Ueidelt Bonnie L 1*529 Sensitive oiant Ispac species survey* 96 Asbland District* Custer National Forest* Powder River and Rosebud I MONTANA STATE LIBRARY 3 0864 0010 1826 9 SENSITIVE PLANT SPECIES SURVEY ASHLAND DISTRICT, CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST POWDER RIVER AND ROSEBUD COUNTIES, MONTANA P I r By: Bonnie L. Heidel and HoIIis Marriott Montana Natural Heritage Program Montana State Library 1515 E. 6th Avenue Helena, MT 59620-1800 For: Custer National Forest P.O. Box 2556 Billings, MT 59103 rTATE DOCUMENTS COLLUCTICN Task Order No. 43-0355-5-0088 . 1987 HELENA. MONTANA 59620 April 1996 \R 9 2006 © 1996 Montana Natural Heritage Program This document should be cited as follows: Heidel, B. L. and H. Marriott. 1996. Sensitive plant species survey of the Ashland District, Custer National Forest, Powder River and Rosebud counties, MT. Unpublished report to the Custer National Forest. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena. 94 pp. plus appendices. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS We thank Cliff McCarthy, Custer National Forest, for support in all phases of the study. Ashland District coordination and logistical help of Mike Munoz, Ronald Hecker, Joyce Anderson, Fonda Red Wing, Scott Suidiner, and Ramah Brien is gratefully acknowledged. Indispensable Infonnation and comments were provided by David Schmoller independently conducting biological assessment field studies on the District. Shannon Kimball provided fieldwork assistance. Montana Natural Heritage Program data management assistance was provided by Margaret Beer, Debbie Dover, Cedron Jones and Katharine Jurist, with GIS map production by Cedron Jones and John Hinshaw. Taxonomic consultation and use of herbarium facilities for taxonomic reveiw were critical in this project, and gratitude is expressed to Ronald Hartman and the Rocky Mountain Herbarium at the University of Wyoming, Matt Lavin and John Rumely and the Montana State University Herbarium, Peter Stickney and the U.S. Forest Service Herbarium at the Missoula Resource Center, David Dyer and the University of Montana Herbarium, and Ralph Brooks, University of Kansas. Susan Rinehart and Mike Munoz provided comments on draft copies of this report. This work was contracted by Custer National Forest with Montana Natural Heritage Program. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY This study represents the resuUs of a sensitive plant species inventory conducted on the Ashland District of the Custer National Forest. Twelve target species known or reported from the District are addressed. Evidence is provided to support nomination o{ Carex gravida as sensitive and to name two species known from historical collections in the District {Amorpha canescens and Ceoanothus herbaceus) as watch. New infomiation and questions are also presented for the twelve species and their habitats. Foremost among concerns addressed is the heretofore unrecognized need for making distinctions between Astragalus barrii, a sensitive species, and A. hyalinus because the latter has now been documented from the District. Three previously-identified A. barrii population sites and four potential new A. barrii sites that werecompletely in vegetative condition need to be revisited during the flowering times of both species to make positive identifications. Two new additions to the state flora were documented, one of which has been provisionally added to the list of Montana Species of Special Concern {Evax prolifera). The other, Ipomopsis congesta var. pseudotypica, is locally widespread and under no immediate tlireats. The Montana distribution and status of the former is particularly intriguing because it seems to be highly disjunct from its more southern range in the Great Plains; likewise, it is not known from the Wyoming flora. The appropriate state status of tliree watch list species remains undetermined to date: Agastache foeniculum, Geum conadense, and Elatine americana. The first two are eastern deciduous forest species whose documented distribution outside the District in eastern Montana is under review. The latter is a minute aquatic plant known from few widely-scattered locations in the state that shows little response to disturbance. Forest Service T/E/S consideration for these species is not appropriate until such time as their state statuses have been resolved. The framework for conducting sensitive species surveys is based upon the assumption that targets can be set and that a systematic plan to survey for such targets can be developed at the onset. However, for many eastern Montana Species of Special Concern, it is not known whether the apparent species' rarity reflects actual distribution patterns or simply a general lack of botanical and vegetation information, so that identifying targets cannot be done much less systematically surveying for them. Many of the target species occupy localized features which have not been studied: successional habitats, wetlands and localized habitat conditions such as well-de\'eloped woodlands. Habitats of the latter two are particularly affected by surrounding land-use practices, so it is important to resolve these status questions. Promoting baseline floristic sur\-ey followed by rigorous extended sensitive species survey is presented as the approach for developing a meaningful and effective sensitive species program on the District. TABLE OF CONTENTS Page I. INTRODUCTION 1 II. STUDY AREA 2 III. METHODS 6 IV. RESULTS 8 State Species of Special Concern 1 . Amorpha canescens 11 2. Astragalus barrii 15 3. Carex gravida 29 4. Carex torreyi 36 5. Ceanothus herbaceus 44 6. Cypripedium calceolus wax. parviflorum 49 7. Dichanthelium oligosanthes var. scribnerianum 50 8. Mentzelia nuda 56 9. Sphenopholis obtusata var. major 57 State species of previously undetermined status 1 . Agastache foeniculum 59 2. Elatine americana 65 3. Evax prolifera 70 4. Geum canadense 77 5. Ipomopsis congesta var. pseudotypica 82 VI. DISCUSSION 90 VII. LITERATURE CITED 92 APPENDICES Appendix A - Preliminary list of sun'ey target species potentially occurring in Powder River and Rosebud counties. Appendix B - Ashland District areas surveyed for sensitive plant species. Appendix C - Element occurrence records and maps of species of special concern on the Ashland District. Appendix D- Preliminary list of vascular plants on the Ashland District. Appendix E - Color xeroxes of sensitive species and their habitats. TABLES AND FIGURES Table 1. Target species documented in the Ashland District 9 Table 2. Summary of characters for Astragalus barhi, A. hyalinus, and a small-flowered population oiA. hyalinus found in the study area 21 Figure 1 . Ashland District study area 3 Figure 2. Annual climate means at Ashland, MT 2 Figure 3. Rare plant species on the Ashland District 10 Figure 4. Amorpha canescens illustration 13 Figure 5. Amorpha canescens distribution 14 Figure 6. Astragalus barrii illustration 17 Figure 7. Astragalus barrii distribution 18 Figure 8. Carex gravida illustration 30 Figure 9. Carex gravida distribution 31 Figure 10. Carex torreyi illustration 38 Figure 1 1 . Carex torreyi distribution 39 Figure 12. Ceanothus herbaceus illustration 45 Figure 13. Ceanothus herbaceus distribution 46 Figure 14. Dichanthelium oUgosanthes var. scribnerianum illustration 51 Figure 15. Dichanthelium oUgosanthes var. scribnerianum distribution 52 Figure 16. Sphenopholis obtusata var. major illustration 57 Figure 17. Agastache foeniculum illustration 61 Figure 18. Agastache foeniculum distribution 62 Figure 1 9. Elatine americana illustration 66 Figure 20. Elatine americana distribution 67 Figure 21. Evax prolifera illustration 72 Figure 22. Evax prolifera xerox of specimen 73 Figure 23. Evax prolifera distribution 74 Figure 24. Geum canadense illustration 78 Figure 25. Geum canadense distribution 79 Figure 26. Ipomopsis congesta \ai. pseudotypica xerox of specimen 84 Figure 27. Ipomopsis congesta vai. pseudotypica distribution 85 INTRODUCTION Systematic sensitive plant species sun'eys were conducted on the Ashland District of the Custer National Forest in Powder River and Rosebud counties. The primary purpose was to lay the foundation for a District sensitive species baseline by surveying habitats of known and suspected sensitive and potentially sensitive species. The intentions of sensitive species sur\eys are to document the full complement of sensitive species in the study area and collect the field information needed to determine their status. It does not represent exhaustive documentation of all sensitive plant locations, though it serves to identify conservation priorities and to integrate the practices and benefits of sensitive species management in agency planning and operations (Reel et al. 1989). However, few botanical studies have been conducted in eastern Montana. Target species and habitat for the 1995 study were selected based on existing knowledge as represented in the statewide compendium of rare plant information developed by the Montana Natural Heritage Program from secondary sources and from field studies. Previously overlooked secondary source data in herbaria and plant specimens on file at the District were investigated after the fieldwork. The incompleteness of secondary source review and the absence of other floristic baseline data meant that there was an incomplete floristic framework for conducting systematic surs'eys that we have now begun to fill. This study represents a first step at investigating all sensitive and potentially sensitive plant species on the District. Much additional work is needed, including general floristic inventory and subsequent sensitive species surveys. STUDY AREA Custer National Forest - Ashland District is located on the most rugged breaks and ridges between the Powder and Tongue River valleys, 5 miles east of Ashland and 42 miles west of Broadus, in Rosebud and Powder River counties. Its outline has an irregular "J" shape which curves inward along Otter Creek, extending about 41 miles north-south and up to 3 1 miles east- west (Figure 1). The highly-dissected terrain drains in all directions, with the largest watercourses feeding into the Tongue River. Rolling uplands are broken by complex ridge systems, with particularly well-developed badlands topography at the southeast and west areas. The surface geology throughout is composed solely of the Tongue River Member of the Fort Union Formation, which consists of shallow marine sedimentary deposits from the Cretaceous and Tertiary Periods. Despite the uniform historical geology, the topography and stratigraphy are decidedly heterogeneous. The highly-dissected terrain is carved by water erosion. The horizontally-bedded outcrops include soft sandstones, silty sandstones, clayey shales and lignite. Areas with burnt lignite have baked and oxidized adjacent beds to produce brittle, erosion-resistant porcelainite (Warren 1959). The nearest long-term weather station is in Broadus (3030 ft.), with monitoring also maintained at Ashland (as cited in Hansen and Hoffman 1987). Both have semi-arid continental climates. The mean annual precipitation is 13 inches at Ashland and 14 inches at Broadus. The mean annual temperature is 44.7° F., with a January mean of 18.2° F., and a July mean of 71.2° F. The mean maximum temperature for July was 30.6° C (87.0° F), while the mean minimum for January was -15.8 ° C (3.6° F). (U.S. Department of Commerce 1982). The year-round pattern of temperatures and precipitation at Ashland are depicted on below. Topography of the District intercepts precipitation and influences weather patterns. This climate is more distinguished by its extremes rather than its means. The broken terrain also divides the landscape into an array of microhabitats, each with its own microclimate. Figure 2. Average monthly temperature and precipitation at Ashland, MX. From Hansen and Hoffman, 1988. Ashland District Study Area X i V 1 j ^-y? ^^'...^^.^^ > T 5" i \ . ^"^'^"^"'"-^^ ■ J -V ' ' ^^^'"**^=^^ > /^^°'*— «>j^^ '^ ( ^^^^^ The prevailing vegetation is an upland grassland, or steppe. Pine woodlands are confined to broken topography and are most extensive on the more sheltered slopes. Large upland areas are dominated by Rocky Mountain juniper in the southern end of the District. The best developed stands of the most mesophytic forest types found in the study area occur on the north side of the high east-west-trending divide in the northern part of the District between the East Fork Otter Creek and Beaver Creek; ponderosa pine dominates, with a variety of hardwoods in the draws (including small stands of Populus tremuloides, which is rare on the District). The most fertile, mesic lands in the vicinity are mostly privately owned; particularly the major drainage bottoms have a history of farming or intensive grazing. Large areas of exposed ridges, buttes, and badlands are sparsely vegetated with successional plant associations or topoedaphic climaxes that have not yet been studied. Plant associations that have been sampled to date on the District are: Agropyron spicatum/Bouteloua curtipendula Agropyron spicatum/Carex filifolia Andropogon scoparius/Carex filifolia Artemisia cana/Agropyron smithii Artemisia tridentata/Agropyron smithii Artemisia tridentata/Agropyron spicatum Festuca idahoensis/Carex heliophila Fraxinus pennsylvanica/Primus virginiana Juniperns scopulornm/Agropyron spicatum Finns ponderosa/Agropyron spicatum Pinus ponderosa/Carex heliophila Finns ponderosa/Festuca idahoensis Finns ponderosa/Frnnus virginiana Rhus aromatica/ Ag}-opyron spicatum Rhus aromatica/Festuca idahoensis Sarcobatus vermiculatns/Agropyron smithii Sarcobatus vermiculatns/Agropyron spicatum Stipa comata/Carex heliophila These are provisionally treated as climax habitat types (Hansen and Hoffman 1988). The set is not considered complete for the District (DiBenedetto pers. comm.), and does not flilly represent the wetland habitats or successional phases among the habitats occupied by the target species. This area has a history of recurrent wildfires, and some of the areas surveyed had burned in 1993 wildfires. Prescribed burning is also being used on the District as a management tool. The Ashland District has an admixture of the Great Plains flora combined with the Rocky Mountain flora, as is expressed in the Black Hills. There are also eastern deciduous forest species and widely distributed native species of unknown affinity, as well as exotic species and trace amounts of Great Basin, boreal, and other floristic affinity groups. Vegetation studies involving ecodata sampling have been done on the District, and the composite species lists from the plots contribute to the tlora (Hansen and Hoffman 1987), as does a preliminary vascular species list compiled in studying big game carrying capacity on the District (Taylor no date). The only other floristic references on hand for this study are based on incomplete distribution information presented in Booth (1966, 1959) and a floristic checklist for Rosebud County (anon, no date). The primary focus of these efforts has been in documenting the common species rather than the entire flora across the array of habitats. Only one species tracked by Montana Natural Heritage Program was known from the District prior to this study. Astragalus barri. The CCC made 126 collections in the District in the 1930s that are on file at the District Office, in five volumes under the heading "A Book of Important Range Plants." Among this set was a specimen of Carex gravida, a Montana Plant Species of Special Concern which was relocated at or near the original collection area during this study. The YCC set of collections was not fully available for re\'iew until after the fieldwork, and review of its list of specimens raised many important questions that are to be pursued in fieldwork and taxonomic consultation. The list includes tliree more rare species that are tracked by Montana Natural Heritage Program and not previously known from the District. Among these three, it is highly unlikely that the Aqidlegia formosa specimen is correctly identified based on its known range and habitat requirements. Review of all three specimens is recommended, including: Aqidlegia formosa Cypripedium calceolus var. parviflorum Mentzelia mtda Three of the taxa are potential new additions to the state flora. The Elymus ambigitus has been reported before in the state (Hitchcock 1973) but there are no known specimens as vouchers (Dom 1984). Verificafion of all tliree is recommended. They include: Aster porteri Elyhordeum x moiitanse Elymus ambiguus Five more species collections are labeled with names that have no published synonymy in Kartesz (1994). They, too, warrant review and verification by taxonomic researchers. Anaphalis subalpina Astragalus hylophilus Lupinus pseudoparvi/Iorus Solidago concinna Tradescantia larimiensis METHODS Prior to fieldwork, the Biological Conservation Database (BCD) maintained by the Montana Natural Heritage Program was queried for records of U.S. Forest Service - Northern Region sensitive species (USDA Forest Ser\'ice 1994) known from the study area or from immediately adjoining areas. All knowTi records of Barr's milkvetch {Astragalus barrii), the only current sensitive species on the District, were retrieved. The U.S. Forest Service Regional list of sensitive species was developed based on the best available botanical information at the time, which was limited in the case of the Ashland District. Therefore, species on the Montana Species of Special Concern list were also considered in the event that they could warrant consideration for sensitive designation (Appendix A). Because of the limited botanical work in this area, species of undetermined status which appeared to warrant consideration for addition to the Montana list were also considered. Custer National Forest lands in the Ashland District were surs'eyed for sensitive plants in the summer of 1995 by Hollis Marriott (May 22-31, June 11-27) and by Bonnie Heidel (July 3-13) with the field assistance of Shannon Kimball in the latter period. Fieldwork conducted by Marriott concentrated on potential habitat for Astragalus barrii and its semi-xeric to xeric habitat, focussing especially upon early successional outcrops. Other habitat types were sur\'eyed in the course of traversing the landscape between primary habitats. Sites were chosen throughout the District, with the exception of the higher elevations and northerly slopes of the divide north of the East Fork of Otter Creek. Towards the end of June, sur\'ey of mesic sites was added as a priority. This proved to be somewhat early for many species of interest, due to the unseasonably cool wet weather of 1995. Later fieldwork focused on woodland and wetland habitats, with concerted efforts to relocate the Carex gravida historic collection site and resolve the taxonomic questions associated with Sphenopholis obtusata var. major. The fieldwork coverage is listed by quad map in Appendix B, along with maps of the general routes. 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. Efforts were made to visit most 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 were mapped onto U.S. Geological Survey topographic maps (7.5'). Data collected included detailed information on vegetation, slope, aspect, soil, size of population, species biology, and management considerations. Photographs were taken of target species and of their habitats on color transparencies (35 mm slides), which are submitted with this report. Voucher specimens of the target species were collected so that there was at least one voucher per county when adequate material was available, in keeping with the Montana Native Plant Society collecting guidelines (1993). For target species with small populations, fragments of the plant were collected for vouchers whenever possible. For tentative identification or for unknown species, collections were made and identifications finalized at the Rocky Mountain Herbarium, University of Wyoming (Laramie), or at Montana herbaria (Montana State University, and University of Montana). Collections were also made of species for which the sighting represented a significant range extension based on distribution information in Dorn (1984). All specimens collected are deposited at Montana State University (MONT), with duplicates at the University of Montana (MONTU) and the U.S. Forest Service Regional Missoula Resource Center Herbarium (MRC). All vascular plants encountered at the appropriate mature phenological stage were identified to species so as to consider prospective sensitive species not included in the original target list and also to compile a preliminary flora for the District. Technical references most commonly used to key out plants were Dorn (1984, 1992), and Hitchcock and Cronquist (1973). Nomenclature used in this report generally follows these references. Taxonomic consultations were made for specimens of Astragalus spp. with Matt Lavin, Montana State University, for SphenophoUs spp. with John Rumely, Montana State University, and for Juncits spp. with Ralph Brooks, University of Kansas in select cases. Review and verification of specimens in the District CCC collection of important range plants is in progress. Even though we are still waiting results from this review, we have included information on two of the eleven species that are least likely to be misidentified, and which represent species currently tracked by the Montana Natural Heritage Inventory. . RESULTS Throughout the course of this project, 50 additional records of 9 target species were located (Table 1). Expansion of some previous Astragalus barrii occurrences was also revealed. An overview of kno\vn sensitive species distribution in the study areas and surroundings is presented in Figure 3, with the local and statewide distributions of individual species elaborated on maps that accompany the text for each species. This report also incorporates background infomiation on five state plant Species of Special Concern which were not found: Amorpha canescens, which was collected at a Forest Ser\'ice ranger station in 1922 at what is belie\'ed to have been on the Ashland District (see text for more information), Ceajwthus herbaceus, which is known in Montana only from one historic collection on the District near Bloom Creek (not relocated), Cypripedium calceolus var. parviJJorum, which is among the historic plant collections on file at the District Office, Mentzelia nuda, also among the historic plant collections on file at the District Office, and Sphenopholis obtusata var. major, which due to changes in nomenclature has been mistakenly applied to Sphenopholis intermedia that is present on the District. Results are presented for each species in a status report format that presents both District and statewide information. It includes status information, description, distribution, habitat. Population biology, population ecology, land owoiership, and overall assessment with management recommendations. This represents an expansion and update of infonnation from Lesica and Shelly (1991), and from other status reports, monographs, and other projects as revised through this field study. This survey has also documented a preliminary vascular flora of 443 vascular plant taxa, in 65 families (Appendix D.) The flora of eastern Montana is poorly known, and this preliminary District flora is much larger than the preliminary flora compiled for all of Rosebud County (Anon. No date). Although the study was far from thorough as a floristic baseline, many new records for southeast Montana were located based on comparing the preliminary District flora with the distribution information presented in Dom (1984). Table 1 . Target Species Dncumented in the AshlanH ni<;tric.t SCIENTIFIC NAME TOTAL #0F EOs ORIGINAL G/S Ri\NK REVISED SRANK CURRENT USES STATUS RECOMM. USES STATUS Agastache foeniculum 4 G4G5 SU SU - - {Amorpha canescensy (H) G5S1 SH - Watch Astragalus 8(7) G3S3 S3 Sensitive Sensitive Car ex gravida 2 G5S1 SI - Sensitive Carex torreyi 16 G4S1 S3 - - (Ceanothus herbaceus) 1 G?T?S1 SH Watch (Cypripedium calceolus \ax. parviflorum) 1 G5QS2S3 S2S3 Sensitive Sensitive Dichanthelium oligosanthes var. scribnerianujn 3 G5T5S1 SI " " Elatine americana 1 G4SU SU - Evax prolifera I G5SI SI - - Geum canadense 2 G5SU SU - Watch Ipomopsis congesta var. pseudotypica 15 G4T? S3 - - (Mentzelia nuda) 1 G5S1 SI - - Sphenopholis obtusata var. major 0(6) G5T5 S2 SI - ? 'Species in parentheses were not found during this study, but are known or suspected to occur in the Ashland District. Rare Plant Species on the Ashland District T T ^ ▼ if ▼ j — ▼ i 1 ▼ i i 1 ▼ T ^ t" ▼ '' ^ , . ▼ i " ▼ T - ^ ▼ ▼ Species locations from the Montana Natural Heritage Program, March 13, 1996 Amorpha canescens Pursh LEADPLANT Fabaceae 1. FEDERAL STATUS a. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE: None. b. U.S. FOREST SERVICE: None. 2. STATE: G5 SI (status undetennined). This study provides basis for changing the rank to "SH" (known in the state only from historic records). B. DESCRIPTION 1. GENERAL NONTECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Lead plant is a shrub with few to several, erect or ascending, simple or sparingly branched stems, 3- 8 dm (1-2 ft.) high (Figure 4). In marginal sites, the plant may die back to near the base each year. The alternate leaves have a short petiole and 27-41 narrowly elliptic leaflets, 8-15 mm (ca. 0.5 in.) long. Foliage is covered with very dense, short white hairs, giving the plant a hoary appearance. The bright violet flowers are borne in dense spike-like inflorescences, 7-15 cm (3-6 in.) long, arising on long stems from the leaf axils. Each small flower has a single petal longer than the densely hairy calyx that is ca. 2 mm long. There are 10 stamens exerted beyond the petal, with a conspicuous orange color that contrasts with the violet petal color. The glandular, hairy fruits are 4 mm long and egg-shaped with a long beak. 2. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Erect or ascendent shrub, often rhizomatous, 3-8 dm tall; stems 1 -several, often branched, usually tomentose but becoming glabrate. Leaves alternate, odd-pinnate; leaflets 13-20 pairs plus 1 ; leaflet blades ovate-oblong, oblong-elliptic, or rarely ovate, usually canescent, marginally entire or slightly revolute, apex obtuse to broadly rounded or emarginate with a slender brownish mucro, basally obtuse or rounded; petioles 0.5-3 mm long, densely pubescent; stipules inconspicuous, caducous, 1-3.5 mm long, pustular glands absent; petiolules 0.5-1 rrmi long, stipules acicular. Inflorescence of several racemes in axils of upper leaves and forming a compound cluster, mostly 3-30 or more in number; racemes densely flowered, turbinate, ca. 2 mm long, densely pubescent, hairs somewhat obscuring resinous glands, lobes 5, triangular lanceolate; petal I, bright violet, broadly obcordate, with a slender claw, incurved and enclosing stamens and pistil; stamens 10, lower 2 mm of filaments united into a tube; ovary ca. 1 mm long, densely pilose, style 4-6 mm long, densely antrorse pubescent. Legume 11 3.5-4 nim long, ca. 2 mm wide, with a stipelike base of style; seeds 2-2.8 mm long, 1-1.4 mm wide, olive-brown, smooth. Leaves odd-pinnate, alternate, sessile, or petiolate; stipules setaceous, caducous; leaflets entire to rarely crenulate, glandular-punctate or punctate, petiolate, stipulate on upper side. Inflorescences a stipelike terminal raceme or racemes clustered and appearing paniculate. Flowers pedicellate from axil of a caducous bract; calyx obconic, persistent, 5-Iobed; corolla reduced to a single petal which is erect, clawed, obovate, purple, and wTapped around stamens and style; stamens 10, monadelphous at ver>' base, distinct above, exserted. Fruit a 1 -seeded, indehiscent pod, gland-dotted (Great Plains Flora Association 1986). 3. LOCAL FIELD CHARACTERS: Leadplant might be confused with members of the Dalea and Psoralea genera, but these plants are not truly slirubs, and they have lea\'es with conspicuous resin-like glands. C. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 1. GLOBAL RANGE: Great Plains, east to Indiana, south to Texas, and west to Manitoba, Wyoming, and New Mexico. 2. STATE DISTRIBUTION: This species is known in Montana from two collections: a 1948 collection in the area of Albion in Carter County, and a 1922 collection from a Forest Service ranger station. No other locality information was provided with the latter, but elevation was listed as "3000 ft." and aspect as "NW." Only the Ashland District in Powder River county has ranger stations close to this low elevation in Montana, so it can only be conjectured that the Ashland District harbored the species. 3. STUDY AREA DISTRIBUTION: The District ranger station with the closest elevation is the Ashland Ranger Station where the District Office is headquartered at 2920-3040 feet. The Twenty Mile Ranger Station is at 3,150 feet and the Fort Howe Ranger Station is at 3,350 ft. The hypothesis that this species occurs at the District Office was not developed before the field season, so survey work was not conducted at the Ashland Ranger Station. No detailed information is available for the species on the following subjects as pertinent to the District or to the state distribution as a whole: D. HABITAT E. POPULATION BIOLOGY AND DEMOGRAPHY F. POPULATION ECOLOGY G. LAND OWNERSHIP (MONTANA) 12 is, 1/ ^^^^ f^- XI x'a; A. canescens Gleason, 1958 13 Amorpha canescens on or near the Ashland Ranger District, Montana Species locations from the Montana Natural Heritage Program, April 1 7, 1 996 H. ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: The collection label information indicated that the species was heavily browsed by horses and cattle. This species is variously described as an increaser or decreaser elsewhere in its range, depending on range site and location. SUMMARY: Leadplant is a distinctive range plant which apparently acts as a decreaser in the Ashland District setting and which should be added to the watch list. Astragalus barrii Barneby BARR'S MILKVETCH Fabaceae The following text represents an update to the species' status report prepared for the Custer National Forest (Schassberger 1990). It focuses on information which has been expanded or revised from the previous work in the course of this study. A. PRESENT LEGAL OR OTHER FORMAL STATUS L FEDERAL STATUS a. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE: Category 3C (USDI Fish And Wildlife Ser\'ice 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 threat." b. U.S. FOREST SERVICE: Sensitive (Forest Service 1995). 2. STATE: G3 S3 (imperiled or \ailnerable in the state). With fewer than 100 occurrences, the species would typically be considered "imperiled;" however, almost half of its 30 knowTi occurrences are on national forest lands, where it is recognized as "sensitive," and where habitat threats are limited. B. DESCRIPTION: Information on local field characters has been augmented to differentiate between Astragalus barrii and A. hyalinus; the latter is newly documented fi-om the study area. Nontechnical and technical descriptions are reprinted for reference from Schassberger (1990). L GENERAL NONTECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Astragalus barrii forms dense mats (cushions), which rarely exceed 10.2 cm (4 in.) in height (Figure 5; Appendix E-1). Prostrate woody stems give rise to numerous leaves, each made up of 3 narrowly elliptic leaflets that are 1-4 cm (3/8-1 Vi in) long. Both 15 the stems and lea\'es of A. barrii are densely covered with short, white hairs. Iridescent bluish-purple to pinkish-purple flowers arise on short stalks throughout the mats on narrow, open, few-flowered inflorescences. The petals are 7-17 mm long. The calyx is 3-5 mm long and densely covered with long, white hairs. The sparsely white-hairy pod is narrowly elliptical, 4-8 mm long, and 1-2 mm wide. In Montana, this species blooms from late April to mid- June and later forms narrow, egg-shaped, one- to few-seeded pods (adapted from Reel et al. 1989). 2. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Perennial, low cushion forming plant, up to 1.5 dm (4.5 dm) in diameter, with stems reduced to leafy crowns that arise from a closely forking suffruticulose caudex; herbage silver>'-strigose with dolabriform hairs up to 1.4 mm long; stipules 4-8 mm long, glabrous dorsally; leaves 1-4 cm long, the 3 leaflets linear-oblanceolate, oblanceolate or elliptic-ovate, acute or acutish, 3-12 mm long; peduncles slender, 7-16 mm long and shorter than the leaves; raceme loose, (1) 2-4 flowered, with the fruiting axis up to 5-15 mm long; calyx (4.6) 5.5-7.1 mm long, the deeply campanulate or subcylindric tube 3.6-5.1 mm long, the teeth (1.2) 1.5-2.4 mm long; petals pink-purple, the obovate-cuneate or broadly oblanceolate banner (9.6) 10.5-16.7 mm long; wings 9.1-13.5 mm long, the claws 4.1-5.5 mm; anthers (0.45) 0.5-0.7 mm long; pod narrowly lance-ellipsoid, 4.5-6.5 mm long, 1.2-1.8 mm in diameter just above the rounded base and tapering into a slightly incurved lance-subulate beak about as long as the fertile portion, obscurely triquetrous in the lower half, somewhat flattened dorsally, the valves papery, silvery-strigulose; ovules (7) 9-11; seeds (often only one maturing) oblong, scarcely compressed, dull purplish-green, smooth but not lustrous, ca. 2 mm long (adapted from Bameby 1956). 3. LOCAL FIELD CHARACTERS: Specimens of ^. barrii can only be determined with certainty from other species of Astragalus that have compound lea\'es with 3 leaflets and mat forming habit when in flower. Vegetatively, Astragalus barrii is similar to A. gilviflorus, A. hyalinus, A. sericoleucus, and A. aretioides, and they overlap somewhat in their geographic distributions. In the field, A. barrii is distinctive for its small, iridescent, bluish-purple to bluish-pink flowers. Astragalus sericoleucus has pink-purple flowers with a paler horizontal band, but the flowers are about one-half the size of A. barrii flowers. It is not known from the Ashland District area, though occurs nearby in Big Horn County. The field characteristics of A. barrii are most similar to A. aretioides; however, the latter has smaller flowers and is more densely mat-forming. It is not known from the Ashland District, and is found at higher elevations in the Pryor Mountains of Carbon County, Montana. 16 ASTRAGALUS BARRII 17 ASTRAGALUS BARRII on or near the Ashland Ranger District, Montana V Species locations from the Montana Natural Heritage Program, March 04, 1996 Astragalus gilviflorus has large cream to yellowish flowers, sometimes with purple etching. It is found tliroughout the Ashland District and much of Montana. A. hyalinus has cream to whitish flowers that are typically larger than those of A. barrii. The petals are quite hairy on their backs (can be seen with a hand lens). It was first discovered in the state in 1976 and had been tracked as a State Species of Special Concern, known only from the Prj'or Mountains. Documentation of its abundance in the Pryor Mountains (Lesica and Achuff 1992) provided the basis for taking it off of the state list. It had not been recorded from the Ashland District until the time of this study, when it was documented by David Schmoller, Biological Technician with the Ashland District, and verified by Matt Lavin, Montana State University (MONT). Because the Astragalus barrii survey was targeted for early in the season, while A. hyalinus flowered later in the season, we cannot be certain of the identification of populations containing only vegetative material. This is detailed in the study area distribution discussion (below). An unusual population of white-flowered milkvetch was found in the study area. The flowers were within the size range of ^. barrii, but were white and strigose dorsally and the banner petals had purple veins (Appendix E-2). In A. hyalinus, the petals are cream with purplish tips, with no mention of veins (Great Plains Flora Association 1986). However, populations are occasionally found with veins on the banners (Matt Lavin, Montana State University, pers. comm.). A summary of species characteristics is presented in Table 2. The small-flowered population was characterized as being A. hyalinus by Dr. Lavin, who noted that small-flowered populations oiA. hyalinus are occasionally found. This size dimorphism may be attributable to moisture availability. David Schmoller later found several populations of A. hyalinus with normal sized flowers. In the study area, Astragalus hyalinus can be very similar in growth habit to A. barrii, at least when it occurs in the habitat to which A.barrii is restricted. Six populations in vegetative condition that were tentatively identified as A. barrii during this study and in earlier surveys were subsequently determined to be A. hyalinus by Schmoller (pers. comm..), who found them in flower (whether these populations had small or normal sized flowers is not known). With the documented presence of A. hyalinus in Badlands segments of the study area, reliable identification should only be made with flowering material (Matt Lavin, Montana State University, pers. comm..). Fruiting material may not be reliable because A. hyalinus can have short peduncles though it typically has none (Great Plains Flora Association 1986), and vegetative growth may obscure peduncles in A. barrii (Marriott pers. obs.). 19 Four populations were found only in vegetative condition during this study in A. barrii habitat. Visits to these sites during the flowering season are needed. Bart's milkvetch is known to bloom early, from April into June. The phenology of A. hyalinus in the study area is not as well understood. Although thought to be an early-season species, populations that were strictly vegetative in the first half of June were flowering in early July (Schmoller pers. comm.). The small-flowered population was in early flower on June 2 1 . The unusually wet and cool season may explain the delayed flowering of .4. hyalinus. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 1. GLOBAL RANGE: A regional endemic, A. barrii is known from southeastern Montana, southwestern South Dakota, and northeastern Wyoming. 2. STATE RANGE: In Montana, A. barrii is currently known from 29 occurrences in Powder River (18), Bighorn (3), and Rosebud (7) counties (Figure 6). In addition, there is one historical record from Carter County that has never been relocated. There are also 7 Powder River County sites that are not included in the tallies because they are held in question. 3. STUDY AREA DISTRIBUTION: The 1 5 kno\\Ti sites are depicted in Figure 6, including 2 new records of ^. barrii documented during this study. The presence of A. hyalinus in the study area provides basis to question all previous determinations based on plants in vegetative condition, due to the similarity of the two species during this stage. Information on three previously recorded populations in \'egetative condition and four new records in vegetative condition remain in the database. These seven records are not included in the tally of 15 sites mentioned above, though they are shown on the Figure 6 distribution map and included among the printouts (Appendix C). They require revisits to make definitive distinction between A. barrii and A. hyalinus. Study area distribution of the eight known population sites is centered around the Otter Creek drainage. The seven additional occurrences whicli warrant confirmation represent extensions northward and southward, and are important in understanding District distribution. Survey was not conducted outside of the Ashland District, though there is potential habitat on lands south of Ashland on the east side of the Tongue River and southwest of Ashland on the west side of the Tongue River (on the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation). 20 ^ £^ 3 tl 3 r-^ ni o a. Q c/5 o ^ c 3 £^ £J g f? •" '-3 ^ 3 Ti 3"i ^ •T 5 S5 3 (D O on 3 0_ ET En 5 O On -J 0 ^ -a ^ i>j ^ 0 2 c 0 Ln uj Q ■3 V to 5" 0 3 3 3 3 1 0 *<" 0 ST a" i to] "a c 2. 3 0\ 3 3 3 3 1 0 3 3 ^. 3 _^ ^ <_ 1 ^ y\ 3 2. 0 cp 0" to ■^ 0 3 S' i>j --J 00 n 3 3 3 3 0 1 3" 8 3 ^. •3, "5' 3 3 3 3 0 3 3 eg. 3 CO ir. 00 13 ^ ^ L/< 3 0 0 3 3 to' s. C 0 p 3 0 3 n 0 A 2. ?- 3 0 3 ^ 3 00 *<" ^ 1. 3. 1' Vegetative material at four locations was unable to be definitively identified as A. barrii. Because these sites are remote from the known populations, confirming their identity is necessary for understanding species distribution on the District. Tliree populations previously identified as A. barrii based on vegetative material need clarification in light of the A. hyalinus discovery. The seven undetemiined sites follow: Bloom Creek in Pow^der River County (034) Drop Tube Reservoir of Powder River County (033) Lyon Creek Ridge of Powder River County (014) North Bloom Creek in Powder River County (032) NW Buttress in Powder River County (017) Wilbur Creek in Powder River County (036) Sheep Well Road in Powder River County (020) Seven additional prospective populations were noted in vegetative condition and later visited by David Sclinioller who found flowering A. hyalinus: Camps Pass in Powder River County East Fork Drainage in Powder River County Erickson Spring in Powder River County O'Dell Creek in Rosebud County Slough Grass Reservoir South Fork of Poker Jim Creek in Rosebud County Tenmile Creek in Powder River County (with aberrant A. hyalinus) D. HABITAT - The following text is elaborated from Schassberger (1990). 1. ASSOCIATED VEGETATION: A \try s^arszcovQX of Pinus ponder osa (ponderosa pine) oxJuniperus scopulorum (Rocky Mountain juniper) is found at some locations, but often only a sparse shrub cover of Artemisia tridentata (big sagebrush) and/or Atriplex confertifolia (shadscale) is present. Vegetative cover of grasses and forbs at these sites is low, with few dominant species (Appendix E-3). All but one of the sites in southeastern Montana occur in the Clayey and Shallow Clay Range Site Association (Ross and Hunter 1976). This association is described as occurring in the 10-14 inch precipitation zone with dominants western and thickspike wheatgrass, green needlegrass, little bluestem, bluebunch wheatgrass, prairie junegrass, native legumes, big sagebrush, Nuttall saltbush, and winterfat. In the Custer National Forest, associated species are: 22 Agropyrou spicatum (bluebunch wheatgrass) Allium textile (textile onion) Andropogon scoparius (little bluestem) Artemisia frigida (fringed sagewort) Artemisia tridentata (big sagebrush) Astragalus gilvijlorus (tlireeleaved milkvetch) Astragalus spathulatus (tufted milkvetch) Atriplex confertifolia (shadscale) Bouteloua gracilis (blue grama) Calamovilfa longifolia (prairie sandgrass) Chrysothamnus nauseosus (common rabbit-brush) Comandra umbellata (bastard toad-flax) Cryptantha celosioides (northern cryptantha) Eriogonum pauciflorum (few flowered-buckwheat) Festuca idahoensis (Idaho fescue) Gutierrezia sarothrae (broom snakeweed) Haplopappus acaulis (cushion goldenweed) Haplopappus armerioides (thrifty goldenweed) Hymenopappus fdifolius (Columbia cut-leaf) Juniperus scopulorum (Rocky Mountain juniper) Koeleria macrantha (prairie junegrass) Linum perenne (blue flax) Musineon divaricalum (leafy musineon) Opuntia polyacantha (plains pricklypear) Oxytropis sericea (white locoweed) Phlox hoodii (Hood's phlox) Phlox alyssifoUa (alyssum-leaved phlox) Pinus ponderosa (ponderosa pine) Poa secunda (Sandberg's bluegrass) Yucca glauca (soapweed) Zigadenus venosus (meadow death-camas) TOPOGRAPHY: In southeastern Montana, A. barrii is restricted to heavy clay ("gumbo") knobs, buttes, and barren hilltops, most often of a particular calcareous, soft shale and siltstone complex. The calcareous clay soils in which A. barrii occurs are likely to be low in organic matter, as these locations are sparsely vegetated. These sites range from level areas to steep slopes (0- 35%). Most sites occur on intermediate slopes (3-8%). Elevation range is 3,140 - 4,160 feet. Many of the populations are located along rivers or streams, where downcutting has exposed shale and siltstone outcrops. Astragalus barrii populations are associated with the harsh edaphic and environmental conditions of badlands areas. These areas receive limited 23 rainfall and are subject to high light intensities; thus, soil water evaporation is high and is probably a limiting factor in plant establishment and survival. This species often occurs on barren, eroded microsites and may depend on the climate that maintains these sites. At some locations, particularly steep slopes, the soils erode during intense rain storms. Because of its cushion habit and dense foliage, soil is protected from water erosion beneath A. barrii plants; therefore, these plants frequently remain perched atop small pedestals of soil (Appendix E-4). 3. SOIL RELATIONSHIPS: A. barrii sites on the Custer National Forest are on the Midway soil series, and the study area distribution may be partially explained by soil properties. These soils are residuum from calcareous, platy, soft shale parent material, in which the clay is mostly a montmorillonitic mineral type (U.S. Department of Agriculture 1971). The pH of these soils, at 8.0, is quite high (Schassberger pers. measurement 1988; U.S. Department of Agriculture 1971), and the texture is silty to sandy. Soils that have a high content of expandable clay minerals (zeolite, montmorillonite) have a high cation exchange capacity and hold water longer. However, the high pH of the soils in Montana limits the availability of iron and manganese (Hausenbuiller 1972). One or more of these soil characteristics may influence the distribution of this species directly. Ahematively, such characteristics could indirectly affect /i. barrii by restricting the establishment of other plant species, thereby limiting interspecific competition. Like A. barrii, the similarly tufted species, Astragalus hyalinus occupies Badlands slopes, but tends to be on coarse sandstone parent material in the study area, rather than on shale or siltstone (Schmoller pers. comm.). In the Pryor Mountains, A. hyalinus is on a wide range of sandy to clay soils (Lesica and Achuff 1992). A. barrii occurs on sandstone in Montana and elsewhere, so that soil texture does not differentiate the habitats of these two species rangewide. This potential distinction in soil relationships has not been examined with rigor in the study area. In South Dakota, within the White River drainage, A. barrii appears to be restricted to barren outcrops or erosional remnants of one specific geologic unit: theRockyford Ash Member of the Sharps Formation. The Rockyford Ash Member is comprised of a zeolitic volcanic ash; zeolite minerals are ftinctionally similar to vermiculite and montmorillonite (David Ode pers. comm. to Schassberger). POPULATION BIOLOGY AND SPECIES BIOLOGY 1. PHENOLOGY: An early-blooming species. Astragalus barrii flowers from 24 late April to early June, depending on climate conditions, slope, and aspect. At many sites, extensi\'e vegetative mats were observed without flowers. It is not known if this condition is due to senescence of individuals, advanced succession within the habitat, or mistaken identification of Astragalus hyalinus. Flowers or their remnants are necessary to distinguish the two species, and both species may remain in vegetative condition under stress. The phenology of A. hyalinus in the study area is less well understood. While considered to be an early-season species, it did not begin flowering until early July in the relatively cool 1995 growing season (Schmoller pers. comm.). The flowering activity of .4. barhi may have overlapped with that of .4. hyalinus during June of other years. 2. POPULATION SIZE AND CONDITION: Of the 29 currently knowTi populations of ^. banii in Montana, the largest populations occur in Powder River County. In Montana, most populations are large, and range from ca. 50 to 3,000 plants (mean ca. 1000). The individual plants of a population are often broadly dispersed across the landscape; therefore, canopy coverage of this species is often low. Population distribution appears to be related to available substrate and may be divided into clusters, or subpopulations that correspond with the local outcrop pattern. The Custer National Forest sites receive a different moisture regime than surrounding areas, and support more successionally advanced habitats. Large Astragalus spp. mats in these habitats were noted; because only vegetative material was found, however, identification of these mats remains undetermined. 3. REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY a. TYPE OF REPRODUCTION: Reproduction is strictly by seed. Flowers are not necessarily produced every year, perhaps corresponding with climate or competition. Although the potential life span and population age structure for this species is unknown, other members of the group Orophaca can live in excess of 25 years (Locklear 1986). Compared to related species, Barr's milkvetch is considered prolific with fertile pods (Bameby 1964). b. POLLINATION BIOLOGY: Insect-pollinated c. SEED DISPERSAL AND BIOLOGY: Apparently only one seed reaches maturity within each pod of Astragalus barrii (Bameby 1964 25 from Schassberger 1990). It is believed that seeds fall, remaining near the parent plant, and are aided by gravity on steep slopes, since the seeds have no appendages to aid in long-distance dispersal. 4. BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS a. COMPETITION: Species in the genus Astragalus rarely tolerate direct competition or shade cast by other plants (Barneby 1964). Most populations are on barren ground. Total foliage cover rarely approached or exceeded 50%. Sites with large non-flowering plants appeared to be in successionally advanced settings with relatively high foliage cover; however, this could also be explained by climate. b. HERBIVORY: None observed. c. FIRE: A large portion of one site (NW Buttress Taylor Butte 017) was within an area that had burned nearly 20 years ago. Ground or crown fire would rarely spread in its habitat under most conditions. It is therefore possible that these plants are adapted to landscapes in which fires maintain and expand potential habitat for them. F. LAND OWNERSHIP (MONTANA): Land ownership for the currently known flowering occurrences of Astragalus barrii in Montana is as follows: 1. U.S. Forest Senice (Custer National Forest)^: Stag Rock Knolls (010) Fort Howe Ridge (Oil) Taylor Butte Rim (012) Stag Rock Cliff Tops (013) King Creek Well (015) Stag Rock Reservoir Ridges (016) Otter Creek (031)* Horse Creek/Otter Creek (037) 2. U.S. Bureau of Land Management (Miles City District)^: Butte Creek (002) ^Sites with an asterisk (*) span U.S. Forest Service and private land. ^Sites with an asterisk (*) span U.S. Bureau of Land Management and private lands. 26 Bobcat Creek (008)* Wild Bill Creek (009) Gate Creek (018)* South Fork Wright Creek #2 (023) Ranch Creek #1 (024)* Bell Creek (026) Stellar Creek Road (030) 3. Department of State Lands: Biddle School Section (007) 4. Private lands (exclusively): Biddle (001) Decker (003) Colstrip (004) Miller Coulee (005) Ekalaka (006) O'Dell Creek Buttes (019) Scoles Ranch Road (021) South Fork Wright Creek #1 (022) South Biddle (025) Colstrip SE (027) Spring Creek #1 (028) Spring Creek #2 (029) G. ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS 1. THREATS TO CURRENTLY KNOWN POPULATIONS: Coal mining is an existing and potentially localized threat for occurrences outside of the study area in Rosebud County. Quarrj'ing and exotic species encroachment are low- level existing threats found throughout the state. 2. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND RESPONSES: This species is found on secondary range and has a low, tufted growth form and early-season flowering. Therefore, it is minimally affected by grazing management, unless livestock developments are placed near populations, or unless grazing fosters weed encroachment or major successional shifts that otherwise increase competition. The species may be affected by herbicide spraying and early-season pesticide spraying. There are localized invasions of yellow sweetclover {Melilotus 27 officinalis) and a weedy native species called Venus looking glass (Triodanis perfoliata) which now dominate the habitat. Such invasions seem to correspond with hea\7 grazing in directly adjoining habitat. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAINTAINING VIABLE POPULATIONS a. PROTECTION OF NATURAL HABITATS THAT CURRENTLY SUPPORT LARGE POPULATIONS: Several sites with large populations appear to be buffered against drought conditions (Biddle School Section 007; King Creek Well 015 and Taylor Butte Rim 012). Recognition of these sites as natural areas or as botanical special interest areas with Barr's milkvetch elevated to a management priority would contribute to long-term viability of the species in the state. b. REGULATION OF ACTIVITIES DIRECTLY ADJOINING NATIVE HABITATS THAT SUPPORT LARGE POPULATIONS: Proposed disturbances within or near any of these documented populations should be preceded by detailed survey of the populations in these areas. Further, mitigation measures should be developed to reduce or to eliminate the impacts of management activities. It is appropriate to address this species in allotment and weed management plans and in quarrying permits. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT: In order to characterize its status and distribution on the District, revisits to the seven sites of putative Astragalus bairii in vegetative condition are needed. Survey work is also recommended for public lands elsewhere in the two counties, concurrently with extended information-gathering on Ipomopsis congesta var. pseudotypica when it is in flower (see separate discussion for this taxon). SUMMARY Astragalus barrii is one of few species endemic to the Great Plains. Most of the species in the Great Plains flora have extensive ranges (Great Plains Flora Association 1986). The 8 occurrences of ^. barrii on the Ashland District represent the only public lands occurrences in Montana that are covered under a sensitive species program. Recognition as a sensitive species should continue; taxonomic confirmation at the seven additional sites is of prime importance. 28 Carex gravida Bailey PREGNANT SEDGE Cyperaceae A. PRESENT LEGAL OR OTHER FORMAL STATUS L FEDERAL STATUS a. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE: None. b. U.S. FOREST SERVICE: None. 2. STATE: G5 SI (critically imperiled in Montana). B. DESCRIPTION L GENERAL NONTECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Pregnant sedge is a grass-like plant that forms clumps of stems up to 6 dm (2 ft.) tall from short root stocks (Figure 7, Appendix E-5). Leaves are 4-8 mm wide and clustered near the base of the plant. Flowers are clustered in egg-shaped spikes ca. 1 cm long, the female flowers (perigynia) occupying most of the spike with a few male flowers at the tip. Spikes are aggregated at the top of the stem and subtended by 2-3 leaf-like bracts, shorter than the inflorescence. Scales subtending each perigynia are oval with a long point at the tip. The perigynia are 4-5 mm long and gradually tapering to a beak that is serrated on the edges and notched at the tip. There are few or no nerves visible on the outer face of the perigynia. There are 2 stigmas, and the seed is 2-sided. 2. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Leaf sheaths loose, nodulose-septate on back, with nerveless inner band truncate at summit; the lax blades 3.5-8 mm broad; culms thin and sharply angled scabrous, 0.3-1 m high; spikes greenish to drab, subglobose, approximate in a dense to slightly open ellipsoid head 1-3 cm long; scales long-acuminate to awn-tipped, nearly or quite as long and three-fourths as broad as perigynia; perigynia firm, drab or pale brown, narrowly to broadly ovate, 3.5-5.5 mm long, 2-3 mm broad, gradually tapering from near the middle into a beak with sharp teeth ca. 1 mm long, nerveless on inner, faintly nerved or ner\'eless on outer face (Gray 1 970). 3. LOCAL FIELD CHARACTERS: Carex is a large and difficult genus, and there are many species similar to C. gravida. It is not included in Dom (1984), by which it keys to C. hoodii, a species which is also present in the study area. The awn-tipped scales of the perigynia distinguish it fi-om C hoodii. It is in the Bracteosae subgenus, and might be superficially confused with members of 29 M ^. ft 30 CAREX GRAVIDA on or near the Ashland Ranger District, Montana Species locations from the Montana Natural Heritage Program, March 04, 1996 the Ovales subgenus. The Bracteosae subgenus has androgynous spikes while the other has gynecandrous spikes. A hand lens or microscope and technical key are essential for positive determination. C. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 1. GLOBAL RANGE: Pennsylvania to Saskatchewan, south to Virginia, Missouri, Texas, and New Mexico. 2. STATE DISTRIBUTION: Known only from 4 collections including the 2 study area sites in Powder River and Rosebud counties, and from 2 collections in Big Horn County (Figure 8). 3. STUDY AREA DISTRIBUTION: The two kno\vn sites are at north and south ends of the District, at the heads of tributaries into the Tongue River (Figure 8). The southern site is at the head of Hay Creek above O'Dell Creek; the northern site is at the head of a side draw above the East Fork of Otter Creek. The species was sought in many areas in conjunction with surveys for Carex torreyi; it is rare and highly localized, however. D. HABITAT ASSOCIATED VEGETATION: Carex gravida occurs locally in mesic deciduous vegetation associated with watercourses (Appendix E-6). In the Ashland District, both sites were within a valley otherwise dominated by ponderosa pine. The East Fork of Otter Creek site (004) had scattered tall shrub thickets of ser\'iceberry and a stand of quaking aspen. The Hay Creek site (002) was heavily shaded in its valley setting, with scattered tall chokecherry and graminoids. The two sites of tall shrub communities are not well-developed plant associations but are closely associated with woody draw types. Associated species for the study area and Big Horn County are as follows: Amelanchier alnifolia Apocynum androsaemifolium Carex hoodii Carex sprengelii Carex torreyi Crategus columbiana Fraxitms pennsylvanica Poa interior Poa pratensis Popidus tremuloides 32 Prunus virginiana Rosa woodsii Sanicula marilandica Symphoricarpos occidentalis Viola canadensis 2. TOPOGRAPHY: Both Ashland District sites are in the upper reaches of the bottom of narrow, steep-sided draws lacking surface watercourse. Both draw segments trend east-west, providing maximum shelter from the sun. Statewide elevations range from ca. 3800-4300 ft. 3. SOIL RELATIONSHIPS: Soils are well-drained loams with deep profiles compared to those on adjoining slopes. Silty alluvium had washed onto one of the Big Horn County collection sites, but there was no apparent surface runoff in the study area. E. POPULATION BIOLOGY AND ECOLOGY 1. PHENOLOGY: This species has been collected in Montana between early June and late July. In the study area, fruiting began during the third week of June; the 1995 growing season was slightly more cool and moist compared with the a\'erage. 2. POPULATION SIZE AND CONDITION: Individuals were made up of robust, multi-stemmed clumps. The two study area populations were very small, with numbers ranging from 8-20 clumps and were aggregated. The species was described as "common" in a green ash woody draw in Big Horn Co. (003). Green ash woody draws and their settings possible provide a more suitable habitat for large populations of Carex gravida. 3. REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY a. TYPE OF REPRODUCTION: Individual plants can reproduce vegetatively to expand the clump size and to form large clumps which may be very long-lived. Seed production is the only means of establishing new individuals. b. POLLINATION BIOLOGY: Outcrossing by wind pollination is common in the genus. c. SEED DISPERSAL AND BIOLOGY: Unknown. 4. BIOLOGICAL INTERACTIONS 33 a. COMPETITION: In several study area settings that seemed suited for Carex gravida. Kentucky bluegrass {Poa pratensis) was dominant. This rhizomatous exotic grass outcompetes many native cespitose graminoids. b. HERBIVORY: No signs of herbivory were observed. The species is located in secondary range for livestock. Likely impacts are direct affects of grazing, indirect shift in vegetation, or competition fostered by grazing. c. FIRE: The Hay Creek site was in a valley with old-growih ponderosa pine. There were fire scars on the trees, and the distinctively open condition of the stand suggests that there have been ground fires within recent decades. We do not have information on the affect of crown fires, but removal of overstory cover is likely to promote a high competition situation in which Carex gravida may not survive. F. LAND OWNERSHIP (MONTANA) 1. U.S. Forest Senice: Hay Creek (002) Note: this occurrence is near a private inholding boundary; hence, ownership may be split. East Fork Beaver Creek (004) 2. Crow Indian Resenation: Bar V Ranch (001) Corral Creek (003) G. ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS 1. THREATS TO CURRENTLY KNOWN POPULATIONS: No imminent threats were identified, though the small existing populations are xoilnerable. Local livestock water developments and fencing patterns have attracted the livestock to other draws or draw segments. Any major changes in livestock distribution within these allotments may affect the species. 2. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND RESPONSES: This species is expected to respond negatively to logging and any changes in livestock management that would increase use at its population sites. 3. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAINTAINING VIABLE POPULATIONS: 34 a. Because of the species' longevity, its viability for these small populations is thought to be fair, despite their small size. Proposed disturbances within or near any of these populations should be preceded by detailed survey of the populations, and mitigation measures should be developed to reduce or to eliminate the impacts of management activities. b. Livestock grazing directly adjoining native habitats should be managed in a manner which would not encourage use at the population sites. Water development, salt block placement, and fences should not be allo\Ned near the populations and should not encourage trailing through the populations. c. The population area near the East Fork of Otter Creek may be appropriate for special management designation and study due to its Carex gravida population and the presence of both C. toireyi and Dichanthelium oligosanlhes var. scribnerianum. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT: Further survey of woody draws, particularly in the northern end of the District, is needed to roimd out the local distribution pattern for this and three other species. This study points to a greater need for woody draw sensitive species surveys in eastern Montana. SUMMARY Carex gravida is a plant of moist wooded habitat known from four occurrences in Montana. The restricted nature of its habitat, its apparent susceptibility to disturbance, and its small population sizes are reasons for concern regarding its viability in the state. Among the non- designated species considered in this study, Carex gravida is the strongest candidate for designation as sensitive by the U.S. Forest Service. 35 Carex torreyi Tuckerm. TORREY'S SEDGE Cyperaceae PRESENT LEGAL OR OTHER FORMAL STATUS L FEDERAL STATUS a. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE: None. b. U.S. FOREST SERVICE: None. 2. STATE: G4 SI (critically imperiled). Based on this study, its state rank will be changed to "S3" (vulnerable in Montana). DESCRIPTION 1. GENERAL NONTECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Torreys sedge is a perennial grass-like plant that forms small clumps of stems 2.5-4 dm (10-16 in.) tall from short-prolonged rootstocks (Figure 9, Appendix E-7). Leaves are L5-3.2 mm wide, well-developed, and on the lower third of the stem. Flowers are clustered in multiple spikelets, with the male (staminate) spike on top and 1-3 female (pistillate) spikes below, subtended by sheathless bracts, the lowest which is usually longer than the inflorescence. The pistillate spike is usually on a short peduncle, and is 6-16 mm long. The pistillate spikes are sessile of on a very short peduncle, 6-12 mm long, and closely 10-25-flowered. The female flowers (perigynia) are ascending on the spikelet, 2.5-3.2 mm long, obscurely triangular in cross-section, tapering at the base into a short stipe, and abruptly rounded and depressed at the apex. They have mostly 3 stigmas, and trigonous achenes which are pubescent (Hermann 1970). In Montana, fruits develop in mid to late June, depending on climate and local conditions, and usually persist for almost 3 weeks before dispersing. 2. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Cespitose from short-prolonged rootstocks; culms slender, erect, 2.5-4 dm high, short-pubescent, very rough above, red- tinged at the base, usually exceeding the leaves; leaves 2 or 3 to a culm, on the lower one-third of the culms, short-pilose, flat with somewhat revolute margins, 1.5-3.25 mm wide, the sheaths tight, soft-pubescent, cinnamon-brown tinged, deeply concave at the mouth, the conspicuous ligule longer than wide; terminal spike staminate, linear-clavate, usually short-pedimcled, 8-16 mm long, 2-4 mm wide; pistillate spikes 1-3, short-oblong, -12 mm long, 4-7 mm wide, closely 10-25-flowered, erect, sessile of short-peduncled, approximate or the lowest somewhat separate; bracts sheathless or nearly so, the lowest as long as or longer than the inflorescence, the uppermost much smaller; scales ovate- 36 orbicular, the lower acuminate, the upper acute, about half the length of the perigynia, reddish- to brownish-yellow with broad hyaline margins and three- ner^'ed, green center; perigynia ascending, broadly ovoid or obovoid, 2.5-3.2 mm long, 1.9-2.2 mm wide, obscurely trigonous in cross-section, round- tapering at the base into a broad stipe, puncticulate, glabrous, yellowish-green, strongly many-ribbed (fine), abruptly rounded and depressed at the apex and abruptly short-truncate-beaked; achenes obovoid, trigonous with concave sides, 2.5-1.75 mm, substipitate, and short-apiculate (Hermann 1970). DIAGNOSTIC CHARACTERISTICS: The most distinguishing character of the species is its inflated perigynia with short, 0.1 to 0.6 mm beaks. It somewhat resembles a very minute watermelon, which tapers slightly towards the base, with a short but obvious beak on top. In addition, the lower bracts are sheathless or nearly so, and the lowest bract is shorter or equal to the length of the inflorescence. Lower spikes are mostly erect, and the terminal spike is entirely staminate (from Hennann 1 970). C. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION Global Range: Manitoba to Alberta, south to Colorado, South Dakota, and Minnesota. State Distribution: An historic collection was made in 1889 from Choteau County, in addition to more recent records from Big Horn, Carter, Powder River, and Rosebud counties (Figure 10). Study Area Distribution: This species was documented at 15 locations, widely-scattered, mainly in the northern two-thirds (Figure 1 0). D. HABITAT ASSOCIATED VEGETATION: Within the study area, Carex torreyi occurs in a variety of sheltered woodland associations (Appendix E-8). It is found most often in drainage bottoms, but is also found on mesic north-facing slopes and their lower benches, and locally in meadow communities bordering woods. The deciduous cover is variable from trace to more often dominant. The trees generally range from 1 5 to 20 cm dbh, and canopy coverage ranges from under 20 to ca. 30 percent. Shrub cover ranges from 20 to 50 percent, and consists mostly of low-growing species such as Mahonia repens, Prwius virginiana saplings (less than 0.5 m tall), and Toxicodendron rydbergii. Graminoid cover is usually low, but in one case it is 70 percent. A variety of species includes several species oi Carex, Bromus ciliatus, Poapratensis, and Stipa nelsonii. Forbs range from 1 to 20 percent in cover, and include Galium boreale, Apocynum androsaemifolium, Arenaria lateriflora, and Smilacina stellata. 37 Plate 113. CAREX TORREYI Hermann, 1970 38 CAREX TORREYI on or near the Ashland Ranger District, Montana Species locations from the Montana Natural Heritage Program, March 04, 1996 A complete list of associated plant species follows: Actaea rubra Agastache foenkidum Amelanchier alnifolia Apocynum androsaemifolium Arctostaphylos nva-ursi Arenaria laterifolia Arnica cordifolia Bromus ciliatus Carex brevior Carex foena Carex hoodii Carex rossii Carex sprengelii Cornus stolonifera Crataegus Disporum trachycarpum Fragaria virginiana Galium boreale Geum canadense Heuchera richardsonii Monardafistulosa Pinus ponder osa Prunus virginiana Ribes spp. Sanicula marilandica Smilacina stellata Smilax herbacea Stipa nelsonii Symphoricarpos occidentalis Thalictrum dasycarpiwi Note: Carex torreyi is the most common of the targeted woody draw species and was present at nearly all of the sites that hosted one of the other species. In addition, there were a few sites where it was present in trace amounts in open meadow habitat at the edges or heads of draws, in dual association with the above species as well as with prairie or meadow species {Agropyron caninum, Astragalus agrestis, Cirsium arvense, Festuca idahoensis, Lupinus argenteus, Poa pratensis, Sisyrhyncium montanwn, Solidago spp.) 2. TOPOGRAPHY: Frequency and population numbers were highest in drainage bottom settings, but the species also occurred on north-facing 40 midslopes and lower benches at the upper end of draws with well-developed meadow communities (i.e. below a spring northeast of Poker Jim Butte), as well as above localized settings with groundwater seepage (i.e. the Home Butte wetland thickets). 3. SOIL RELATIONSHIPS: Soils are dark, silty and sandy loams that remain moist through most of the growing season and are often temporarily saturated in early spring. Soils usually contained a rich humus layer and pine duff POPULATION BIOLOGY AND DEMOGRAPHY 1. PHENOLOGY: Fruits (perigynia) were beginning to mature in late June during the relatively cool, somewhat late 1995 growing season. Carex torreyi has been collected from mid June through July in Montana. It readily looses its fruits and cannot be identified with certainty when it dries late in the growing season. 2. POPULATION SIZE AND CONDITION: Population sizes in the study area are the largest known in Montana, ranging from 5-1000+. All have fewer than 1 00 plants, except for the large population near the East Fork of Otter Creek. Rangewide the species has been characterized as "rare and local" in dry foothills settings (Hermann 1970). Identification of individual plants can be difficult due to the loosely cespitose growth form. Areas occupied range in size from 2 to 3 acres, but the plants are concentrated within smaller locales. 3. REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY a. TYPE OF REPRODUCTION: Most clumps had multiple flowering stalks. Carex torreyi also reproduces vegetatively via rootstock offshoots on the perimeter of cespitose clumps. b. POLLINATION BIOLOGY: Outcrossing by wind pollination is common in the genus. c. SEED DISPERSAL AND BIOLOGY: Unknown. POPULATION ECOLOGY 1. COMPETITION: Torrey's sedge occupies habitat that is widely subject to exotic species invasion, including species which often crowd out native species (Bromus tectorum, Poapratensis). Its population numbers are consistently low under high competition settings, where it persists only at the edges of the microrelief and ecotone. 41 2. HERBIVORY: The species is absent from areas which are grazed, and grazing is widespread in its potential habitat, suggesting that it is a decreaser under most conditions or that it is indirectly affected by trampling. Unfortunately, potential habitat is often heavily used because it is usually associated with some of the best local sources of water, shelter, and productive forage. 3. FIRE: The Cabin Creek population had burned in 1988 wildfires, where crown fires killed the tree overstory. Plants appeared vigorous, perhaps in response to the nutrient influx and higher light intensities. The surrounding vegetation was also vigorous in 1995; thus, the long-term stability of the population may be jeopardized by competition. The increased grazing activity and recent salvage logging activity in this area has fostered the spread of Canada thistle and has further jeopardized this plant's security. G. LAND OWNERSHIP (MONTANA): The 1 5 occurrences in the study area are all on the Ashland District. In addition, there are three occurrences on the Sioux District and two on the Crow Indian Resen.'ation. An historical collection was made near the Missouri River near Highwood Canyon that could be either on BLM or on private land. H. ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS 1. THREATS TO CURRENTLY KNOWN POPULATIONS: Most populations showed no recent signs of livestock use in the immediate vicinity. The most notable exception was along Poker Jim Creek (T5S, R44E, Sec. 5, SW 1/4). 2. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND RESPONSES: This species is expected to respond negatively to logging and to any changes in livestock management that would increase use at its population sites. 3. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAINTAINING VIABLE POPULATIONS: The species has similar requirements to Carex gravida for maintaining viable populations. It is a potential management indicator species; therefore, although sensitive species status is not warranted, recognition of some form may be appropriate for management planning purposes. a. Proposed disturbances within or near any of these populations should be mitigated to reduce or to eliminate the impacts of management activities. b. Livestock grazing in directly adjoining native habitats should be managed in a marmer that does not encourage use at the population 42 sites. Water development, salt block placement, trailing, and fences should not be brought in close to the populations. c. In addition, the area of the largest population near the East Fork of Otter Creek may warrant special management designation and study, considering its exceptionally large Carex torreyi population in addition to the presence of both C. gravida and Dichanthelium oligosanthes var. scribnerianum. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT: The species should be included in woody draw sensitive species studies in eastern Montana for the purpose of testing its value as a management indicator species for rarer species. SUMMARY Carex torreyi is recurrent in localized mesic woodland settings over much of the District. It is usually present in low numbers and is likely to be negatively impacted by logging and grazing, so that its state rank has been changed to "S3" (vulnerable in Montana), and it may have use as a management indicator species. It does not warrant a special Forest Service status other than as an indicator species. This recommendation updates that presented in Heidel and Dueholm (1995). 43 Ceanothiis herbaceus (Torr. & Gray ex S. Wats.) Shinners syn. C. herbaceous Raf. yar.pubescens (T. & G.) Shinners NEW JERSEY TEA Rhamnaceae A. PRESENT LEGAL OR OTHER FORMAL STATUS L FEDERAL STATUS a. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE: None. b. U.S. FOREST SERVICE: None; this study provides the basis for recommending watch status. 2. STATE: G5 SI (critically imperiled); this study provides the basis for changing rank to SH (known only from historic record). B. DESCRIPTION L GENERAL NONTECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: New Jersey tea is a highly-branched shrub with stems up to 1 m (3.5 ft.) high (Figure 11). The alternate, lance-shaped to narrowly elliptic leaves are 2-6 cm long. They have serrated edges and are glabrous on top but hairy beneath. Numerous white flowers are bom in congested, rounded inflorescences that terminate the growing branches. Each flower is ca. 2-3 mm high with 5 calyx lobes and 5 petals that have a linear basal portion and a hood-shaped blade. There are 5 stamens and a 3-lobed ovary. The fruit is a glossy, brown, 3-lobed, globose capsule that is 3-5 mm wide. 2. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Bushy shrub, up to 1 m tall. Leaves oblong to elliptic, or lance-oblong to oblanceolate, 2-6 cm long, blunt to subacute, crenate-serrate with young teeth glandular, veins arising unevenly just above leaf base, upper surface glabrescent, lower surface villous. Panicles several, terminating leafy branches of the season, on peduncles 1-2 (5) cm long. Flowers are white; calyx lobes 5, 1 .6 mm long, incur\'ed; petals 5, hooded, 1.5 mm long, clawed V2 length; stamens 5; ovary 3-lobed; surrounded by disk 1.5 mm wide and usually 10-lobed. Capsules 3-4.5 mm wide, 3-lobed, without crests; seeds about 2 mm long, surface smooth and glossy; brownish (Great Plains Flora Association 1986). 3. LOCAL FIELD CHARACTERS: The combination of simple alternate leaves, hood-shaped petals, and 3-lobed fruit help identify this as Ceanothus. C. herbaceus can be distinguished from other members 44 <^/ # Gleason, 1958 45 CEANOTHUS HERBACEUS VAR. PUBESCENS on or near the Ashland Ranger District, Montana Species locations from the Montana Natural Heritage Program, March 04, 1996 of the genus by its narrower leaves, less than 2 cm wide, that are not shiny on the upper surface. These species do not overlap in their Montana distribution. C. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 1. GLOBAL RANGE: Quebec to Manitoba and eastern Montana, south to Georgia, Texas, and Colorado. 2. STATE DISTRIBUTION: Known only from the single historic collection (1948) in Powder River County. 3. STUDY AREA DISTRIBUTION: We were unable to relocate the 1948 population collection site in the course of this survey. The original collection noted that there were only a "few plants." The vague location infomiation is more likely to correspond with public rather than with private land, yet it is possible that it was not collected on the national forest. If the species had been collected on the Ashland District, it may now be extirpated. An array of habitats were searched by Lesica (1984) and in this study. The generally overgrown habitat along the abandoned roadbed was not thoroughly searched, and should be the focus of attention for any extended survey work. D. HABITAT: Habitat has been described as "rocky, open wooded hillsides, prairie, roadsides" (Great Plains Flora Association 1986). Dry, open woods are common in the vicinity of Sayle, where Montana's only known specimen was collected. E. POPULATION BIOLOGY AND DEMOGRAPHY 1. PHENOLOGY: The previous Montana collection was made in flower on 17 June 1948. It is noted as having an indeterminate flowering from April to August (Great Plains Flora Association 1 986), presumably depending on climate. 2. POPULATION SIZE AND CONDITION: Unknown. 3. REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY a. TYPE OF REPRODUCTION: By seed. b. POLLINATION BIOLOGY: Unknown. c. SEED DISPERSAL AND BIOLOGY: Many members of this genus have seeds which are dispersed by birds. The original 47 collection was made in a roadside setting, which raises the question as to whether it may have been an accidental introduction. F. POPULATION ECOLOGY: Unknown. This species has diminished elsewhere on the Great Plains. Vegetation competition and woody encroachment are suspected (David Ode, South Dakota Natural Heritage Program, pers. comm.). G. LAND OWNERSHIP (MONTANA): The vague location given for the historic collection site (001) is on the Ashland District of Custer National Forest. H. ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS: This species should be kept in mind when conducting on-site work east of Sayle. The open pine woodlands and adjoining successional slopes at the upper end of Bloom Creek are thought to be the most likely natural habitat, but no upland settings should be ruled out. If it were relocated in natural habitat, then it would be appropriate for the Forest Service to consider it as being sensitive. The possibility that it was collected from disturbed roadside habitat along what is now abandoned roadbed was not exhaustively ruled out in this study. SUMMARY Ceanothus herbacens is recommended for designation as watch. The only collection of this species in the state came from the Ashland District and is an historic record. Its state rank has been changed to "SH" (state historic). 48 Cypripedium calceolus van parviJJorum SMALL YELLOW LADY'S-SLIPPER Orchid Family Verification is pending for the specimen of this species on file at the District Office A codv of the Ashland District label information and a line drawing illustration of the species are presented below in the interim. This species is currently designated sensitive by the U S Forest Ser%ace - Region I , and a detailed status report for the species is presented in Vanderhorst(1996). ripedium calceolus var. parviflorum From Gleason 1969 We were unable to get a copy of the herbarium label for this species by the time the report went to press. The specimen on file at the Ashland District Office is to be consulted for any clues as to location and habitat on the District. 49 Dichanthelium oUgosanthes var. scribnerianum syn. Panicum scribnerianum Nash SCRIBNER'S PANIC GRASS Poaceae A. PRESENT LEGAL OR OTHER FORMAL STATUS L FEDERAL STATUS a. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE: None. b. U.S. FOREST SERVICE: None. 2. STATE: G5T5 SI (critically imperiled). B. DESCRIPTION 1. GENERAL NONTECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Scribner's panic grass is a perennial, forming clumps of simple or branched stems, 1-6 dm (4-24 in.) tall (Figure 12; Appendix E-9). Lower leaves are 3-10 cm (1-4 in.) long and 3-12 mm wide, while upper ones are short and relatively broad. Leaves are mostly glabrous, but the sheaths surrounding the stem are glabrous to long-hairy. There is a short fringe of hairs on the leaf where it meets the stem (ligule). Flowers are borne on short to long stalks arranged in a conical inflorescence, 3- 8 cm (1-3 in.) high. Inflorescences of the main stems are larger than those of the branches. Each egg-shaped spikelet has one flower, ca. 3 mm long, consisting of two glumes enclosing a lemma and a palea that may or may not be hairy. 2. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Vernal culms 20 to 50 cm tall, glabrous or harshly puberulent, or sometimes ascending-pilose; sheaths striate, papillose- hispid to nearly glabrous; blades ascending or erect, 5-10 cm long, 6-12 mm wide, firm, rounded at the ciliate base, glabrous on the upper surface, appressed pubescent to glabrous beneath; panicle 4-8 cm long; spikelets 3.2- 3.3 mm long, obovate, blunt, sparsely pubescent to nearly glabrous. Autumnal phase branching from the middle and upper nodes. 3. LOCAL FIELD CHARACTERS: The relatively large, egg-shaped, single- flowered spikelets help identify this as Dichanthelium. This species branches mainly in the upper portions of the stem, while D. wilcoxianum usually branches near the base. A hand lens or microscope and technical key are essential for positive determination. 50 %'N 'S/\ i' .\rcDonaW32. Hi.; 1 pfia^e. L'tnhach 2 Hitchcock, 1971 51 DICHANTHELIUM OLIGOSANTHES VAR. SCRIBNERI on or near the Ashland Ranger District, Montana Species locations from the Montana Natural Heritage Program, March 04, 1996 C. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 1. GLOBAL RANGE: Ontario to British Columbia, south tliroughout most of the United States and northern Mexico. 2. STATE DISTRIBUTION: In Montana, this species is known from five collections, including tliree collections on the Ashland District in Powder River County, and two collections made over 30 years ago from Lake County (Figure 12). Based on its presence in adjoining states, it could potentially occur in much of Montana, but this is not corroborated by collection data. 3. STUDY AREA DISTRIBUTION: Two new sites were documented in the course of this study, and we failed to relocate the historic collection near Bloom Creek (Figure 12). The two new sites are in the northern end of the district near the upper ends of draws coming off of the divide between Beaver Creek and the East Fork of Otter Creek. HABITAT ASSOCIATED VEGETATION: The two new occurrences were in Pinus ponderosa/Mahonia repens habitat type (Figure E-10). Both of the Lake County specimens were similarly collected in sandy pinelands. Associated species are: AgTopyron spicatum Astragalus agrestis Astragalus americanus Carex deweyana Carex sprengelii Crepis acuminata Elymus glaucus Euphorbia glyptosperma Mahonia repens Panicum scribnerianum Penstemon gracilis Pinus ponderosa Poa pratensis TOPOGRAPHY: Both populations were situated at the upper end of draws. The East Fork of Otter Creek occurrence (003) was situated in the bottom of a steep wooded draw on the lower south-facing slope. The Cabin Creek occurrence (002) was located at the gently-sloping upper end near the border between woodland and grassland. 53 3. SOIL RELATIONSHIPS: Soils are well-drained, coarse, sandy or gravelly loams. E. POPULATION BIOLOGY AND DEMOGRAPHY 1. PHENOLOGY: The Lake County specimens of Harvey were collected in fruit on June 29 and July 1 . In the study area, however, the species was beginning to produce vernal inflorescences much earlier in the bum site, as compared with the steep valley bottom; the latter began in the second week of July during the relatively cool, wet 1995 growing season conditions. The survey work conducted in 1995 was not optimally timed for this species. Spikelets are expected to persist several weeks. Judging by the lateness of vernal infloresences, it is not likely that autumnal infloresences are produced earlier than late August. 2. POPULATION SIZE AND CONDITION: Both populations are very small, consisting of five clumps that represent discrete individuals. 3. REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY a. TYPE OF REPRODUCTION: Strictly by seed, produced by vernal (early season) infloresences and autumnal (late season) infloresences. b. POLLINATION BIOLOGY: Wind-pollinated. c. SEED DISPERSAL AND BIOLOGY: Unknown. F. POPULATION ECOLOGY 1. COMPETITION: Members of the Dichanthelium genus typically occupy dry habitats in low-competition settings. 2. HERBIVORY: Unknown. 3. FIRE: Scribner's panic grass survives fire, but the impact on population size has not been discerned. In the burned Cabin Creek occurrence (003), plants were earlier and had more stems as compared to the unbumed East Fork of Otter Creek occurrence (002). This species does not exhibit the marked increase in the wake of fire as does Wilcox' panic grass (Heidel and Dueholm 1995). G. LAND OWNERSHIP (MONTANA) 54 1. U.S. Forest Service: Bloom Creek (001) East Fork of Otter Creek (002) Cabin Creek (003) 2. Consolidated Salish and Kootenai Tribal lands or private: Pablo #1 (004) Pablo #2 (005) ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS 1. THREATS TO CURRENTLY KNOWN POPULATIONS: Species viability may be at risk in light of the very small populations, but no immediate threats were identified. 2. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND RESPONSES: This species has been characterized as a decreaser under grazing (Smith 1976). Local livestock water developments and fencing patterns have attracted the livestock to other draws or draw segments. Any major changes in livestock distribution within these allotments may potentially affect the species. 3. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAINTAINING VIABLE POPULATIONS: a. Proposed disturbances within or near any of these populations should be preceded by detailed survey of the populations in these areas, and mitigation measures should be developed to reduce or to eliminate the impacts of management activities. b. Livestock grazing on directly adjoining native habitats should be managed in a manner which would not encourage use at the population sites. Water development, salt block placement, and fences should not be brought in close to the populations or so as to encourage trailing through the populations. c. The population area near the East Fork of Otter Creek may be appropriate for special management designation and study, considering its Dichanthelium oligosanthes var. scribnerianum population and the presence of both Carex gravida and C. torreyi. 4. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT: Further sur^ ey 55 of study area draws and the pine woodlands around Bloom Creek would round out the local distribution pattern for this and for three other species. This species is not recormnended for U.S. Forest Service consideration as sensitive until more substantial information becomes available regarding its response to management activities. This study reveals a greater need for woody draw sensitive species surveys in eastern Montana. SUMMARY Scribner's panic grass is a species of dry woodland known from both southeastern and northwestern Montana. Despite the widely-separated occurrences in Montana, all of the known populations are very small; the state rank should remain as SI (critically imperiled). Extended survey in late July would be warranted. Mentzelia nuda (Pursh) T. & G. DWARF MENTZELIA Loasa Family Verification is pending for the specimen of this species on file at the District Office. A copy of the Ashland District label information and a line drawing illustration of the species are presented below in the interim. This species has not been considered to date by the U.S. Forest Service for sensitive species recognition. We were unable to get a copy of the herbarium label for this species by the time the report went to press. The specimen on tile at the AsWand District Office is to be consulted for any clues as to location and habitat on the District. Mentzelia nuda From Nelson, 1977 56 Sphenopbolis obtusata var. major (Torr.) K. S. Erdman syn. Sphenopltolis intermedia (Rydb.) Rydb. SLENDER WEDGEGRASS Poaceae A. PRESENT LEGAL OR OTHER FORMAL STATUS 1. FEDERAL STATUS a. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE: None. b. U.S. FOREST SERVICE: None. 2. STATE: G5T5 SH (historic in Montana). This study clears up taxonomic confusion, documenting that the rare variety is not present on Custer National Forest. B. DESCRIPTION 1. GENERAL NONTECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Slender wedgegrass is an herbaceous annual or short-li\'ed perennial grass, with a slender nodding open spike at the top of the 0.2-1 m (8-40 in.) stem (Figure 14). It is two-flowered and the seeds drop with the glumes. The shape and difference in width of the two glumes is distinctive, the large second one being very broad at the upper end like the shape of a wedge, hence the common name. 2. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Culms erect in small tufts, 30-120 cm tall; sheaths glabrous or pubescent; blades flat, often elongate, lax, mostly 2-6 mm wide, sometimes wider, mostly scaberulous, occasional sparsely pilose; panicle nodding, from rather dense to open, mostly 10 - 20 cm long, the branches spikelet-bearing fi-om base; spikelets 3-4 mm long; second glume relatively thin, acute or subacute, about 2.5 mm long; lemmas subacute, rarely mucronate, smooth or rarely very minutely roughened, mostly 2.5-3 mm long (Hitchcock 1971). 3. LOCAL FIELD CHARACTERS: The rare variety, S. obtusata var. major is synonymous with Sphenopbolis intermedia (Rydb.) Rydb as treated in Dom (1984). It has a nodding and somewhat open inflorescence, in contrast to the spike-like inflorescence of 5. obtusata var. obtusata. The second glume is over 3X as long than wide and not cucuUate; lower lemma is 1.9-3.1 mm long (Great Plains Flora Association 1986). The different nomenclature used in taxonomic references may be a source of confusion. Most floras recognize 5". obtusata as distinct from 5". intermedia 57 (e.g., Dom 1984; exception: Hitchcock et al. 1984). However, in revisionary taxonomic work, both are treated as a varieties of 5. obtusaia (Kartesz 1994). The herbaria in Montana are consistent with Dom (1984) in this regards, so that specimens which are labeled as S. obtusata refer to the type variety rather than to the rare variety. C. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 1. GLOBAL RANGE: Most of United States and boreal Canada. 2. STATE DISTRIBUTION: The only collection of 5. obtusata var. major in Montana is an historical collection from Gallatin County. The collection oV'S. obtusata" from the Sioux District was mistakenly treated as synonymous with S. obtusata var. major and was erroneously reported in Heidel and Dueholm (1995). There are no known collections from eastern or central Montana, though it has been collected nearby in South Dakota (Great Plains Flora Association 1977). 3. STUDY AREA DISTRIBUTION: Five S. obtusata var. obtusata locations were found on the District, but not of the rare variety. These include one area on Bloom Creek, two spring-fed wetlands near the Cow Creek Campground, below Fear Spring, and near Yager Butte. This taxon was also documented with a voucher from a 1 992 vegetation plot on the Indian Creek Grazing Allotment (Studiner 51 MONT ), and from an historic collection near Poker Jim Butte which is believed to be extirpated. While it appears that this variety has narrow habitat requirements and has decreased under grazing, it remains widespread throughout the state, and is therefore not further treated in this report. 58 SPECIES OF PREVIOUSLY UNDETERMINED STATUS: Agastache foeniculum (Pursh) Kuntze LAVENDER HYSSOP Lamiaceae A. PRESENT LEGAL OR OTHER FORMAL STATUS 1. FEDERAL STATUS a. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE: None. b. U.S. FOREST SERVICE: None. 2. STATE: G4G5 SU (status undetermined). The widespread alteration of its habitat, few (?) records, and low population numbers would seem to provide the basis for adding this species to the state list, but not until out-of-state herbaria have been checked for additional collections. If it is recurrent in the eastern 1/4 of Montana, as inferred by the Great Plains Flora Association (1986), then it does not warrant tracking on the State Species of Special Concern list. B. DESCRIPTION 1. GENERAL NONTECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Lavender hyssop is a rhizomatous perennial with erect, simple, or branched stems, 6-12 dm (2-4 ft.) high (Figure 15). The opposite leaves have broadly spade-shaped blades, 4-9 cm (1-3 in.) long, and petioles 5-20 mm long. They are glabrous and green above but white-hairy below. The purplish flowers are borne in whorled clusters in a showy spike-like inflorescence, 4-8 cm (1-3 in.) long. The tubular corolla is 7-10 mm long, forms 2 lips at the mouth, and the tubular calyx is purple above with 5 triangular lobes. The 4 stamens are exserted from the mouth of the flower tube. Plants were begirming to flower in early July of 1995, and might be expected to reach peak flowering activity in late July of most years. 2. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Plants 6- 1 2 dm tall; stems simple or sparingly branched, the nodes canescent or sparsely so, intemodes glabrous or the lowermost sometimes lightly canescent. Leaf blades ovate or occasionally broadly lanceolate, 4-9 cm long, 2-5.5 cm wide, gradually reduced upwards, glabrous above, white tomentulose below, apex acute to acuminate, margins serrate, base slightly cordate, truncate, rounded, or broadly cuneate; petiole 59 0.5-2 cm long, gradually reduced upwards, glabrous or hirsute. Spikes 4-8 cm long, 1-2 cm wide, the lowermost verticillasters sometimes remote; bracts ovate, approximately equaling or shorter than the calyx, vestiture as the leaves, acuminate, serrulate pedicels 0-2 mm long, pubescent. Calyx hirtellous tltroughout, the tube greenish near the base and violet above; 4-6 mm long, the teeth violet, deltoid or slightly narrower, 1-1 .5 mm long and acute; corolla blue to violet, hirsutulous without, 7-10 mm long, lobe margins erose. Nutlets yellow-brown, ca. 1.5 mm long (Great Plains Flora Association 1986). 3. LOCAL FIELD CHARACTERS: Both Agastache urticifolia and A. cusickii have white corollas, and neither has leaves that are glabrous on top but white- hairy beneath. They do not overlap in range with A. foeniculum. C. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 1. GLOBAL RANGE: Southern Ontario west to Saskatchewan, south to Iowa, Nebraska and northcentral Colorado; naturalized in some areas of the northeastern United States and eastern Canada (Great Plains Flora Association 1986). 2. STATE DISTRIBUTION: Dom ( 1 984) cites collections of this species from Gallatin and Sanders cos., which seem to be disjunct from the global range. Location and habitat information for the Gallatin County specimen is not provided on the label, but the collector, P. Hawkins, has other collections which were made from experimental plantings and gardens around Bozeman (Rumely pers. comm.). Both of these western disjuncts may actually represent horticultural plantings or "naturalized" occurrences (see above). Lavender hyssop has also been characterized as present across the eastern 1/4 of Montana (Great Plains Flora Association 1986), but has only one eastern Montana collection in Montana herbaria from Richland County (MONTU). Herbaria in Kansas will be consulted. 3. STUDY AREA DISTRIBUTION: The species was observed in four scattered locations in the northeastern portion of the Ashland District. HABITAT ASSOCIATED VEGETATION: The rangewide habitat is characterized as "moist woodland, especially along streams or lakeshores, infrequent in open, wet ditches and prairies at higher elevations" (Great Plains Flora Association 1986). In the study area, it occupies the moistest of intact forested settings: localized tall shrub ecotones within pine woodland. The Richland County specimen was collected from American elm-green ash forest at the head of a 60 A. Foeniculi Gleason, 1958 61 AGASTACHE FOENICULUM on or near the Ashland Ranger District, Montana Species locations from the Montana Natural Heritage Program, March 04, 1996 creek, representing a woody draw habitat which is not represented on the District. The list of associated species in the study area follows: Amelanchier alnifolia Apocynum androsaemifoUum Carex hoodii Carex sprengelii Carex torreyi Festuca idahoensis Fraxinus pennsylvanica Galium boreale Pinus ponderosa Poa pratensis Prunus virginiana Symphoricarpos occidentalis Toxicodendron rydbergii 2. TOPOGRAPHY: In the study area it was present in low-lying areas and lower sheltered slopes. 3. SOIL RELATIONSHIPS: Relatively deep loams. POPULATION BIOLOGY AND DEMOGRAPHY 1. PHENOLOGY: Lavender hyssop usually begins flowering by late June in average years, but had barely begun by the second week of July in the study area under relatively cool, moist growing season conditions. The long spike- like inflorescence has indeterminate flowering, which may be prolonged for several weeks under favorable conditions. 2. POPULATION SIZE AND CONDITION: Populations were locally restricted in the study area to single bands and clumps corresponding with suitable habitat. The species is rhizomatous, so the number of stems is likely to be greater than actual population size. In the study area, stem numbers at the sites ranged from ca. 10-100. At the Richland Co. collection site, by contrast, the species was described as locally common. 3. REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY a. TYPE OF REPRODUCTION: Lavender hyssop reproduces by seed and vegetatively by rhizomes. b. POLLINATION BIOLOGY: Insect-pollinated. 63 c. SEED DISPERSAL AND BIOLOGY: Unknown. F. POPULATION ECOLOGY a. COMPETITION: Lavender hyssop is taller than most other herbaceous woodland forbs. It may compete for light with the woody canopy. b. HERBIVORY: Unknown. c. FIRE: It persisted in a single clump at a sheltered setting in an area that had burned in 1988 (T.2S R.46E Sec. 20 ). This information is insufficient to interpret fire response for the species. G. LAND OWNERSHIP (MONTANA): The four study area occurrences are on lands administered by the Ashland District of Custer National Forest. The Richland County occurrence is on private land. H. ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS 1. THREATS TO CURRENTLY KNOWN POPULATIONS: The four occurrences are in areas that receive light grazing; there were no immediate signs of threats. 2. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND RESPONSES: The local distribution pattern suggests that it may be a decreaser under grazing. One occurrence was on a north-facing hillside that was logged decades ago (T2S, R47E, Sec. 18), where it persisted in one small patch among brushy growth and limited regeneration that looked as though it had once been a natural opening. Another occurrence was in an area that had been burned by wildfire and subsequently logged (T.2S R.47E Sec. 18); only one large patch or clump was present here. Logging may not have a direct affect on the species, but the associated surface disturbance and weed invasions are potential concerns. 3. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAINTAINING VIABLE POPULATIONS: No recommendations are presented at this time. 4. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT: Further survey of woody draws, particularly in the northern end of the District, is needed to round out the local distribution pattern for this and for three other species. This study points to a greater need for woody draw sensitive species surveys in eastern Montana. 64 SUMMARY Lavender hyssop is considered native to eastern Montana, but voucher specimens are not known to support this. The species is not being added to the state list at this time until out-of- state herbaria are checked. . Elatine americana (Pursh) Am. AMERICAN WATERWORT Elatinaceae PRESENT LEGAL OR OTHER FORMAL STATUS L FEDERAL STATUS a. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE: None. b. U.S. FOREST SERVICE: None. 2. STATE: G4 SU (status undetermined). Not recommended for addition to the state list at tliis time. DESCRIPTION 1. GENERAL NONTECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: American waterwort is an annual that forms small mats of prostrate stems 2-4 cm (0.8-1.6 in.) long (Figure 16; Appendix E-1 1). The opposite, narrowly elliptic leaves have entire margins and rounded tips and are less than 10 mm long. Foliage is glabrous. Inconspicuous flowers are solitary in the leaf axils. Each flower has 3 minute, separate petals, 3 sepals, and 3 stamens. The fruit is a many-seeded, globose capsule. The strongly cur\'ed, sausage-shaped seeds are pointed at one end but rounded on the other and have ca. 10 longitudinal rows of 20-30 pits on their surfaces. 2. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Plants are matted or with some branches ascending and 2-4 cm (0.8-1.6 in.) long; leaves are spathulate to obovate, under 10 mm (0.4 in.) long, the tips rounded and not at all emarginate; sepals and petals 3, seeds somewhat curved, the pits mostly 18-27 in each of about 10 longitudinal rows, capsules 2-3 celled (Hitchcock et al. 1984). 3. LOCAL FIELD CHARACTERS: Elatine americana has a rounded leaf tip compared to E. thandra leaves that are notched at the tip. Seeds of E. americana are only slightly curved compared to E. californica. Both of these 65 ElQtine omericono Hitchcock, et at. 1984 66 ELATINE AMERICANA on or near the Ashland Ranger District, Montana Species locations from the Montana Natural Heritage Program, March 04, 1996 species have 3 petals, sepals, and stamens. A hand lens or microscope is necessary to identify this diminutive species. C. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 1. GLOBAL RANGE: New Brunswick and Quebec to eastern Virginia; also Missouri, Oklahoma, Montana. 2. STATE DISTRIBUTION: Collected from a total of five locations, spanning Cascade, Lake, Lewis and Clark, Powder River, and Teton counties. (Figure 17). 3. STUDY AREA DISTRIBUTION: The one known District occurrence is east of Yager Butte (Figure 17). Other similar buffalo wallows and a variety of wetland habitats were surveyed without success. D. HABITAT 1. ASSOCIATED VEGETATION: Associated with sparse, emergent vegetation and with small, submerged species: Alopecurus aequalis Eleocharis palustris Limosella aquatica Marsilea vestita Navarretia intertexta Plagiobothrys scolder i 2. TOPOGRAPHY: The District site was a buffalo wallow on the flat ridgetop: a small, shallow depression that completely evaporates before mid-summer and was well over half evaporated at the time of the 1995 visit in early July (Appendix E-12). Other sites in the state are similarly described as ponds and mud flats. 3. SOIL RELATIONSHIPS: The District site is on silt that is submerged early in the season. The small basin was trampled throughout by livestock, and American waterwort was present on dry points between hoof prints. One of its other sites is described as an alkali pond (Cascade Co.), but none of its other collection sites give an indication of the water chemistry. E. POPULATION BIOLOGY AND DEMOGRAPHY 1. PHENOLOGY: Flowering occurs both below the water and after evaporation 68 from exposure to air in the middle of the summer. Plants were in very early fruit at the study area on 8 July 1995. 2. POPULATION SIZE AND CONDITION: Estimated population size exceeded 1000, and may be a magnitude higher. 3. REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY a. TYPE OF REPRODUCTION: Seed. b. POLLINATION BIOLOGY: Unknown. c. SEED DISPERSAL AND BIOLOGY: The small seeds may be dispersed by water within a basin; they also lodge in mud, adhering to and transported by animals. F. POPULATION ECOLOGY 1. COMPETITION: Does not grow under continuous emergent cover. 2. HERBIVORY: None. 3. FIRE: Not applicable. G. LAND OWNERSHIP (MONTANA): Public lands on which this species occurs include: Custer National Forest (this study), Flathead National Forest, and Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge. Precise location information is lacking for the other historic collections, which were taken in areas that are mainly privately owned. H. ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS 1. THREATS TO CURRENTLY KNOWN POPULATIONS: None knowTi. 2. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND RESPONSES: No apparent response, either positive or negative, to livestock grazing. 3. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAINTAINING VIABLE POPULATIONS: No special measures have been identified at this time. 4. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT: Species is known from only five locations; therefore, it remains on the state watch list, awaiting further compilation of distribution information. 69 SUMMARY American watenvort is an extremely small plant which is likely to have been overlooked. It is widely distributed in Montana, and there is no evidence to suggest that it is sensitive to disturbance. For these reasons it is being taken off of the Montana Plant Species of Special Concern list and being put onto the watch list. Evax prolifera Nutt, ex DC. RABBIT-TOBACCO Asteraceae PRESENT LEGAL OR OTHER FORMAL STATUS L FEDERAL STATUS a. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE: None. b. U.S. FOREST SERVICE: None. 2. STATE: This species was not previously known from Montana until this study. Its global rank is G5. Because it occupies natural habitat in Montana, it will be added to the State List of Species of Special Concern, and its SRANK will be assigned as "SU" (status unknown). DESCRIPTION L GENERAL NONTECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Small, herbaceous, woolly annual usually under 10 cm tall. The illustration in Figure 18 shows a far more robust plant than any seen in the study area (Figure 19). Leaves alternate, narrowly spatulate, at most 6 mm long. Heads clustered, inconspicuous, surpassed by uppermost leaves. No ray flowers. Florets inconspicuous, intermixed with small, thin, pale bracts, pappus none. 2. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Gray floccose-woolly annuals with slender taproots. Stems erect, 2-10(15) cm tall, simple or branching from base. Rosette leaves 3-6 mm long, usually spatulate, soon disappearing. Cauline leaves alternate, narrowly oblanceolate to spatulate, 3-15 mm long, 1 -nerved, entire. Heads in vei-y dense woolly glomerules terminating stems and branches. Glomerules subtended by leaves 6-12 mm long, and with internal leaves whose tips protrude from between the heads. True involucre absent, the apparent bracts being chaff of the receptacle. Receptacle slightly raised to somewhat conical, chaffy nearly throughout with thin paleae that are 70 semipersistent. Ray florets absent. Outer peripheral florets pistillate and fertile. Pistillate florets with a minute tubular corolla. The few infertile central florets with a 4-toothed corolla, 4 very small anthers, and a non-functional ovary. Achenes oblong-elliptic in outline, compressed, 0.6-0.9 mm long, sharp-edged, yellowish-brown and somewhat translucent; pappus none (Barkley 1986). 3. LOCAL FIELD CHARACTERS: The distinguishing features of £vax prolifera are its small size, woolly appearance, and clustered heads. Close examination reveals alternate leaves, no true involucre and no pappus. Several other small woolly species could be confused with rabbit-tobacco, but can be distinguished as follows: Filago arvensis is usually taller (though still small) with an unbranched stem. Heads are single in leaf axils. The achenes have a pappus of capillaiy brisfles. This species is known from southeast and western Montana (Dom 1984) and northeast Wyoming (Dom 1992). Gnaphalium palustre has a true involucre and a pappus of capillary achenes. Heads are not clustered. This species is known from northeast, central, and western Montana (Dom 1984), occurs tliroughout Wyoming (Dom 1992), and in the Black Hills and along the Missouri River in South Dakota (Van Bruggen 1985). Psilocarphus brevissimus is perhaps the most similar in appearance. Its leaves are mostly opposite. The receptacular bracts are woolly and enclose the florets (those of Evax prolifera are thin, pale, and glabrous). This species is known from north-central Montana (Dom 1 984) and from northeast Wyoming (Dom 1992). C. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 1. GLOBAL RANGE: Southwestern South Dakota, western Nebraska, and Kansas to eastem Colorado; Oklahoma to Texas and Arizona. This species is not knovvTi from Wyoming; its discovery in Montana therefore represents a major range extension. 2. STATE DISTRIBUTION: Known from Powder River County on the Ashland District and from an historic collection in the Fort Keogh Range Experiment Station in Custer County, about. 50 miles farther north (Figure 20). The latter was uncovered in checking the Rocky Mountain Herbarium for other specimens. 71 Evax prolifera From Gleason 1952 72 ^ M )^J^ v^ ^% 73 Evax prolifera Nutt. ex DC. MT, Powder River Co.; T3S R46E Sec 16 NW4 Custer Nat. Forest, Ashland District, ca. 0.5 mi. N of Hwy 212 ca. 3 mi. W of Wilbur Cr. Rd. tumoff. In sagebrush grassland on sparsely-vegetated aree at base of small butte; with Gutierrezia sarothrae, Plantago patagonica. Allium textile. Elev. 3400 ft. as H. Marriott 11570 27JN19 EVAX PROLIFERA on or near the Ashland Ranger District, Montana Species locations from the Montana Natural Heritage Program, March 04, 1996 STUDY AREA DISTRIBUTION: This species was documented in one location above lower Home Creek. It was not systematically surveyed for because it was not recognized as a new addition to the state flora at the time of the fieldwork. Much potential habitat appears to exist. However, the species was not seen elsewhere during the course of the study and is not likely to be common in the area. D. HABITAT 1. ASSOCIATED VEGETATION: Within the study area, £vax ;77-o///e/-a was found at a single location: a sparsely-vegetated site within sagebrush grassland. The central part of the site had less than 10% vegetative cover. Plants occuiTed near the periphery of this open area. Associated species include Gutierrezia sarolhrae. Allium textile, and Plantago patagonica. 2. TOPOGRAPHY: The site is flat, located at the base of a small butte in otherwise rolling upland terrain above lower Home Creek. 3. SOIL RELATIONSHIPS: £vax/7ra///e/-a was growing on light-colored alkaline soil at the base of a butte in an area that is elsewhere well-vegetated with sagebrush grassland. The soil may be colluvial material from the butte strata. POPULATION BIOLOGY AND SPECIES BIOLOGY 1. PHENOLOGY: Both flowering and vegetative individuals were seen in mid June. 2. POPULATION SIZE, STRUCTURE AND TREND: No estimate of population size was made at the time of collection. At least 200 individuals were present (ca. 20 were collected with no significant impact to the population). All individuals were near the lower end of the height range for the species (less than 3 cm tall). 3. REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY a. TYPE OF REPRODUCTION: This annual species reproduces by seed. b. POLLINATION BIOLOGY: Wind pollination likely. c. SEED DISPERSAL AND BIOLOGY: UnknowTi. 75 4. BIOLOGICAL INTERSECTIONS a. COMPETITION: Rabbit-tobacco was found in a sparsely-vegetated site, suggesting that this annual does not tolerate competition. b. HERBIVORY: None apparent. c. FIRE: Not applicable. G. LAND O^VNERSHIP (MONTANA) a. USDA - Agricultural Research Service - Fort Keogh (001) b. USDA - Custer National Forest (002) H. ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS 1. THREATS TO CURRENTLY KNOWN POPULATIONS: No threats are knovkTi, but with only a single brief site visit, data are inadequate for assessment. The area was being grazed at the time of the site visit. 2. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND RESPONSES: Unknown. 3. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAINTAINING VIABLE POPULATIONS: None currently. 4. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT: Systematic surveys for this species are warranted. Additional data on population trends would also be useful, involving periodic site visits throughout the growing season over a course of several years. SUMMARY The flora of southeastern Montana is very poorly known, and it is not currently possible to determine the rarity of Evax prolifera documented for the first time in the state. 76 Geum canadense Jacq. WHITE AVENS Rosaceae A. PRESENT LEGAL OR OTHER FORMAL STATUS L FEDERAL STATUS a. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE: None. b. U.S. FOREST SERVICE: None. 2. STATE: G5 SU (status undetermined). In addition to the widespread alteration of its habitat, its few records and its low population numbers support adding this species to the state list. Its state distribution has not been corroborated so it remains on the watch list. B. DESCRIPTION 1. GENERAL NONTECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Herbaceous perennial with 1 -several stems, 3-10 dm (12-40 in) tall, with compound, divided leaves, differing between base and stem (Figure 21). The basal leaves usually have 3-5 leaflets, occasionally simple. The stem leaves are similar but with short petioles, becoming either more dissected or else simple above. The flowers appear solitary or in an open inflorescence and have 5 white petals. The mature fruiting heads are globose with a persisting segment projecting outward like a bristle. 2. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Perennial herb with short caudices of horizontal rhizomes; stems 1 -several, simple, 3-10 dm tall, glabrous or sparingly hirsute below, becoming densely velvety-puberulent above and on pedicels, with or without scattered long hairs, rarely glandular-pubescent on upper stem and pedicels. Basal leaves simple and undivided to usually having 3-5 larger leaflets, serrate and long petioled; cauline leaves similar, but with shorter petioles and becoming temately cleft or simple above, serrate, acute, stipules 1-2 cm long, ovate-oblong, entire or cleft. Flowers solitary, few or several in a leafy-bracteate asymmetrical cyme. Pedicels velvety-pubescent and with very sparse to somewhat dense long hairs, rarely glandular; hypanthium 2.5-3 mm long, sparsely to densely pubescent; sepals 5, lanceolate to lance-ovate, acuminate 4-8 mm long; petals 5, white, but becoming yellowish, oblong, 5-9 mm long, equaling to longer than sepals; stamens numerous. Mature fruiting heads spherical, 1-2 cm in diameter, with numerous achenes; receptacle densely bristly with long hairs; body of achene 2.5-3.5 mm 77 G. CoHcdense "xisfl X5 Gleason, 1958 78 GEUM CANADENSE on or near the Ashland Ranger District, Montana Species locations from the Montana Natural Heritage Program, March 04, 1996 long, usually hairy above; persistent portion of style 4-7 nim long, glabrous or sparingly hirsute below; deciduous segment of style 1-2 mm long and sparsely bearded at base (Great Plains Flora Association 1986). 3, LOCAL FIELD CHARACTERS: It is readily distinguished from the other white-flowered herbaceous members of the Rose Family with compound leaves, having more leaflets than strawberries (Fragaria spp.) and a persistent style compared to any at>pical white fonns of cinquefoils (Potenlilla spp.). C. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 1. GLOBAL RANGE: Nova Scotia to Montana, south to Texas, Alabama, and Georgia. 2. STATE DISTRIBUTION: Reported from northeast and northcentral Montana (Dom 1984), though we have not been able to locate voucher specimens in Montana herbaria. Its discovery in southeastern Montana is a minor extension from its known distribution in northeast Wyoming. 3. STUDY AREA DISTRIBUTION: Only two populations were found at remote locations, near Poker Jim Butte (T.6S, R.44E, Sec. 8, SW 1/4) and on a sidedraw off of Ash Creek (T.2S, R.46E, Sec. 19, NE 1/4). D. HABITAT 1. ASSOCIATED VEGETATION: The two sites differed in that the Poker Jim site had a watercourse with much more mesic vegetation than the Ash Creek site. The former was along the watercourse, bordered by tall slirubs and pine forest on one side and by tall shrubs and grassland on the other. Associated species are Care.x hoodii and Primus virginiana. The latter was in a Pinus ponderosa/Mahonia repens ht also associated with Carex sprengelii, C. torreyi, Poa pratensis, and Symphoricarpos occidentalis. 2. TOPOGRAPHY: Both sites were near headwaters of forested draw bottoms. 3. SOIL RELATIONSHIPS: Relatively deep loams. E. POPULATION BIOLOGY AND DEMOGRAPHY 1. PHENOLOGY: The species was near peak flowering and was just beginning to form fruits in early July. It has indeterminate flowering, and might be expected to continue producing flowers over the season when provided with adequate moisture. 80 2. POPULATION SIZE AND CONDITION: Only two or three plants were found at the sites in mile habitat traverses that were greater than or equaling Vi mile. 3. REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY a. TYPE OF REPRODUCTION: By seed. b. POLLINATION BIOLOGY: Insect-pollinated. c. SEED DISPERSAL AND BIOLOGY: Unknown. F. POPULATION ECOLOGY 1. COMPETITION: The fact that heavy invasions of exotic species (such as Kentucky bluegrass) were found above and below the populations at both sites suggests that the species' rarity may be due to the competition resulting from habitat alteration. 2. HERBIVORY: Unknown. 3. FIRE: The Ash Creek population is within the area of the 1988 wildfire. G. LAND OWNERSHIP (MONTANA): Land ownership affecting the species is unknown, aside from the two District populations. H. ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS 1. THREATS TO CURRENTLY KNOWN POPULATIONS: Salvage logging operations at the Ash Creek site could eliminate the population by surface disturbance or by fiirther exacerbation of weed invasion. 2. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND RESPONSES: Both populations appear to be relicts of once-larger populations, considering of their land use histories. The Ash Creek population has had moderate livestock use and recent fire. The Poker Jim population is in an area providing pasture for lookout pack animals and for more recent livestock grazing. 3. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAINTAINING VIABLE POPULATIONS: The two known populations are small and may have low viability. While it would be appropriate to address potential impacts of any proposed changes in the areas of these populations, focus should instead be placed upon further 81 assessment in order to locate new populations and to better evaluate the species' status and woody draw protection opportunities. 4. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT: Further survey of woody draws, particularly in the northern end of the District, is needed to round out the local distribution pattern for this and for three other species. This study points to the need for woody draw sensitive species surveys in eastern Montana as a whole. SUMMARY White avens is not being added to the state list because its state distribution has been characterized as spanning northeast and northcentral Montana, even though this is not corroborated by Montana herbarium specimens. Records are being sought in out-of-state herbaria, and the species will subsequently be reevaluated for addition to the state list based on the number of records, collection dates, and information on local rarity. This species constitutes yet another inhabitant of woody draws of which little is known for Montana. Ipomopsis congesia var. pseudotypica (Constance «& Rollins) Dorn syn. Gilia congesta \&r. pseudotypica Constance & Rollins WYOMING BALLHEAD GILIA Polemoniaceae A. PRESENT LEGAL OR OTHER FORMAL STATUS L FEDERAL STATUS a. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE: None. b. U.S. FOREST SERVICE: None. 2. STATE: This taxon was not previously known from Montana. Its global rank is G4T?. This study documented that it is locally widespread and subject to no immediate threats, which would warrant assignment of a rank of "S3" (vulnerable). Additionally, it is placed on the state watch list as a taxon of limited distribution. B. DESCRIPTION L GENERAL NONTECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Herbaceous perennial with the short flowering stems usually overtopped by basal leaves 3-6 cm (1 82 1/4-2 '/2 in) long (Figure 22; Appendix E-13). The basal leaves are linear, simple, numerous, and sometimes conceal the inflorescence. The corolla is white, tube 4-6 mm long, lobes 2-3 mm long. 2. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Perennial, stems several from a deep, usually branching caudex, simple (or rarely branched above) lanate; basal leaves numerous, linear, simple 3-6 cm. Long, sometimes almost concealing the flowering stems; cauline leaves divided, terminal segment exceeding others; inflorescence loosely capitate-glomerate' calyx and bract pilose, lobes acute; corolla salverform, white, tube 4-6 mm long, slightly exceeding calyx, lobes ovate, 2-3 mm long; style exceeding calyx, lobes ovate, 2-3 mm long; style equaling or exceeding corolla-tube, entirely glabrous or pilose below, stigma 3-fid; stamens inserted in sinuses, filaments longer than anthers, anthers rounded to somewhat oblong; capsule globose, maturing 1 or 2 ovules (Rollins and Constance 1936). 3. LOCAL FIELD CHARACTERS: This taxon was placed in Gilia spicata var .capitata by Gray more upon habitat similarity than floral characters. It differs from G. congesta var. crebifolia in having dissected cauline leaves compared to entire cauline leaves, though they are inconspicuous. The type variety of Gilia congesta is also present in the study area, but it is an erect plant having dissected leaves on both the flowering stem and at the base. C. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 1. GLOBAL RANGE: Wyoming ballhead gilia is known from northeastern Wyoming, western South Dakota and western Nebraska (Hartman pers.commun., Cronquist el al. 1984) and is only newly documented from Montana. 2. STATE DISTRIBUTION: The species is known in the state from the Ashland District of the Custer National Forest, where it was discovered in the course of this study, and from two historic collections in central and northern Custer County that were archived at the Rocky Mountain Herbarium (RM) in Laramie, WY (Figure 23). The historic collections were annotated to variety by Marriott and represent the first such collections for Montana. Ipomopsis folders at the Montana State University and at the University of Montana herbaria have been checked to no avail for this variety. 3. STUDY AREA DISTRIBUTION: Preliminary surveys documented 15 occurrences throughout the central and southeastern areas of the District (Figure 23). The plant's consistent association with shale habitats in the limited number of sites that were visited gives reason to infer that it may be locally widespread. 83 U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE Dsteofconccti,^,._J!aiL.iitJL956. i2^4X^sa^_..SX!^;31.4;^3 State..lton.tana-. County Coster— Forest... Exact locality HeHT t Altitutfc.. Tips- fat. Slope.-— ..—.____ Soil»aBdy-io»S^.— --— - Distribution.. ah«r d«u..DpljipdJ.. -.*$ .-e^-!£e...of ,.canvon_. !.eneath Collector's lume LlflCOXtt ElllSOn „ IPOMOPSIS CONGESTA VAR. PSEUDOTYPICA on or near the Ashland Ranger District, Montana ▼ Species locations from the Montana Natural Heritage Program, March 04, 1996 HABITAT ASSOCIATED VEGETATION: Associated vegetation is made up of pioneer communities with very sparse cover, potentially dominated by Agropyron spicatum (Appendix E-14). Some have trace amounts of woody cover {Phms ponderosa. Rhus aromatica, Artemisia cana) that may point to steppe or parkland potential natural vegetation. The associated species vary considerable between sites and may include: Allium textile Andropogon scoparius Artemisia cana Artemisia frigida Artemisia ludoviciana Astragalus barrii Astragalus tenellus Bouteloua curtipendula Bromus japonicus Cer at aides I ana t a Commandra umbellata Cryptantha celosioides Dalea Candida Echinacea angustifolia Eriogonum paucijlorum Gaura coccinea Grindelia squarrosa Gutierrezia sarothrae Hymenoxys richardsonii Koeleria macrantha Lesquerella alpina Linum lewisii Melilotus officinalis Musineon spp. Oxytropis lambertii Penstemon nitidus Phlox alyssifolia Phlox hoodii Pinus ponderosa Polygala alba Psoralea argophylla Rhus aromatica Senecio canus Stephanomeria runcinata 86 Thennopsis rhombifolia ToMusendia hookeri Tragopogon dubius Triodanis perfoUata 2. TOPOGRAPHY: In the study area, the species was found to be restricted to mid- and lower-slope settings. This placement is probably due to substrate preference rather than to slope position preference because it was usually found on erodible shales (see soil infonnation, below) capped by more erosion-resistant layers of sandstone or clinker. The outcrop habitats span a range of elevations and landform settings. 3. SOIL RELATIONSHIPS: This taxon turned up with high consistency on a fine silt substrate of powdery pale-colored shale. It was also found on a cream-colored shale member and occasionally on gravelly substrates associated with the shales or separate from them. The Custer County collections were made from "sandy upland loam" and from "gumbo soil." All settings represent dry, sedimentary outcrop slopes. POPULATION BIOLOGY AND DEMOGRAPHY 1. PHENOLOGY: Wyoming ballhead gilia was collected in late flower on 23 May 1995. Other flowering Montana collections have been made on 17 May and on 6 June. Its ripe fruits dehisce, and only remnants are left by July. 2. POPULATION SIZE AND CONDITION: Survey of this taxon was conducted by taking actual counts in the center of its habitat and then by extrapolating the results across adjoining potential habitat. This was done in July when it was past flower and relatively inconspicuous, so actual counts and estimates are likely to be low. Actual counts ranged from 20-72 plants, and estimated numbers ranged from 30-200 for a given locale. The high habitat fidelity and recurrence of its outcrop habitat in the dissected study area terrain suggest that numerous subpopulations may exist, creating a scattered megapopulation up and down the drainages. Such likelihood was examined along the Ten Mile Creek drainage, where four occurrences were found along over 6 miles of valley in the same settings. 3. REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY a. TYPE OF REPRODUCTION: By seed. b. POLLINATION BIOLOGY: Insect-pollinated. 87 c. SEED DISPERSAL AND BIOLOGY: Unknown. F. POPULATION ECOLOGY 1. COMPETITION: The restriction of this species to very sparsely-vegetated habitats indicates that it may be a poor competitor and instead adapted as a stress-resistant pioneer. Several of the smallest populations had heavy yellow sweetclover (Melilotus officinalis) invasions, whose nitrogen-fixing capacities may veer the course of competition and succession; others also had Venus looking glass {Triodanis perfoliata) present, an adventive native species which has become dominant over some outcrop slopes located farther north on the District. 2. HERBIVORY: None obser\ed. 3. FIRE: This species' habitat would not carry a fire, though fire could expand its potential habitat by setting back encroachment of woody species around the periphery. G. LAND OWNERSHIP (MONTANA): The study area populations are all on the Ashland District of the Custer National Forest. The central Custer County collection was made on the Fort Keogh Range Experiment Station, and the northern Custer County collection was likely to have been made either on private land or on BLM-administered land. H. ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS 1. THREATS TO CURRENTLY KNOWN POPULATIONS: No direct threats were identified. 2. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND RESPONSES: Some of this species' drainage course populations are dissected by roads that follow the drainages; in these cases, road maintenance, weed problems, and weed control activities could impact the species. The few populations with heavy sweetclover invasion were in heavily grazed pastures, so that even while grazing is unlikely to have a direct affect on its outcrop habitat, it may indirectly promote the weed invasions that ultimately outcompete this species. 3. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAINTAINING VIABLE POPULATIONS: No special actions are currently deemed necessary. 4. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT: Survey work for this species was conducted at a relatively late time that was unsuited for making confinnation of Astragalus bairii. The recommendations for extended Astragalus barrii survey should be combined with extended information-gathering on Ipomopsis congesta var. pseudotypica when it is in flower; its state watch Hst status should be re-examined at such time. SUMMARY Wyoming ballhead gilia was found over large portions of the District, suggesting that it is widespread and under no immediate threat. This is the first time that this variety has been reported in Montana. It will be maintained on the state watch list as a taxon of limited distribution, unless a lack of threats or a much broader distribution are confirmed. 89 DISCUSSION Interpretation of results is conditioned by all of the challenging new questions surrounding rare species and their habitats on the Ashland District. Foremost among these questions is the heretofore unrecognized need for making distinctions between Astragalus harhi and A. hyalUms, as the latter has now been documented from the District. Tliree previously - identified^, barhi population sites and four potential ntw A. barrii sites that were found only in vegetative condition need to be revisited and examined during the flowering times of both species in order to make positive identifications. The study results provide evidence to support nomination of Carex gravida as sensitive, in addition to naming two species known only from historical collections in the District {Amorpha canescens and Ceanothus herbaceus) as watch. Two more species that are represented by historical collections among the YCC set of important range plants are recommended for designation after the specimens are verified: Cypripedium calceolus var. parviflorum is already designated as sensitive, and Mentzelia nuda, not previously documented on Montana units of the Custer National Forest, is appropriate for designation as watch. The failure to turn up these two species and many others among the YCC collection that were considered important range plants during the 1930s calls for further investigation. Two new additions to the state flora were documented (Heidel in progress), one of which has provisionally been added to the state list (Evax prolifera), and the other of which is locally widespread and under no immediate tlireats (Ipomopsis congesta var. pseudotypica). The appropriate state status of three species remains undetermined to date. These include: Agastache foeniculum, Geum canadense, and Elatine americana. The first two are eastern deciduous forest species whose documented distributions outside the District in eastern Montana are under review. The latter is a minute aquatic plant which shows little response to disturbance and is knouTi from a few widely-scattered locations in the state. Forest Service T/E/S consideration is not appropriate as such for these three species, and their state statuses remain under review. Many of the target species occupy successional habitats dictated by topographic and edaphic features or by localized habitat features such as wetlands or well-developed woodlands, all of which have not been well-studied in eastern Montana. Wetland and mesic woodland habitats are particularly affected by surrounding land-use practices, so further investigation of these status questions would be appropriate to consider as a management priority. The apparent species' rarity may reflect habitat threats, patchy distribution patterns or simply a general lack of botanical and vegetation information available for eastern Montana. While there are relatively few species that are globally rare in eastern Montana, and relatively little public land, the scarcity of public land places a premium on identifying conservation needs and priorities on the Custer National Forest districts in eastern Montana. In many 90 cases, the patterns of species rarity are indications of localized sensitive features like woody draws that warrant special management consideration. The framework for conducting sensitive species surveys is based on assumptions that targets can be set and that a systematic plan to survey for them can be developed at the onset. The lack of baseline floristic information in southeastern Montana is perhaps the biggest obstacle blocking the development of an effective District sensitive species program. Until we know which species occur in the region, it is difficult to plan a systematic survey. Nor can we make an accurate evaluation of the status of a possibly-rare species without understanding the regional context in which it occurs. Baseline floristic survey followed by rigorous extended sensitive species survey is presented as a course for developing a meaningfiil and effective sensitive species program on the District. Perhaps one of the best models available is the program at the Rocky Mountain Herbarium at the University of Wyoming. Regions of Wyoming have undergone systematic floristic inventory by students and staff, often with at least partial funding coming from Federal agencies. This type of project has become widely-accepted in Wyoming as the first step in effective sensitive species management. Such a broad-brush approach typically yields a list of potentially-rare species with some information on habitat and distribution within the study area. These species can then be targeted for more intensive survey in order to determine status and management needs. The sensitive plant species surv'ey studies conducted on both the Ashland and Sioux Districts advance the winnowing process of collecting and sorting botanical status information in eastern Montana. The results represent interim products rather than complete baselines of Ashland District botanical diversity and its significance. We have not evaluated land use practices potentially affecting Astragalus barrii and those species proposed for sensitive or watch status on the Ashland District. But in one sweeping generalization, we note that noxious weed encroachment is at relatively early stages of invasion across the area, and is among the most serious of potential threats to all species in their habitats. This report, in combination with technical references and the Regional Office guidelines for conducting sensitive plant species biological assessments, provides a starting point for advancing sensitive species conservation and avoiding impacts. 91 LITERATURE CITED Anonymous, 1978. Untitled preliminar)' list of vascular plants of Rosebud County. Bameby, R. C. 1964. Atlas of North Amencan Astragalus. Memoirs of the New York Botanical Garden 13:1143-1156. Booth, W. E. and J. C. Wright. 1959. Flora of Montana, Part I. Monocotyledons. Montana State University, Bozeman. Booth, W.E. and J. C. Wright. 1966. Flora of Montana, Part II. Dicotyledons. Montana State University, Bozeman. 305 pp. Constance, L. and R. C. Rollins. 1936. A revision of G/V/a co«ge5/o and its allies. American Journal of Botany 23:433-440. Dom, R. D. 1977. Flora of the Black Hills. Published by the author. Dom, R. D. 1984. Vascular Plants of Montana. Mountain West Publishing, Cheyenne, WY. 276 pp. Dom, R. D. 1992. Vascular Plants of Wyoming. Mountain West Publishing. Cheyenne, WY. 340 pp. Gleason, H. A. 1952. The new Britton and Brown Illustrated Flora of the Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. New York Botanical Garden. Volume 1. Bronx, NY. Gleason, H. A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada, 2nd ed. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx. 910 pp. Gray, A. 1970. Manual of Botany, 8th ed. D. Van Nostrand Co., New York. 1632 pp. Great Plains Flora Association. 1977. Atlas of the flora of the Great Plains. Iowa University Press, Ames, lA. 600 pp. Great Plains Flora Association, 1986. Flora of the Great Plains. University Press of Kansas. Lawrence, Kansas. 1392 pp. Hansen, P. L. and G. R. Hoffman. 1988. The vegetation of the Grand River/Cedar River, Sioux and Ashland Districts of the Custer National Forest: a habitat type classification. Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-157. USDA Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station, Fort Collins, CO. 68 pp. 92 Heidel, B. L. 1995. Montana plant species of special concern. Unpublished list. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena. 26 pp. Heidel, B. L. In progress. New additions to the Montana flora. Technical manuscript submitted for publication. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena. 7 pp. Heidel, B. L. and K. H. Dueholm. 1995. Sensitive plant species sur\'ey in the Siou.x District of Custer National Forest, Carter County, Montana and Harding County, South Dakota. Unpublished report to the Custer National Forest. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena. 95 pp. plus appendices. Hermann, F. H. 1970. Manual of the carices of the Rocky Mountains and Colorado Basin. Agricultural Handbook No. 374. USDA Forest Service. 397 pp. Hitchcock, A. S. (revised and reprinted by A. Chase). 1971. Manual of the grasses of the United States, 2nd ed. 2 vols. Dover Publications, Inc., New York. Hitchcock, C. L. and A. Cronquist. 1973. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washington Press, Seattle. 730 pp. Hitchcock, C. L., A. Cronquist, M. Ownbey and J.W. Thompson. 1984. Vascular Plants of the Pacific Northwest. University of Washinton Press, Seattle. 5 volume set. Kailesz, J. T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland, 2nd ed. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR. Lesica, P. and P. Achuff 1992. Distribution of vascular plant species of special concern and limited distribution in the Pr)'or Mountain Desert, Carbon County, Montana. Unpublished report to the Bureau of Land Management. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena. 105 pp. 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. Montana Native Plant Society. 1993. Guidelines for collecting plants. Reprint from Kelseya Newsletter. Bozeman, MT. 2 pp. Nelson, R. A. 1977, 2nd ed. Handbook of Rocky Mountain Plants. Skyland Publishers, Estes Park, CO. 93 Reel, S., L. Schassberger, and W. Ruediger. 1989. Caring for our natural community. USDA Forest Service Region 1 - threatened, endangered, and sensitive species program, Missoula, MT. 309 pp. Ross, R. L., B. A. Andrews, and I. J. Witkind. 1955. Geologic map of Montana. U.S. Geological Survey, Washington, D. C. Schassberger, L. A. 1988. Status review of Astragalus barrii, Custer National Forest. Unpublished report. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena. 61 pp. Schassberger, L. A. 1990. Report on the conservation status of Astragalus barrii, a candidate threatened species. Unpublished report to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, Denver. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena. 85 pp. Smith, R. 1976. Ecological and use information for plant species of the Aberdeen and Billings areas of the Bureau of Indian Affairs. USDI Bureau of Indian Affairs, Billings, MT. 228 pp. Taylor, J. no date. Untitled list of plants documented in big game carrying capacity studies on the Ashland District, Custer National Forest. Montana State University, Bozeman. USDA Forest Service - Northern Region. 1995. Update of Northern Region sensitive species list. Unpublished report. Missoula, MT. 19 pp. U.S. Department of Commerce. 1982. Monthly normals of temperature, precipitation, and heating and cooling degree days 1951-1980. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, Climatography of the United States No. 81. 23 pp. USDI Fish and Wildlife Service. 1993. Notice of review: endangered and threatened wildlife and plants: review of plant taxa for listing as endangered or threatened species. Federal Register 58(188):51 144-51 190. Van Bruggen, T. 1985. The vascular plants of South Dakota, 2nd ed. Iowa State Univ. Press, Ames, lA. Vanderhorst, J. 1996. Status report on sensitive lady's-slipper orchids {Cypripedium calceolus var. parviflorum and Cypripedium passerinum) on the Kootenai National Forest. Unpublished report to the Kootenai National Forest. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena. 27 pp. plus appendices. Warren, W. C. 1959. Reconnaissance geology of the Bimey-Broadus coal field, Rosebud and Powder River counties, Montana. U.S. Geological Survey Bull. 1072-J:561-585. 94 Appendix A - Preliminary list of survey target species potentially occurring in Powder River and Rosebud counties On Forest Service land? Scientific Name Common Name Phenology Yes Amorpha canescens Leadplant July No Aster simplex var. ramosissimus Panicled aster late July-August Yes Astragalus barrii Barr's milkvetch May-early June Yes Car ex gravida Pregnant sedge late June-July No Ceanothus herbaceus New Jersey tea late June Yes Dichanthelium oligosanthes var. scribnerianum Scribner's panic grass late June-July No Mentzelia nuda Dwarf mentzelia unknown No Psoralea hypogaea Little indian breadroot May-early June Yes Sphenopholis obtusata var. major Slender wedgegrass July (This is a subset of the list of State Plant Species of Special Concern in Big Horn, Powder River and Rosebud counties based on extrapolation from habitat and distribution information.) Appendix B - Ashland District areas suneyed for sensitive plant species (This list is organized alphabetically by the map name of the USGS Quad (7.5'). The maps showing survey routes on the annotated Custer National Forest map follows. Aimotated topo maps are available upon request.) BEAVER CREEK SCHOOL T.2SR.46E Sec. 19 El/2 Sec. 20 NWl/4ofNEl/4 Sec. 23 Sec. 24 Sl/2 NEl/4 of NWl/4: NWl/4 of NEl/4 BIRNEY DAY SCHOOL T.5S R.43E Sec. 21 Sec. 22 SWl/4 BLOOM CREEK T.7S R.48E Sec. 8 El/2 BROWNS MOUNTAIN T.5S R.43E Sec. 35 El/2 T.6S R. 44E Sec. 4 Wl/2 Sec. 6 NEl/4 of NEl/4 T.6S R.43E Sec. 12 El/2ofSEl/4 Sec. 23 SEl/4 of SEl/4; NEl/4 of NEl/4 COLEMAN DRAW T.3S R.46E Sec. 9 SWl/4ofSWl/4 Sec. 16 NWl/4 Sec. 17 FORT HOWES T.6S R.45E Sec. 9 Sec. 13 El/2 of NEl/4 Sec. 14 Sl/2 of NEl/4 Sec. 24 NEl/4 of NWl/4; NEl/4 Sec. 16 SWl/4ofSWl/4 Sec. 17 Sl/2 of SEl/4 Sec. 36 El/2 of SWl/4; SEl/4 T.7S R.46E Sec. 1 NEl/4 of NEl/4 GREEN CREEK T.5S R.44E Sec. 9 El/2 Sec. 10 Nl/2;Nl/2ofSWl/4 HAMILTON DRAW T.7S R.45E Sec. 17 Wl/2ofSWl/4 Sec. 18 El/2ofSEl/4 Sec. 19 NEl/4 Sec. 20 NWl/4 of NWl/4 HOME CREEK BUTTE T.3S R.46E Sec. 1 NEl/4ofSWl/4;NWl/4ofSEl/4 Sec. 13 Wl/2 T.3S R.47E Sec. 4 NWl/4 Sec. 20 SEI/4ofSEl/4 Sec. 29 NEl/4ofNEl/4 Sec. 22 Sl/2ofSEl/4 Sec. 23 SWl/4ofSWl/4;El/2 T.4S R.47E Sec. 2 NEl/4ofSWl/4 Sec. 4 SWl/4ofSWl/4 Sec. 5 SEl/4 KING MOUNTAIN T.5S R.45E Sec. 21 Sec. 22 SWl/4 of NWl/4 OTTER T.7S R.45E Sec. 21 El/2ofSEl/4 Sec. 22 Wl/2 of SW 1/4 Sec. 27 NWl/4 of NWl/4 Sec. 23 SEl/4ofSWl/4 Sec. 26 NWl/4 PHILLIPS BUTTE T.6S. R.47E Sec. 28 El/2 Sec. 36 NEl/4ofNEl/4 T.6S R.48E Sec. 30 W'/2 Sec. 31 Nl/2 of NWl/4 POKER JIM BUTTE T.5S R.43E Sec. 33 Sec. 36 El/2ofSWl/4 T.6S R.43E Sec. 4 SWl/4 OF SWl/4 Sec. 5 El/2 Sec. 8 Sec. 9 S 1/2 of SWl/4 Sec. 16 Nl/2ofNWl/4 Sec. 17 Nl/2ofNEl/4 Sec. 1 NEl/4 T.6S R.45E Sec. 7 NEl/4 of SWl/4 REANUS CONE T.7S R.46E Sec. 12 SEl/4 T.7S R.47E Sec. 30 SEl/4ofNWl/4 SAYLE T.7S R.47E Sec. 12 Sl/2 of SWl/4 Sec. 13 Nl/2 of SWl/4; NWl/4 T.7S R.48E Sec. 7 SEl/4 of SWl/4 Sec. 18 SWl/4 Sec. 30 STAGEY T.46ER.1S Sec. 25 T.47ER.1S Sec. 30 T.46E R.2S Sec. 24 T.47E R.2S Sec. 7 Sec. 19 THREEMILE BUTTES T.4S R.46E Sec. 25 Sec. 36 T.4SR.47E Sec. 31 NWl/4 of NWl/4 Sl/2 of NEl/4 Sl/2 of NWl/4 El/2 El/2 of SEl/4 SEl/4 of SWl/4 El/2 of NEl/4 NWl/4 THREEMILE BUTTES (cont.) T.5S R.47E Sec. 2 Wl/2 Sec. 19 NWl/4 of NWl/4 Sec. 20 NWl/4ofSWl/4;NEl/ Sec. 32 SWl/4ofSWl/4 WILLOW CROSSING T.3S R.45E Sec. 3 SWl/4 Sec. 14 YAGER BUTTE T.5SR.46E Sec. 14 NWl/4 of SWl/4 Sec. 24 SWl/4 Sec. 26 Sec. 35 Nl/2 Sec. 27 Nl/2 of NWl/4 Sec. 28 SEI/4ofSEl/4 Sec. 33 Nl/2; NWl/4 of SWl/4 Sec. 31 NWl/4 Sec. 33 Sl/2 of NWl/4 Survey routes Ashland District southeast SQ-<8 -^ " 1 -^ 4:1-; ^^t'JE \d amoTO- «v^s3 ^xi.M 3i-f ^^i^5^>^^^ C"ci<7\--.^ 8 „■ Survey routes ' iA. • :•:. .ix/Uri^^^'^ijLLl jjF survey rou tes Ashland District southwest ^■^ ^^s-" " >•= [ ^ 1' r - ' 1 -ll^^ ^3 1 O ^^^k < Survey routes Ashland district central L^, M ->-^y. 1 Survey routes ;,^ Ashland District northeast ^^>^ 7-. -Sv,,, T_, "■_ ~t^ ^,^ pUlTlP Hcrka Survey routes ^* I 0'-^'° 1 Ashland District northwe a^4 00 PLANTS, VEGETATIVE. General site description: DRY CREST AND UPPERSLOPE OFTEN IN SANDSTONE OUTCROPS; OPEN TO PARTIAL SHADE. SANDSTONE PARENT MATERIAL. ASSOCIATED SPECIES: ANDROPOGON SCOPARIUS, AGROPYRON SPICATUM, ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA, A. FRIGIDA, KOELERIA MACRANTHA, YUCCA GLAUCA. Land owner/manager: CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST, ASHLAND RANGER DISTRICT • Comments: OBSERVED BY H. MARRIOTT. NOT ALL SUITABLE HABITAT IN AREA SURVEYED. Information source: HEIDEL, B. L. AND H. MARRIOTT. 1996. SENSITIVE PLANT SPECIES SURVEY OF THE ASHLAND DISTRICT, CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST, POWDER RIVER AND ROSEBUD COUNTIES, MT. UNPUBLISHED REPORT TO THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE. MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM. PP. Specimens : viarch 12, 1996 MONTANA NATXmAL HERITAGE PROGRAM Element Occurrence Record Scientific Name: ASTRAGALUS BARRII Common Name: BARR'S MILKVETCH Global rank: G3 Forest Service status: SENSITIVE State rank: S3 Federal Status: 3C Element occurrence code: PDFAB0F150 . 034 ID: ? Element occurrence type: Survey site name: BLOOM CREEK EO rank: EO rank comments: County: POWDER RIVER USGS quadrangle: BLOOM CREEK Township: Range: Section: TRS comments: 007S 048E 23 SE4NE4, NE4SE4, CENTER; 15 SE4; 14 SW4 Precision: S Survey date: Elevation: 3600 - 3700 First observation: 1995-05-25 Slope/aspect: 0-30+% / ALL Last observation: 1995-05-29 Size (acres): 5 Location: , TAKE POWDER RIVER ROAD TO MOORHEAD FROM BROADUS . AFTER 20-25 MILES, I TURN UP BLOOM CREEK (ROAD SIGN READS "TO FORT HOWES"). PLANTS ARE JUST INSIDE FOREST BOUNDARY ON LOWER RIDGES ON SOUTHWEST SIDE OF DRAINAGE. Element occurrence data: 3 SUBPOPULATIONS WITH 400, 30, AND 13 PLANTS; ALL VEGETATIVE. General site description: OPEN TO PARTIALLY SHADED, DRY BREAKLANDS ASSOCIATED WITH SANDSTONE OUTCROPS. SANDY-SILTY SOIL, OFTEN WITH MANY ROCK FRAGMENTS. LOTS OF PINE DUFF IN SOME AREAS. DOMINATED BY PINUS PONDEROSA, JUNIPERUS SCOPULORUM. OTHER ASSOCIATED SPECIES: CAREX FILIFOLIA, ANDROPOGON SCOPARIUS, ARISTIDA LONGISETA, BOUTELOUA GRACILIS, YUCCA GLAUCA, GUTIERREZIA SAROTHRAE. Land owner /manager : CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST, ASHLAND RANGER DISTRICT Comments : I VEGETATIVE MATERIAL ONLY; CONFORMATION IN FLOWER WARRANTED. OBSERVED BY H. MARRIOTT. NATURAL EROSION ON STEEPER, SPARSELY-VEGETATED SLOPES I PRODUCES PEDESTALLED PLANTS. Information source: BOTANIST, MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM, 1515 EAST SIXTH AVENUE, HELENA, MT 59620-1800. Specimens ; March 12, 19 96 MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM Element Occurrence Record 'scientific Name: ASTRAGALUS BARRII Common Name: BARR'S MILKVETCH Global rank: G3 Forest Service status: SENSITIVE State rank: S3 Federal Status: 3C Element occurrence code: PDFAB0F150 . 036 ID: ? Element occurrence type: Survey site name: WILBUR CREEK EO rank: EG rank comments: County: POWDER RIVER USGS quadrangle: HOME CREEK BUTTE Township: Range: Section: TRS comments: 003S 046E 13 NW4 Precision: S Survey date: Elevation: 3540 - 3600 First observation: 1995-06-25 Slope/aspect: 0-45% / ALL Last observation: 1995-06-25 Size (acres): 2 Location: FROM HWY 212 EAST OF ASHLAND, TAKE WILBUR CREEK ROAD (#775) NORTH CA. I 0.5 MILE. SITE IS ON BADLANDS-TYPE BUTTES AND RIDGES ON LEFT BEFORE DROPPING DOWN TO WILBUR CREEK. Element occurrence data: 350-400 INDIVIDUALS IN 3 SUBPOPULATIONS; VEGETATIVE. General site description: DRY, OPEN LOWERSLOPE THROUGH CREST. ASSOCIATED WITH SOME SPARSELY-VEGETATED SANDSTONE OUTCROPS AND IN SMALL ERODED GULLY AT BASE OF RIDGE. SANDY-SILTY SOIL, WHITISH TO SANDY IN COLOR. ASSOCIATED SPECIES: HAPLOPAPPUS ARMERIOIDES, AGROPYRON SPICATUM, COMMANDRA UMBELLATA, HYMENOPAPPUS POLYCEPHALUS, CAREX FILI FOLIA. Land owner/manager: CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST, ASHLAND RANGER DISTRICT Comments : OBSERVED BY H. MARRIOTT. VEGETATIVE MATERIAL ONLY; CONFORMATION IN FLOWER WARRANTED. Information source: SENSITIVE PLANT COORDINATOR, CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST, 2602 FIRST AVENUE NORTH, P.O. BOX 2556, BILLINGS, MT 59103. Specimens : March 12, 1996 MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM Element Occurrence Record Scientific Name: ASTRAGALUS BARRII Common Name: BARR'S MILKVETCH Global rank: G3 Forest Service status: SENSITIVE State rank: S3 Federal Status: 3C Element occurrence code: PDFAB0F150 . 037 ID: Y Element occurrence type: Survey site name: HORSE CREEK / OTTER CREEK EO rank: EO rank comments: County: POWDER RIVER USGS quadrangle: FORT HOWES Township: Range: Section: TRS comments 006S 045E 36 NE4SW4 007S 045E 1 NE4NE4 Precision: S Survey date: Elevation: 3400 - 3800 First observation: 1995-05-24 Slope/aspect: 0-30% / ALL Last observation: 1995-05-24 Size (acres) : 1 Location: RIDGE NORTHWEST OF CONFLUENCE OF HORSE AND OTTER CREEKS. ONE SUBPOPULATION IS ON WEST SIDE OF KNOB BETWEEN OTTER CREEK ROAD AND ABANDONED ROAD (SOUTH OF OLD SCHOOL) . OTHER SUBPOPULATION IS ALONG RIDGECREST CA. 0.8 AIR MILE TO THE NORTHWEST; THIS SITE IS JUST OFF OTTER CREEK ROAD CA. 2.5 MILES SOUTH OF FORT HOWES WORK CENTER. Element occurrence data: SOUTHERN SUBPOPULATION HAS CA. 50 PLANTS, >90 FLOWERING, REMAINDER VEGETATIVE. NORTHERN SUBPOPUL.ATION HAS 150-200 PLANTS, CA. 75% FLOWERING, REMAINDER VEGETATIVE. General site description: PARTIALLY SHADED, DRY CREST AND UPPERSLOPE WITH SMALL SANDSTONE OUTCROPS. SANDY-SILTY BREAKLANDS. PINUS PONDEROSA AND JUNIPERUS SCOPULORUM WITH SPARSE UNDERSTORY DOMINATES SOUTHERN SUBPOPULATION. ASTRAGALUS BARRII DOMINATES NORTHERN SUBPOPULATION. ASSOCIATED SPECIES: COMMANDRA UMBELLATA, CAREX FILIFOLIA, ANDROPOGON SCOPARIUS. Land owner/manager: CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST, ASHLAND RANGER DISTRICT Comments : OBSERVED BY H. MARRIOTT. NATURAL EROSION ON STEEPER SLOPES HAS PRODUCED PEDESTALED PLANTS. Information source: HEIDEL, B. L. AND H. MARRIOTT. 1996. SENSITIVE PLANT SPECIES SURVEY OF THE ASHLAND DISTRICT, CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST, POWDER RIVER AND ROSEBUD COUNTIES, MT. UNPUBLISHED REPORT TO THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE. MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM. PP. Specimens : ^arch 12, 1996 MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM Element Occurrence Record FScientific Name: CAREX GRAVIDA Common Name: PREGNANT SEDGE Global rank: G5 State rank: SI Forest Service status: Federal Status: Element occurrence code: PMCYPOSSGO . 002 Element occurrence type: Survey site name: HAY CREEK EG rank: EO rank comments: County: ROSEBUD USGS quadrangle: POKER JIM BUTTE Township: Range: Section: TRS comments; 005S 044E 33 SE4SW4 Precision: S Survey date: First observation: 1955-07-21 Last observation: 1995-07-06 Elevation: 3880 - Slope/aspect: LEVEL Size (acres) : 10 Location: (CA. 8 MILES EAST OF RANCH. ilRNEY) NEAR THE HEAD OF HAY CREEK AT FLETCHER Element occurrence data: 1995: UNCOMMON WITH 8 VIGOROUS CLUMPS IN NARROW BAND OF HABITAT. 1955; IN FRUIT. General site description: MOIST SOIL IN BOTTOM OF STEEP-SIDED OLD GROWTH PINE DRAW. ASSOICATED SPECIES: CAREX SPRENGELII, POA PRATENSIS, PRUNUS VIRGINIANA, AND LOW AMOUNTS OF MEDICAGO LUPULINA FROM LIMITED CATTLE TRAILING. Land owner/manager: PRIVATELY OWNED LAND (INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE) CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST, ASHLAND RANGER DISTRICT Comments: SITE IS MOST INTACT OF MESIC HABITAT IN SW4 , YEARS . BURNED WITHIN LAST 20 Information source: HEIDEL, B. L. AND H. MARRIOTT. 1996. SENSITIVE PLANT SPECIES SURVEY OF THE ASHLAND DISTRICT, CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST, POWDER RIVER AND ROSEBUD COUNTIES, MT. UNPUBLISHED REPORT TO THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE. MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM. PP. Specimens: BENNETT, H. R. (S.N.). 1955. WTU. HEIDEL, B. L. (1337). 1995. MONTU. January 4, 1996 MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM Element Occurrence Record i Scientific Name: CAREX GRAVIDA Common Name : PREGNANT SEDGE Global rank: G5 State rank: SI Forest Service status: Federal Status: Element occurrence code : Element occurrence type : PMCYP035G0.004 Survey site name: EAST FORK OTTER CREEK EO rank: C EO rank comments : County: POWDER RIVER USGS quadrangle: BEAVER CREEK SCHOOL Township: Range: Section: TRS comments: 002S 046E 23 SE4SE4 Precision: S Survey date: 1995-07-03 First observation: 1995-06-24 Last observation: 1995-07-03 Elevation: 3900 Slope/aspect: LEVEL Size (acres) : 1 Location: CA. 5 MILES EAST OF ASHLAND ON HWY 212, CA. RD 423, CA. 1.5 MILES WEST ON FS RD 1409. 10.5 MILES NORTHEAST ON FS Element occurrence data: 2 0+ WIDELY SCATTERED VIGOROUS CLUMPS, 1995. IN VERY EARLY FRUIT 24 JUNE General site description: UPPER SHELTERED END OF DRAW IN PINUS PONDEROSA/MAHONIA REPENS HABITAT TYPE, WITH WIDELY SCATTERED AJ^ELANCHIER ALNIFOLIA THICKETS AND A POPULUS TREMULOIDES CLONE IN NARROW BOTTOM. MOST OF POPULATION IS NEAR ASPEN CLONE, IN PARTIAL SHADE. ASSOCIATED SPECIES: CAREX TORREYI , C. HOODII, APOCYNUM ANDROSAEMIFOLIUM. Land owner/manager : CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST, ASHLAND RANGER DISTRICT Comments : OBSERVED BY H. MARRIOTT. PLANT OCCURS IN SAME LOCAL! SCRIBNERIANUM BUT ON MORE LEVEL, SHADED SETTING. AS DICHANTHELIUM Information source: HEIDEL, B. L. AND H. MARRIOTT. 1994. SENSITIVE PLANT SPECIES SURVEY OF THE ASHLAND DISTRICT, CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST, POWDER RIVER AND ROSEBUD COUNTIES, MT. UNPUBLISHED REPORT TO THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE. MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAJ^ . PP. Specimens : 'January 3, 19 96 MONTANA NATUR7VL HERITAGE PROGRAM Element Occurrence Record Scientific Name: CEANOTHUS HERBACEUS VAR PUBESCENS Common Name : NEW JERSEY TEA Global rank: G?T? Forest Service status: State rank: SI Federal Status: Element occurrence code: PDRHA04 0K1 . 0 01 Element occurrence type : Survey site name: SAYLE EO rank : EG rank comments : County: POWDER RIVER USGS quadrangle: SAYLE Township: Range: Section: TRS comments: 007S 047E 16 Precision: G Survey date: 1948-06-17 Elevation: 3860 First observation: 1948 Slope/aspect: Last observation: 1948-06-17 Size (acres) : 0 Location: 30 MI. SW. OF BROADUS, NEAR SAYLE (HISTORICAL COLLECTION). Element occurrence data: FEW PLANTS; P. LESICA "THOROUGHLY SEARCHED THE AREA ALONG THE MAIN BLOOM CREEK ROAD AS WELL AS THE AREA AROUND OTHER NEARBY ROADS. . .WITH NO SUCCESS" (SEE EF) . General site description: N. SLOPE; GRASSY, PINE COVERED HILL. Land owner/manager : PRIVATELY OWNED LAND (INDIVIDUAL OR CORPORATE) CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST, ASHLAND RANGER DISTRICT Comments : Information source: LESICA, PETER. DIVISION OF BIOLOGICAL SCIENCES, UNIVERSITY OF MONTANA, MISSOULA, MT 59812. PHONE 406/728-8740. Specimens: BOOTH (S.N.). 1948. MONT. March 12, 1996 MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM Element Occurrence Record Scientific Name: DICHANTHELIUM OLIGOSANTHES VAR SCRIBNERIANUM Common Name: SCRIBNER'S PANIC GRASS Global rank: G5T5 Forest Service status: State rank: SI Federal Status: Element occurrence code: PMPOA240Q2 . 002 Element occurrence type: Survey site name: EAST FORK OTTER CREEK EO rank: D EO rank comments: County: POWDER RIVER USGS quadrangle: BEAVER CREEK SCHOOL Township: Range: Section: TRS comments: 002S O-ieE 23 SE4SE4 Precision: S Survey date: 1995-07-03 Elevation: 3920 - First observation: 1995-07-03 Slope/aspect: 2-15% / SOUTH Last observation: 1995-07-03 Size (acres): 1 Location: TRAVEL CA. 5 MILES EAST OF ASHLAND ON HWY 212, CA. 10.5 MILES I NORTHEAST ON FS RD 423, THEN CA. 1.5 MILES WEST ON FS RD 1409. Element occurrence data: UNCOMMON; ONLY 5 PLANTS FOUND IN 2 SUBPOPULATIONS, IN VERY EARLY FRUIT 3 JULY 1995. General site description: UPPER END OF DRAW IN PINUS PONDEROSA/MAHONIA REPENS HABITAT TYPE. IN SEMI-OPEN POCKETS, IN A SIDEARM MEADOW AND 0!-i LOWER SOUTH-FACING SLOPE. ASSOCIATED SPECIES: AGROPYRON SPICATUM, CAREX SPRENGELII, POA PRATENSIS. Land owner/manager: CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST, ASHLAND RANGER DISTRICT Comments : OBSERVED BY B. HEIDEL. PLANT OCCURS IN SAME LOCALE AS CAREX GRAVIDA, BUT ON MORE WELL-DRAINED, OPEN SETTINGS. Information source: HEIDEL, B. L. AND H. MARRIOTT. 1996. SENSITIVE PLANT SPECIES SURVEY OF THE ASHLAND DISTRICT, CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST, POWDER RIVER AND ROSEBUD COUNTIES, MT. UNPUBLISHED REPORT TO THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE. MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM. PP. Specimens; n^ T' T q:^^' ^=-; ^•/f ^-^ March 12, 1996 MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM Element Occurrence Record Scientific Name: DICHANTHELIUM OLIGOSANTHES VAR SCRIBNERIANUM Common Name: SCRIBNER'S PANIC GRASS Global rank: G5T5 Forest Service status: State rank: SI Federal Status: Element occurrence code: PMPOA240Q2 . 003 Element occurrence type: Survey site name: CABIN CREEK EG rank: D EO rank comments: County: POWDER RIVER USGS quadrangle: BEAVER CREEK SCHOOL Township: Range: Section: TRS comments: 002S 046E 20 NW4NE4 Precision: S Survey date: 1995-07-03 Elevation: 3900 - First observation: 1995-07-03 Slope/aspect: 0% / NW Last observation: 1995-07-03 Size (acres) : 1 Location: TRAVEL CA. 5 MILES EAST OF ASHLAND ON HWY 212, CA. 10.5 MILES I NORTHEAST ON FS RD 423, THEN CA. 5.5 MILES WEST ON FS RD 1409. Element occurrence data: 5 MULTI-STEMMED PLANTS IN ONE CLUSTER; FRUITING RELATIVELY EARLY 3 JULY 1995 IN A BURNED AREA. General site description: HEADWATERS OF DRAW ABOVE CABIN CREEK ON GENTLE UPPER END IN AREA OF OPEN PINE STAND KILLED IN CROWN FIRE. ASSOCIATED SPECIES: CAREX DEWEYANA, POA PRATENSIS, ASTRAGALUS AMERICANUS, A. AGRESTIS. Land owner/manager: CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST, ASHLAND RANGER DISTRICT Information source: HEIDEL, B. L. AND H. MARRIOTT. 1996. SENSITIVE PLANT SPECIES SURVEY OF THE ASHLAND DISTRICT, CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST, POWDER RIVER AND ROSEBUD COUNTIES, MT. UNPUBLISHED REPORT TO THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE. MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM. PP. Specimens: K T"^ >-^^ \ / / \ ' -!i, iT' .-^( /c^ ^_ r •■J ] jj ) RaerSon Vo «? ^ March 1, 19 9 6 MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM Element Occurrence Record r Scientific Name: ASTRAGALUS BARRII Common Name: BARR'S MILKVETCH Global rank: G3 Forest Service status: SENSITIVE State rank: S3 Federal Status: 3C Element occurrence code: PDFAB0F150 . 012 ID: Y Element occurrence type: Survey site name: TAYLOR BUTTE RIM EO rank: A EO rank comments: EXCELLENT SITE NATURALLY PROTECTED BY CLIFFLINE. County: POWDER RIVER USGS quadrangle: FORT HOWES Township: Range: Section: TRS comments: 006S 046E 30 E2 Precision: S Survey date: 1988-05-14 Elevation: 3400 - First observation: 1988 Slope/aspect: Last observation: 1988-05-14 Size (acres): 35 Location: CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST, 0.5 MILES EAST OF OTTER CREEK ROAD ON SOUTH ^ FORK OF TAYLOR CREEK ROAD, CLIFFLINE TO EAST. Element occurrence data: CA. 2000 INDIVIDUALS SCATTERED ABOVE AND BELOW CLIFF LINE. General site description: ABOVE AND BELOW ERODING CLIFFLINE; SILTY CLAY; OPEN PINUS PONDEROSA, JUNIPERUS SCOPULORUM WITH ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA AND HAPLOPAPPUS ARMERIOIDES. Land owner /manager : CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST, ASHLAND RANGER DISTRICT Comments : MONTU; SEE GMF FOR BASE MAP SHOWING SUBPOPULATIONS . Information source: SCHASSBERGER, L. S. 1988. [FIELD SURVEYS IN POWDER RIVER AND ROSEBUD COS. OF 12-21 MAY (ASTRAGALUS BARRII) .] Specimens: SCHASSBERGER, L. A. (179). 1988. MONTU. ^^ V J March 1, 1996 MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM Element Occurrence Record Scientific Name: ASTRAGALUS BARRII Common Name: BARR'S MILKVETCH Global rank: G3 Forest Service status: SENSITIVE State rank: S3 Federal Status: 3C Element occurrence code: PDFAB0F150 . 013 ID: Y Element occurrence type: Survey site name: STAG ROCK CLIFF TOPS EO rank: BC EO rank comments: GOOD-SIZED POPULATION; NOT FLOWERING EXTENSIVELY. County: POWDER RIVER USGS quadrangle: FORT HOWES Towns! 006S 006S nip: Range: 045E 04 6E Section: TRS 13 NE4 18 SW4 comments: First Last Precision: Survey date: observation: observation: s 1988-05-19 1988 1988-05-19 Elevation: 3340 Slope/aspect : Size (acres) : 45 Location: ^ CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST, 1.5 MILES NORTH OF FORT HOWES RANGER STATION, P 0.25 MILE WEST OF OTTER CREEK ROAD, SW OF STAG ROCK. Element occurrence data: CA. 1750 PLANTS IN 3 SUBPOPULATIONS SCATTERED ALONG CLIFF- LINE; LESS THAN 10 PERCENT IN FLOWER; LARGE MATS. General site description: ERODING CLIFF-LINES IN SILTY-CLAY SOILS, BENEATH MODERATE COVER OF PINUS PONDEROSA AND JUNIPERUS SCOPULORUM, WITH CALAMOVILFA LONGIFOLIA AND ANDROPOGON SCOPARIUS. Land owner /manager : CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST, ASHLAND RANGER DISTRICT Comments : SEE GMF FOR BASE MAP SHOWING SUBPOPULATIONS. Information source: SCHASSBERGER, L. S. 1988. [FIELD SURVEYS IN POWDER RIVER AND ROSEBUD COS. OF 12-21 MAY (ASTRAGALUS BARRII) .] Specimens: SCHASSBERGER, L. A. (190, 191). 1988. MONTU. March 1, 1996 MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM Element Occurrence Record Scientific Name: ASTRAGALUS BARRII Common Name: BARR'S MILKVETCH Global rank: G3 Forest Service status: SENSITIVE State rank: S3 Federal Status: 3C Element occurrence code: PDFAB0F150 . 010 ID: Y Element occurrence type: Survey site name: STAG ROCK KNOLLS EO rank: B EO rank comments: GRAZED SITE CLOSE TO ROAD. County: POWDER RIVER USGS quadrangle: FORT HOWES Township: Range: Section: TRS comments: 006S 045E 12 SW4 ; 13 NW4 Precision: S Survey date: 1988-05-14 Elevation: 3450 - First observation: 1988 Slope/aspect: Last observation: 1988-05-14 Size (acres) : 15 Location: CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST, 1.5 MILES NORTH OF FORT HOWES RANGER STATION, 0.5 MILE WEST OF OTTER CREEK ROAD, NW OF STAG ROCK. clement occurrence data: CA. 1250 PLANTS, IN 4 SUBPOPULATIONS; FLOWERING. General site description: ERODING HILLSIDES AND KNOLLS, IN SILTY-CLAY DERIVED SOILS; OPEN SOIL BENEATH PINUS PONDEROSA, JUNIPERUS SCOPULORUM, WITH ARTEMISIA TRIDENTATA. Land owner /manager : CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST, ASHLAND RANGER DISTRICT Information source: SCHASSBERGER, L. S. 1988. [FIELD SURVEYS IN POWDER RIVER AND ROSEBUD COS. OF 12-21 MAY (ASTRAGALUS BARRII) . ] Specimens: SCHASSBERGER, L. A. (176, 177, 180). 1988. MONTU. ^ ^^> . ^^1- ^v _3^59j|_ w'o^^^^^^^^^ Creek > f'p March 12, 1996 MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM Element Occurrence Record Scientific Name: DICHANTHELIUM OLIGOSANTHES VAR SCRIBNERIANUM Common Name: SCRIBNER'S PANIC GRASS Global rank: G5T5 Forest Service status: State rank: SI Federal Status: Element occurrence code: PMPOA240Q2 . 001 Element occurrence type: Survey site name: BLOOM CREEK EO rank: EO rank comments: County: POWDER RIVER USGS quadrangle: SAYLE Township: Range: Section: TRS comments: 007S 047E 13 007S 048E 7 Precision: G Survey date: 1984- - Elevation: 3800 - First observation: 1948 06-19 Slope/aspect: Last observation: 1995 Size (acres) : 0 ition: BLOOM CREEK DRAINAGE, 30 MILES SW OF BROADUS (HISTORICAL COLLECTION) . Ele.nent occurrence data: UNKNOWN; SOME FIELD SURVEYS DONE IN 1984 AND IN 1995, BUT SPECIES NOT RELOCATED: LESICA "....SEARCHED ALONG THE ROADS IN THE BLOOM CREEK DRAINAGE EAST OF FORT HOWES WITHOUT SUCCESS." (SEE EF) . General site description: ALONG MOIST DITCH, PLANTS SCATTERED IN BUNCHGRASS UNDER PINUS PONDEROSA. Land owner /manager : CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST, ASHLAND RANGER DISTRICT Information source: HEIDEL, B. L. AND H. MJVRRIOTT. 1996. SENSITIVE PLANT SPECIES SURVEY OF THE ASHLAND DISTRICT, CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST, POWDER RIVER AND ROSEBUD COUNTIES, MT. UNPUBLISHED REPORT TO THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE. MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM. PP. Specimens: BOOTH, W. E. (2599). 19 JUNE 1948. MONT. March 12, 1996 MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAM Element Occurrence Record I Scientific Name: EVAX PROLIFERA Common Name: BIG-HEAD EVAX Global rank: G5 Forest Service status: State rank: SI Federal Status: Element occurrence code: PDAST3S050 . 002 Element occurrence type: Survey site name: HOME CREEK EO rank: EO rank comments: County: POWDER RIVER USGS quadrangle: COLEMAN DRAW Township: Range: Section: TRS comments: 003S 04 6E 16 NE4NW4 Precision: S Survey date: Elevation: 3400 First observation: 1995-06-27 Slope/aspect: LEVEL Last observation: 1995-06-27 Size (acres) : 1 Location: CA. 10 MILES EAST OF ASHLAND, CA. 0.5 MILES NORTH OF HWY 212. Element occurrence data: AT LEAST 200 PLANTS IN AN AREA LESS THAN 100 SQUARE METERS, AS DETERMINED IN PRELIMINARY SURVEY. BOTH FLOWERING AND VEGETATIVE PLANTS PRESENT 27 JUNE 1995. G'r.eral site description: BASE OF SMJ^LL BUTTE IN ROLLING UPLANDS ON OPEN OUTWASH FLAT OF LIGHT-COLORED, FINE, POSSIBLY ALKALINE SOIL. SPARSE VEGETATION INCLUDES: GUTIERREZIA SAROTHRAE, PLANTAGO PATAGONICIA, ALLIUM TEXTILE. SURROUNDED BY SAGEBRUSH GRASSLAND. Land owner /manager : CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST, ASHLAND RANGER DISTRICT Information source: HEIDEL, B. L. AND H. MARRIOTT. 1996. SENSITIVE PLANT SPECIES SURVEY OF THE ASHLAND DISTRICT, CUSTER NATIONAL FOREST, POWDER RIVER AND ROSEBUD COUNTIES, MT. UNPUBLISHED REPORT TO THE U.S. FOREST SERVICE. MONTANA NATURAL HERITAGE PROGRAl'l. PP. Specimens: MARRIOTT, H. (11570). 1995. MONT, RM . !R. HARTMAN . Appendix D. Preliminary list of vascular plants on the Custer National Forest, Ashland District' ACERACEAE Acer glabrum* Acer negundo AGAVACEAE Yucca glauca ALISMATACEAE Alisma gramineum ANACARDIACEAE Rhus trilobata Toxicodendron rydbergii APIACEAE Berula erecta Cicuta douglasii Conium maculatum Cymopterus acaulis Heracleuni lanatum Lomatium foeniculaceum Musineon divaricatum Osmorhiza longistylis^ Perideridia gairdneri Sanicula marilandica APOCYNACEAE Apocynum androsaemifolium Apocynum cannabinum ASCLEPIADACEAE Asclepias viridiflora ASTERACEAE Achillea millefolium Acroptilon repens (Centaurea repens) 1 Species marked by an asterisk were collected by CCC collectors in the 1930s but were not observed in the course of 1995 fieldwork. -Voucher specimens were collected of those species which are bold-faced. Ambrosia psilostachya Ambrosia trifida Antennaria corjmbosa Antennaria dimorpha Antennaria neglecta Antennaria parvifolia Antennaria rosea Arctium minus Arnica cordifolia Arnica sororia Artemisia campestris Artemisia cana Artemisia dracunculus Artemisia frigida Artemisia ludoviciana Artemisia tridentata Aster conspicuus Aster falcatus Aster laevis Balsamorhiza sagittata Brickellia eupatorioides (Kuhnia eupatorioides) Chaenactis douglasii Chrj'sothamnus nauseosus Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus Cirsium arvense Cirsium canescens Cirsium foliosum Cirsium undulatum Cirsium vulgare Conyza canadensis Crepis acuminata Crepis occidentalis Echinacea angustifolia Erigeron compositus Erigeron ochroleucus Erigeron philadelphicus Erigeron pumilus Erigeron strigosus Evax prolifera Filago arvensis Gaillardia aristata Grindelia squarrosa Gutierrezia sarothrae Haplopappus armerioides Helianthus annuus Helianthus nuttallii Helianthus pauciflorus Heterotheca villosa Hymenopappus filifolius Iva axillaris Lactuca oblongifolia (L. pulchella)* Lactuca serriola Lactuca tatarica Liatris punctata Lygodesmiajuncea Lygodesmea rostrata* Lygodesmia juncea Machaeranthera grindelioides Machaeranthera tanacetifolia Matricaria matricarioides Microseris nutans Picradeniopsis oppositifolia Ratibida columnifera Senecio canus Senecio integerrimus Senecio plattensis Senecio vulgaris Solidago canadensis Solidago missouriensis Solidago nemoralis Solidago rigida* Sonchus arvensis Stephanonieria runcinata Stephanomeria tenuifolia Taraxacum officinale Tetradymia canescens Townsendia hookeri Tragopogon pratensis Xanthium strumarium BERBERIDACEAE Mahonia repens BORAGINACEAE Cryptantha celosioides Cryptantha torreyana Cynoglossum officinale Lappula occidentalis Lappula occidentalis Lithospermum incisum Mertensia lanceolata Mertensia oblongifolia PIagiobothr>'s scouleri BRASSICACEAE Alyssum desertorum Arabis holboellii Berteroa incana Camelina microcarpa Camelina sativa Capsella bursa-pastoris Chorispora tenella Descurainia incana ssp incana Descurainia sophia Draba nemorosa Draba reptans Erysimum asperum Erysimum cheirantlioides Hesperis matronalis Lesquerella alpina Malcolmia africaDa Physaria acutifolia Physaria didymocarpa Rorippa curvisiliqua Rorippa nasturtium-aquaticum Sisymbrium altissimum Sisymbrium loeselii Sisymbrium officinale Thiaspi arvense CACTACEAE Coryphantha missouriensis Opuntia fragilis Opuntia polyacantha CAMPANULACEAE Campanula parryi Campanula rotundifolia Triodanis leptocarpa Triodanis perfoliata CANNABACEAE Humulus lupulus CAPPARACEAE Cleome serrulata* CAPRIFOLIACEAE Linnaea borealis Symphoricarpos albus Symphoricarpos occidentalis Symphoricarpos oreophilus* CARYOPHYLLACEAE Cerastium arvense Moehringia lateriflora (Arenaria lateriflora) Paronychia sessih flora Silene antirrhina Silene douglasii Silene latifolia CHENOPODIACEAE Atriplex argentea Atriplex confertifolia Atriplex gardneri Ceratoides lanata Chenopodium album Chenopodium leptophyllum Sarcobatus vermiculatus Suaeda moquinii Suaeda nigra COMMELINACEAE Tradescantia occidentalis CONVOLVULACEAE Evolvulus nuttallianus CORNACEAE Comus stolonifera CUPRESSACEAE Juniperus communis Juniperus horizontalis Juniperus scopulorum CYPERACEAE Carex backii Carex bebbii Carex brevior Carex deweyana Carex filifolia Carex geyeri Carex gravida Carex hoodii Carex hystericina Carex lanuginosa Carex nebrascensis Carex pensylvanica Carex praegracilis Carex praticola Carex rossii Carex sprengelii Carex torreyi Carex vulpinoidea Cyperus aristatus Eleocharis acicularis Eleocharis palustris Eleocharis spp. Scirpus acutus Scirpus americanus Scirpus pungens Scirpus validus DRYOPTERIDACEAE Cystopteris fragilis ELAEAGNACEAE Elaeagnus commutata ELATINACEAE Elatine amercana EQUISETACEAE EquiesUim ar\'ense Equisetum laevigatum ERICACEAE Pyrola asarifolia* Vaccinium scoparium* EUPHORBIACEAE Chamaesyce serpyllifolia Euphorbia esula Euphorbia marginata* Euphorbia robusta Euphorbia spathulata FABACEAE Amorpha canescens* Astragalus adsurgens Astragalus agrestis Astragalus americanus Astragalus barrii Astragalus bisulcatus Astragalus canadensis Astragalus crassicarpus Astragalus drummondii Astragalus flexuosus Astragalus gilviflorus Astragalus gracilis Astragalus lotiflorus Astragalus missouriensis Astragalus purshii Astragalus spatulatus Astragalus striatus Astragalus tenellus Dalea Candida Dalea purpurea Glycyrrhiza lepidota Hedysarum boreale Lupinus argenteus Lupinus caudatus Lupinus pusillus Lupinus sericeus Medicago lupulina Medicago sativa Melilotus officinalis Oxytropis lambertii Oxytropis nana var. besseyi Oxytropis sericea Psoralea argophylla Psoralea esculenta Psoralea lanceolata Psoralea tenuiflorum Themiopsis rhombifolia Vicia americana GENTIANACEAE Gentiana affinis* GERANIACEAE Geranium carolinianum Geranium richardsonii* Geranium viscosissimum* GROSSULARIACEAE Ribes americanum Ribes aureum Ribes cereum Ribes inerme Ribes oxyacantlioides HYDROPHYLLACEAE Ellisia nyctelea Phacelia hastata Phacelia linearis IRIDACEAE Sisyrinchium montanum JUNCACEAE Juncus balticus Juncus bufonis Juncus longistj'lis Juncus tenuis Juncus spp. LAMIACEAE Agastache foeniculum Hedeoma drummondii Hedeoma hispida Mentha arvensis Monarda fistulosa Prunella vulgaris Salvia reflexa LEMNACEAE Lemna minor LILIACEAE Allium textile Calochortus nuttallii Disporum trachycarpum Fritillaria atropuipurea Leucocrinum montanum Maianthemum racemosum (Smilacina racemosa) Maianthemum stellatum (Smilacina stellata) Zigadenus venenosus LINACEAE Linum lewisii Linum rigidum LOASACEAE Mentzelia decapetala Mentzelia dispersa Mentzelia laevicaulis Mentzelia nuda* MALVACEAE Sphaeralcea coccinea MARSILEACEAE Marsilea vestita NYCTAGINACEAE Mirabiiis linearis OLEACEAE Fraxinus pennsylvanica ONAGRACEAE Calylophus serrulatus Epilobium angusti folium Epilobium ciliatum Epilobium minutum Gaura coccinea Oenothera albicaulis Oenothera cespitosa Oenothera nuttallii Oenothera villosa Oenothera strigosa* ORCHIDACEAE Coeloglossum viride Corallorrhiza maculata Cypripedium calceolus var. parviflorum* OROBANCHACEAE Orobanche fasciculata PINACEAE Pinus ponderosa PLANTAGINACEAE Plantago major Plantago patagonica POACEAE Agropyron cristatum Agrostis capillaris Agrostis exarata Agrostis scabra Alopecurus aequalis Alopecurus geniculatus Andropogon gerardii Aristida purpurea Aristida purpurea Bouteloua curtipendula Bouteloua gracilis Bromus anomalus Bromus brizaeformis Bromus carinatus Bromus commutatus* Bromus inennis Bromus japonicus Bromus marginatus* Bromus tectorum Buchloe dactyloides Calamagrostis canadensis Calamagrostis montanensis Calamagrostis rubescens Calamovilfa longifolia Catabrosa aquatica Danthonia califomica* Danthonia intermedia Danthonia spicata Danthonia unispicata Deschampsia cespitosa Dichanthelium oligosanthes var scribnerianum Distichlis spicata Echinochloa crusgalli* Elymus canadensis Elymus glaucus Elymus lanceolatus Elymus macounii Elymus smithii (Agropyron smithii) Elymus spicata (Agropyron spicatum) Elymus trachycaulus Festuca idahoensis Festuca ovina Glyceria borealis Glyceria grandis Glyceria striata Hordeum brachyantherum Hordeumjubatum Hordeum pusillum Koeleria macrantha Munroa squarrosa Muhlenbergia cuspidata Muhlenbergia racemosa* Oryzopsis hymenoides Oryzopsis micramha Panicum capillare* Phalaris arundinacea* Phleum pratense Poa arida Poa bulbosa Poa interior Poa palustris Poa pratensis Poa secunda Puccinellia nuttalliana Schedonnardus paniculatus Schizacline purpurascens Schizachyrium scoparium Spartina gracilis Sphenopholis obtusata Sporobolus airoides Sporobolus cryptandrus Stipa comata Stipa nelsonii Stipa viridula Vulpia octoflora POLEMONIACEAE CoUomia linearis Ipomopsis congesta var. congesta Ipomopsis congesta var. pseudotypica Linanthus septentrionalis Microsteris gracilis Navarretia intertexta Phlox alyssifolia Phlox hoodii POLYGALACEAE Polygala alba POLYGONACEAE Eriogonum annuum Eriogonum flavum Eriogonum pauciflorum Polygonum aviculare Polygonum douglasii Polygonum erectum Rumex crispus Rumex salicifolius PORTULACACEAE Claytonia lanceolata Claytonia perfoliata PRIMULACEAE Androsace occidentalis Androsace septentrionalis PTERIDACEAE Pellaea occidentalis Pteridium aquilinum* RANUNCULACEAE Actaea rubra Anemone multifida Ceratocephala testiculata (Ranunculus testiculatus) Clematis ligusticifolia Delphinium bicolor Myosurus minimus Pulsatilla patens (Anemone patens) Ranunculus abortivus Ranunculus acriformis Ranunculus aquatilis Ranunculus circinatus Ranunculus cymbalaria Ranunculus longirostris Ranunculus sceleratus Ranunculus uncinatus Thalictrum dasycarpum RHAMNACEAE Ceanothus herbaceus* ROSACEAE Agrimonia striata Amelanchier alnifolia Crataegus chrjsocarpa Fragaria vesca Fragaria virginiana Geum canadense Geum macrophyllum Geum triflorum Potentilla arguta Potentilla glandulosa Potentilla gracilis Potentilla recta Potentilla fruticosa* Prunus americana Prunus virginiana Rosa acicularis ssp. sayi* Rosa arkansana Rosa woodsii Rubus idaeus Rubus parviflorus Spiraea betulifolia RUBIACEAE Galium aparine Galium boreale SALICACEAE Populus angustifolia Populus deltoides Populus tremuloides Salix amygdaloides Salix bebbiana Salix exigua Salix lucida i SANTALACEAE Comandra umbellata SAXIFRAGACEAE Heuchera richardsonii Lithophragma parviflorum SCROPHULARIACEAE Besseya \\70mingensis Castilleja sessiliflora CoUinsia parviflora Limosella aquatica Mimulus guttatus* Orthocarpus luteus Penstemon albidus Penstemon eriantherus Penstemon glaber Penstemon gracilis Penstemon nitidus Penstemon rydbergii* Scrophularia lanceolata Veronica americana Veronica ar\'ensis Veronica peregrina SMILACACEAE Smilax herbacea SOLANACEAE Hyoscyamus niger Physaria longifolia TYPHACEAE Typha latifolia URTICACEAE Parietaria pensylvanica Urtica dioica VERBENACEAE Verbena bracteata VIOLACEAE Viola adunca Viola canadensis Viola nephrophylla Viola nuttallii Viola vallicola ZANNICHELLIACEAE Zannichellia palustris Appendix E - Color xeroxes of sensitive species and their habitats i E-3. Astragalus barri habitat (037. Horse Creek - Otter Creek confluence) a Q « O 5! =" E-5. Carex gravida close-up E-5. Carex gravida close-up i o as I I fe: . ■■^.i.; oroH/3Dno«/a3U 9 „ 8Z65E „ S0505 9169Z ON W3il 09 siONmi 'ONnggHM ^PS vsnooov