLAT RIDGETOP COVERED BY LIMESTONE
PAVEMENT. MADISON GROUP PARENT MATERIAL, SILT COVERED BY GRAVEL AND
SMALL ROCKS. PHLOX BRYOIDES, HAPLOPAPPUS ACAULIS, ARTEMISIA FRIGIDA,
POSSIBLY EARLY SUCCESSIONAL PHASE OF AGROPYRON SPICATUM, ORYZOPSIS
HYMENOIDES, O. CONTRACTA; SOME OVERLAP WITH SPHAEROMERIA CAPITATA, THE
LOCAL DOMINANT IN THE AREA.

Land owner/manager:

BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA

Comments :

ALMOST NO DISTURBANCE; SIGNS OF AN OCCASIONAL HORSE.

Information source: HEIDEL, BONNIE. [BOTANIST] MONTANA NATURAL

HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515 EAST SIXTH AVENUE, P.O. BOX
201800, HELENA, MT 59620-1800. WORK: 406/444-3009.

Specimens :

+ \ s5e5S

V ■

February G, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: SPHAEROMERIA ARGENTEA
Common Name: CHICKEN SAGE

Global rank: G3
State rank: S3

Forest Service status:
Federal Status:

Element occurrence code: PDAST8S010 . 009
Element occurrence type:

Survey sate name

EO rank

EO rank comments

ERMONT GULCH

GOOD SIZE, DISSECTED BY ROAD.

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: ARGENTA

BURNS MOUNTAIN

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
007S OlOW 6 SE4; 5 SW4

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

1995-0S-14
1995-06-14
1995-07-21

Elevation: 5980 - 6020
Slope/aspect: 0-4% / SOUTH
Size (acres) : 10

Location :

TRAVEL CA. 10 MILES DUE WEST OF DILLON FROM US HYW 91. TAKE BADGER
PASS EXIT CA. 6.5 MILES WEST AND GO CA . 3 MILES NORTHWEST ON ERMONT
GULCH ROAD. POPULATION IS ON IMMEDIATE SOUTH AND NORTH SIDES OF ROAD
IN A BAND OF HABITAT PARALLELING ROAD FOR NEXT 0.3 MILE.

Element occurrence data:

OCCASIONAL, OVER 200 VIGOROUS CLUMPS OF PLANTS, MOST 1-2 DM IN
DIAMETER. IN EARLY FLOWER 14 JUNE 1995.

General site description:

SPANNING 0.3 MILE OF HABITAT ORIENTED IN A SINGLE BAND. STRAIGHT CREST
ALONG TOP OF LOW RIDGE IN THE BROAD, OPEN ERMONT GULCH FOOTHILLS
HABITAT. IN ARTEMISIA ARBUSCULA/AGROPYRON SPICATUM HABITAT TYPE. ALSO
ASSOCIATED WITH ARENARIA KINGII, POA SECUNDA, PENSTEMON ARIDUS, PHLOX
BRYOIDES. THE DRY SILTY HABITAT IS DISSECTED BY THE ERMONT GULCH ROAD.

Land owner/manager:

BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA

Comments :

SURVEYED BY B. HEIDEL. SITE HAS NUMEROUS CATTLE HOOF PRINTS BUT IS
UNPRODUCTIVE AND FAR ENOUGH FROM ROAD THAT IT IS STILL IN GOOD
CONDITION.

Information source: HEIDEL, BONNIE. [BOTANIST] MONTANA NATURAL

HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515 EAST SIXTH AVENUE, P.O. BOX
201800, HELENA, MT 59620-1800. WORK: 406/444-3009.

Specimens: HEIDEL, B. (1344). 1995. MONTU.

February G, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM

Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: STEPHANOMERIA SPINOSA
Common Name: SPINY SKELETONWEED

Global rank: G4 Forest Service status;
State rank: SI Federal Status:

Element occurrence code: PDAST8U0EO . 002
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

MOOSE CREEK

County: MADISON

USGS quadrangle: SQUAW CREEK

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
DIGS OOIE 16 N2

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

1933-07-14 Elevation: 6200
1933 Slope/aspect:

1933-07-14 Size (acres) : 0

Location :

NEAR GALLATIN FOREST. MOOSE CREEK CANYON COVER. EAST OF MADISON RIVER.

Element occurrence data:
I RARE.

General site description:

20% SOUTH SLOPE. IN DRY SITES.

Lf.id owner/manager:

STATE LAND - UNDESIGNATED

PRIVATELY OWNED LAND (INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE)

Comments :
NONE.

Information source: BOTANIST, MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515
EAST SIXTH AVENUE, HELENA, MT 59620-1800.

Specimens: WITHAM AND FRY (1440). 1933. SPECIMEN #480662 RM .

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: STEPHANOMERIA SPINOSA
Common Name: SPINY SKELETONWEED

Global rank: G4 Forest Service status:
State rank: SI Federal Status:

Element occurrence code: PDAST8U0E0 . 003
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name: MADISON BENCH

EO rank:
EO rank comments

County: MADISON

uses quadrangle: GRANITE MOUNTAIN

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
OlOS OOIE 06 S2

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

1990-07-
1990
1995-07-26

Elevation: 5660 - 5810
Slope/aspect: 0-3% / LEVEL-, WEST
Size (acres) : 10

Location:

FROM CAMERON, TAKE HWY . 287 SOUTH 14 MILES TO BLM RECREATION AREA.
CONTINUE SOUTH 0.25 MILE; SITE IS ON EAST SIDE OF HWY. JUST EAST OF

FENCE .

Element occurrence data:

1995: NEW WESTERN SUBPOPULATION WITH 11 PLANTS, 90 % IN EARLY BUD, 10%
VEGETATIVE. 1990: (EASTERN SUBPOPULATION) 11-50 PLANTS IN BUD. ONLY
SMALL AREA SURVEYED; FULL EXTENT OF OCCURRENCE IS UNKNOWN.

Ger jL-al site description:

DRY, OPEN CREST OF LOWER ALLUVIAL BENCH. SANDY, ROCKY LOAM. FESTUCA
IDAHOENSIS/STIPA COMATA COMMUNITY. ASSOCIATED SPECIES: POA SANDBERGII,
ARTEMISIA FRIGIDA, ASTRAGALUS ADSURGENS , A. TERMINALIS, SELAGINELLA
DENSA, ELYMUS SPICATUS, ANTENARIA MICROFHYLLA, BOUTELOUA GRACILIS,
SENECIO CANUS, ASTRAGALUS MISER.

Land owner/manager:

PRIVATELY OWNED LAND
BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT,

(INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE)
DILLON RESOURCE AREA

Comments :

RANGE CONDITION INDICATES LIGHT GRAZING. SITE SURVEY SUMMARY ON FILE
AT MTNHP.

Information source: LESICA, PETER. DIVISION OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES,
UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA, MISSOULA, MT 59812. PHONE
406/728-8740.

Specimens: LESICA, P. (5188). 1S90. MONTU.

VANTJERHORST, J. (5478). 1995. MONTU.

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: STEPHANOMERIA SPINOSA
Common Name: SPINY SKELETONWEED

Global rank: G4
State rank: SI

Forest Service status:
Federal Status:

Element occurrence code: PDAST8U0E0 . 005
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

MADISON RIVER

HIGH DENSITY DESPITE GRAZING, SUGGESTING THAT

SPECIES IS AN "INCREASER" HERE.

County: MADISON

USGS quadrangle: CAMERON

BUCKS NEST

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
008S OOIW 24 N2; 14 NE4

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

1995-09-01 Elevation: 5400 - 5420
1995-07-26 Slope/aspect: LEVEL
1995-09-01 Size (acres) : 200

Location:

MADISON RIVER, CA . 15 MILES SOUTH OF ENNIS ON US HWY 2f
SCATTERED ON ALLUVIAL BENCHES ON EAST SIDE OF RIVER.

PhP^^TS ARE

Element occurrence data:

200+ WIDELY SCATTERED PLANTS IN 2 SUBPOPULATIONS . 90% EARLY FLOWER BUD
IN JULY, LATE FLOWER AND FRUIT IN AUGUST, PRODUCING NEW FLOWERS
THROUGH FROST WITH SUFFICIENT RAINFALL.

General site description:

OPEN, DRY SANDY CRESTS AND BOTTOMS. COARSE ALLUVIUM PARENT MATERIAL,
SANDY ROCKY SOIL. STIPA COMATA/BOUTELOUA GRACILIS HABITAT TYPE.
ASSOCIATED SPECIES: ELYMUS SPICATUS, SELAGINELLA DENSA, ASTRAGALUS
TERMINALIS, OXYTROPIS SERICEA, CHRYSOPSIS VILLOSA, PARONYCHIA
SESSILIFLORA, I>]USINEON DIVARICATUM, PHLOX HOODII, ARTEMISIA FRIGIDA,
BROMUS TECTORUM.

Land owner/manager:

BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT,

DILLON RESOURCE AREA

Comments :

OBSERVED IN JULY BY J. VANDERHORST AND SURVEYED IN SEPTEMBER BY B.
HEIDEL. SITE NOT SURVEYED BEYOND CANAL OR BLM BOUNDARIES. SITE IS
HEAVILY GRAZED; OTHER SPECIES GROWING HERE ARE PROTECTED FROM GRAZING.

Information source:

VANDERHORST, J. [BOTANIST]
OGDEN, UTAH 84401.

1515 LAKE STREET,

Specimens: VANDERHORST, J. (5486). 1995. MONT.
HEIDEL, B. (1418). 1995. MONTU .

February S, 19 96

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

.Scientific Name: STEPHANOMERIA SPINOSA
Common Name: SPINY SKELETONWEED

Global rank: G4 Forest Service status:
State rank: SI Federal Status:

Element occurrence code: PDAST8U0E0 . 006
Element occurrence type :

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

MADISON RIVER

GOOD- FAIR POPULATION SIZE.

County: MADISON

USGS quadrangle: BUCKS NEST

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:

009S OOIW 23 NE4; 13 SE4SW4 ; 14 SE4 ; 24 SW4NW4

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

1995-08-31 Elevation: 5600 - 5720

1995-07-25 Slope/aspect: 0% / EAST

1995-08-31 Size (acres) :

Location:

CA. 1 MILE SOUTH OF ELM WEST MADISON RECREATION AREA CAMPGROUND, ON
ALLUVIAL BENCHES WEST OF MADISON RIVER.

Element occurrence data:

EXTENSIVE POPULATION IN VERY LOW DENSITY ON BOTH SIDES OF MADISON
RIVER VALLEY. IN EARLY BUD 2 5 JULY 1995 AND LATE FLOWERING 31 AUG
1995.

General site description:

ALLUVIAL BENCHES ALONG MADISON RIVER VALLEY COVERED BY DRY GRASSLAND
AND DOMINATED BY COMBINATIONS OF AGROPYRON SPICATUM, STIPA COMATA, AND
SELAGINELLA DENSA . OTHER ASSOCIATED SPECIES INCLUDE: CHRYSOPSIS
VILLOSA, KOELERIA MACRANTHA, GUTIERREZIA SAROTHRAE, ARTEMISIA FRIGIDA.

Land owner/manager:

BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA

Comments:

SURVEYED BY J. VAITOERHORST 25 JULY 1995 AND BY B. HEIDEL 31 AUG 1995.

Information source: HEIDEL, BONNIE. [BOTANIST] MONTANA NATURAL

HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515 EAST SIXTH AVENUE, P.O. BOX
201800, HELENA, MT 59620-1800. WORK: 406/444-3 009.

Specimens: VANDERHORST, J. (5471). 1995. MONT.

February 6, 1996 17

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: TARAXACUM ERIOPHORUM
Common Name: ROCKY MOUNTAIN DANDELION

Global rank: G4 Forest Service status:
State rank: SI Federal Status:

Element occurrence code: PDAST93 0G0 . 006
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

HENNEEERRY RIDGE

POSSIBLY GOOD POPULATION SIZE, BUT DEGRADED

HABITAT, REDUCED REPRODUCTION.

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: ELI SPRING

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
009S OllW 10 NE4; 3 SW4SE4

Precision: S

Survey date: 1995-06-15 Elevation: 6550 - 6580

First observation: 1995-06-15 Slope/aspect:

Last observation: 1995-06-15 Size (acres) : 5

Location:

CA. 18 MILES SOUTHWEST OF DILLON. OPEN MEADOWS ABOVE ELI SPRING.

Element occurrence data:

ESTIMATED OVER 1000 PLANTS, MOST IN ROSETTE FORM AND SIMILAR TO
IMMATURE CREPIS. IN FRUIT AND LATE ^'LOWERING 15 JXUnIE 1995.
ARTIFICIALLY DRY MICROHABITAT CONDITIONS MAY REDUCE FLOWERING, BUT
OPEN SOIL CONDITIONS PROMOTE RECRUITMENT.

General site description:

WET MEADOW AT HEADWATERS OF SPRING- FED STREAM IN ROLLING SAGEBRUSH
FOOTHILLS. LONG HISTORY OF LIVESTOCK GRAZING HAS PROMOTED FORMATION OF
HUMMOCKS 0.5 M HIGH WITH TOPS DOMINATED BY JUNCUS BALTICUS AND
MUHLENBERGIA RICHARDSONIS , AND INTERVENING TRENCHES DOMINATED BY CAREX
AQUATILIS AND C. NEERASCENSIS . THE SPECIES IS ON CRESTS OF HUMMOCKS
WITH HIERACIUM GRACILE, TRIFOLIUN LONGIPES, ANTENNARIA SPP., AND
CREPIS SPP.

Land owner/manager:

PRIVATELY OWNED LAND (INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE)

Comments :

HEAVILY TRAMPLED BY LIVESTOCK, FORMING LARGE HUMMOCKS.

Information source: HEIDEL, BONNIE. [BOTANIST] MONT;iJJA NATURAL

HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515 EAST SIXTH AVENUE, P.O. BOX
201800, HELENA, MT 59620-1800. WORK: 4 06/444-3009.

Specimens: HEIDEL, B. (1351). 1995. MONT.

February G, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: LESQUERELLA PULCHELLA
Common Name: BEAUTIFUL BLADDERPOD

Global rank: G2
State rank: S2

Forest Service status: SENSITIVE
Federal Status:

Element occurrence code: PDBRA1N2 50 . 003
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name: BANNACK

EG rank: A
EG rank comments:

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: BANNACK

Township : Range :
008S OllW

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

Section:

1994-06

-12

1992-06

-25

1995-06

-14

TRS comments:

SW4NW4, NW4SE4; 4 NWiSVA; 6 NE4SE4

Elevation: 6200 - 7000
Slope/aspect: 15-25% / WSW, SW, W
Size (acres) : 5

Location :

DIRECTLY NORTHEAST ABOVE BANNACK TOWNS ITE,
HANGMAN'S GULCH.

ON RIDGE COMPLEX EAST OF

Element occurrence data:

1995: OCCURRENCE EXPANDED ON ADJOINING RIDGE. ABSENT OR UNCOMMON ON
HARSH EXPOSED SETTINGS, RESTRICTED AND LOCALLY COMMON ON PART OF SIDE
RIDGE SET BACK FROM GRASSHOPPER CREEK VALLEY. WAIF INDIVIDUALS OCCUR
IN OPEN STREAM COURSE SPOTS. 1994: 1000+ PLANTS, 80% IN FRUIT, 20%
VEGETATIVE. IN THE DROUGHT YEAR OF 1992, ONLY 9 PLANTS COULD BE FOUND,
ALL IN LATE FRUIT 1992-06-25.

General site description:

LONG, STEEP, OPEN PRAIRIE SLOPE BELOW RIDGETOP, SHALLOW GRAVELLY CLAY
SOIL. ASSOCIATED SPECIES: CERCOCARPUS LEDIFOLIUS COMMUNITY. IN
AGROPYRON SPICATUM-ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA ASSOCIATION, WITH LINUM
LEWISII, HAPLOPAPPUS ACAULIS, ARTEMISIA FRIGIDA, ALLIUM TEXTILE, CAREX
ROSSII, MIMULUS SUKSDORFII, ARENARIA KINGII, LOMATIUM ATTENUATUM.
INCLUDES AREAS OF FROST HEAVE BUT NOT WITH BURROWING ACTIVITY.

Land owner/manager:

BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA

Comments :

OBSERVED IN 1995 BY B. HEIDEL.

Information source:

HEIDEL, BONNIE. [BOTANIST] MONTANA NATURAL
HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515 EAST SIXTH AVENUE, P.O. BOX
201800, HELENA, MT 59620-1800. WORK: 406/444-3 009.

Specimens: HEIDEL, B. (706). 1992.
VANDERHORST, J. (5186).

!REED ROLLINS.
1994. MONT.

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: LESQUERELLA PULCHELLA
Common Name: BEAUTIFUL BLADDERPOD

Global rank: G2
State rank: S2

Forest Service status:
Federal Status:

SENSITIVE

Element occurrence code:
Element occurrence type;

PDBRA1N2 50.006

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

BADGER PASS

LARGE POPULATION.

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: BANNACK

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:

007S OllW 27 NW4SE4, SW4NE4 ; 28 N2NE4

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

1992-08-05 Elevation: 6660 - 7200

1992-08-05 Slope/aspect: 5-25% / SOUTH, SE, WNW

1995-06-14 Size (acres) :

Location:

FROM HWy 2 78 AT BADGER PASS, TAKE UNPAVED MICROWAVE TOWER ROAD TO
UNDEVELOPED ROAD SOUTH AND SOUTHWEST CA. 3 MILES. TOTAL POPULATIONS
ARE LOCATED CA . 0.25 MILE TO THE SOUTHEAST, AND CA. 0.5 MILE TO THE
NORTHWEST.

Element occurrence data:

1995: OVER 5000 PLANTS IN A FAVORABLE YEAR AND WITH EXPANSION OF
OCCURRENCE BOUNDARIES OF THE LARGE SUBPOPULATION . IN FLOWER AND EARLY
FRUIT 14 JUNE 1995. LOCALLY OCCASIONAL TO COMMON IN LIMITED AREAS.
■■992: 500-1000 PLANTS; BUDDED AND ENTERING FLOWERING.

General site description:

TWO DISCRETE SETTINGS, WITH THE LARGE SU-BPOPULATION AT SOUTH POINT
OUTCROP OF PARTIALLY FORESTED RIDGE, ASSOCIATED WITH CERCOCARPUS
LEDIFOLIUS, HYMENOXYS ACAULIS, ERIGERON TWEEDYI AND AGROPYRON
SPICATUM. ALSO OCCURRING ON WEST- FACING UPPER SLOPE OF SAME RIDGE WITH
FESTUCA IDAHOENSIS, ARENARIA KINGII, DRABA OLIGOSANTHES . SMALLER
SUBPOPULATION IS ON OPEN MIDSLOPE OUTCROP IN BARRENS ZONE MAINLY ABOVE
CERCOCARPUS, WITH HYMENOXYS ACAULIS, GUTIERREZIA SAROTHRAE AND
ERIGERON TWEEDYI .

Land owner/manager:

BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA
PRIVATELY OWNED LAND (INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE)

Comments :

NEW DEPARTURE MINE ELSEWHERE ON THE RIDGE SIGNIFIES POTENTIAL THREAT.
THE IRON MASK MINE TO THE SOUTH IS AFFECTING SIMILAR HABITAT.

Information source:

HEIDEL, BONNIE. [BOTANIST] MONTANA NATURAL
HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515 EAST SIXTH AVENUE, P.O. BOX
201800, HELENA, MT 59620-1800. WORK: 406/444-3009.

Specimens :

HEIDEL,
HEIDEL,

(938) .
(1342)

1992. !REED ROLLINS.
1995.

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: LESQUERELLA PULCHELLA
Common Name: BEAUTIFUL BLADDERPOD

Global rank: G2 Forest Service status: SENSITIVE
State rank: S2 Federal Status:

Element occurrence code: PDBRA1N250 . 009
Element occurrence type:

Survey site name

EO rank

EO rank comments

ROCKY HILLS

LARGE, PRISTINE POPULATION.

County: BEAVERHEAD
USGS quadrangle: GRANT

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:
009S 012W 1 NE4

Precision

Survey date

First observation

Last observation

1994-06-29 Elevation: 7000 - 7320

1994-06-29 Slope/aspect: 20-30% / SW

1994-06-29 Size (acres) : 15

Location:

CA. 5 MILES NORTH OF GRANT ON GRAVEL ROAD CONNECTING HWY 91 TO BANNACK
STATE PARK; TURN EAST ON DIRT ROAD, PASS ROCKY WELL, FOLLOW ROUGH
4 -WHEEL DRIVE ROAD TO JUST BELOW RIDGETOP OF ROCKY HILLS.

Element occurrence data:

1000-10,000 PLANTS, 100% IN FRUIT. EVIDENCE OF FRUIT DISPERSAL.

General site description:

DRY, OPEN RESIDUAL UPPERSLOPE . LIMESTONE PARENT MATERIAL, GRAVELLY
CLAY SOIL. ASSOCIATED SPECIES: PINUS FLEXILUS, ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA,
CERCOCARPUS LEDIFOLIUS, ELYMUS SPICATUS, PENSTEMON ARIDUS, CASTILLEJA
PALLESCENS, SENECIO CANUS , HAPLOPAPPUS ACAULIS.

Land owne r /manage r :

ELM: BUTTE DISTRICT, DILLON RESOURCE AREA

Comments :

PRIMITIVE ROAD TO POPULATION.

Information source: VANDERHORST, J. [BOTANIST]. 1515 LAKE STREET,
OGDEN, UTAH 84401.

Specimens: VANDERHORST, J. (5209). 1994. MONT.

February 6, 1996

MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM
Element Occurrence Record

Scientific Name: LESQUERELLA PULCHELLA
Common Name: BEAUTIFUL BLADDERPOD

Global rank: G2
State rank: S2

Forest Service status:
Federal Status:

Element occurrence code;
Element occurrence type;

PDBRA1N2 50.010

Survey site name

EO rank

EG rank comments

ERMONT GULCH

LIMITED POPULATION AMD HABITAT SIZE.

County: BEAVERHEAD

USGS quadrangle: ERMONT

Township: Range: Section: TRS comments:

OOSS

OllW

SE4SE4; 35 SE4SW4

Precision

Survey date

^irst observation

Last observation

1995-06-14 Elevation: 6500 - 6800
1995-06-14 Slope/aspect: 5-20% / NNW
1995-06-14 Size (acres) : 1

Location:

CA. 14 MILES WNW OF DILLON. FROM DILLON, TAKE HWY 91 CA. 3.5 MILES
SOUTH TO BADGER PASS EXIT. GO CA. 6.5 MILES WEST TO ERMONT GULCH ROAD.
TAKE THIS ROAD CA . 7 MILES NORTHWEST. PRIMARY POPULATION IS SOUTH OF
I ROAD.

Element occurrence data:

OVER 100 PLANTS IN UPPER AND LOWERSLOPE POSITIONS, WITH ACCIDENTAL
SUBPOPULATION OF FEWER THAN 3 0 PLANTS ON ABANDONED ROAD. IN FLOWER 14
JUNE 1995.

General site description:

UPPER AND LOWERSLOPE POSITIONS OF SMALL NNW- FACING LIMESTONE OUTCROP
ASSOCIATED WITH LARGE IGNEOUS RIDGE. DOMINATED BY ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA
AND FESTUCA IDAHOENSIS, ASSOCIATED WITH DOUGLASIA MONTANA, HAPLOPAPPUS
ACAULIS, ERIGERON COMPOSITUS.

Land owner/manager:

BLM: BUTTE DISTRICT,

DILLON RESOURCE AREA

Comments :

SITE CURRENTLY PASTURED;
POSITION.

POSSIBLE TRAMPLING IMPACT AT LOWERSLOPE

Information source:

HEIDEL, BONNIE. [BOTANIST] MONTANA NATURAL
HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515 EAST SIXTH AVENUE, P.O. BOX
201800, HELENA, MT 59620-1800. WORK: 406/444-3009.

Specimens :

Appendix D. COLOR XEROXES OF SENSITIVE SPECIES AND THEIR HABITATS.

F. • ••*fm^A.e?m

! . >"

fe.

''^•',

.;v^"-^

- * •* t

■^■i^i

■oPQ

7. Astragalus tenninalis in flower

10. Kochia americana in fruit - Bio\vne"s Gulch

F-

#1-

15. Lomatium attenuatum haoiiai m semi-mesic midslopes dind Astragalus scaphoides habitat
in lower foreground - east of Bannack

16. Oryzopsis conU-acta expanded infloresence - north of Clark Canyon Reservior

22. Sphaeromeria argentea in flower - Emiont Gulch

-^m^S^P^

'/.

27. Taraxacum eriophroum in fruit - Eli Spring

• <

• (

Internet Archive Audio

Featured

Top

Images

Featured

Top

Software

Featured

Top

Books

Featured

Top

Video

Featured

Top

Mobile Apps

Browser Extensions

Archive-It Subscription

Save Page Now

Full text of "Sensitive plant species surveys, Butte District, Beaverhead and Madison Counties, Montana"

See other formats