Status review of Lesquerella humilis, U.S. Forest Service, Region 1, Bitterroot National Forest, Montana

583.123
NllSRLH
1988
C. 2

3 0864 00077949 9

3F

STATUS REVIEW OF Lesguerella humilis
U.S. FOREST SERVICE - REGION 1
BITTERROOT NATIONAL FOREST
MONTANA

§fATC DOCUMENTS COLLECT:

APR 1^1993

MONTAMA STATf UE?.-:.^^
ifAONTAyA ■•Jy-'-.

Prepared by:

J. Stephen Shelly, Botanist

Montana Natural Heritage Program

State Library Building

1515 E. 6th Avenue

Helena, MT 59680

Order No. ^0-0351-8-296

^ April 19S8

583.123
NllSRLH
1988
C. 2

I MONTANA STATE LIBRARY

I S583.1J3N17Lhsr 1988c, 1 Shelly

3 0864 00077949 9

r% 9

STATUS REVIEW OF Lesquerella humilis
U.S. FOREST SERVICE - REGION 1
BITTERROOT NATIONAL FOREST
MONTANA

"STArt DOCUMENTS COLLECT'

APRl'' iS93

MOM^ANA§TAT^LIB^^.::MV

ISIS C 6th AVE
HELBJCA, l^A.Q^^fAyA .-..y/.;

Prepared by:

J. Stephen Shelly» Botanist

Montana Natural Heritage Program

State Library Building

1515 E. 6th Avenue

Helena, MT 59620

Order No. ^0-0351-8-296

^ April 1988

This is an abridged report

For the full report please contact:

The Montana Natural Heritage Program

1515 E Sixth Ave

Helena, Montana 59620

406-444-3009

TABLE OF CONTENTS

SPECIES INFORMATION

A. Classification 1

B. Present legal or other formal status 1

C. Description S

D. Geographical distribution 3

E. Habitat 7

F. Population demography and biology 9

G. Population ecology 10
H. Land ownership 11

II. ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

A. Threats to currently known populations 11

B. Management practices and response 11

C. Recommendations for maintaining viable populations IS

D. Recommendations for further assessment IE
F. Summary 13

III. LITERATURE CITED 1^

IV. ELEMENT OCCURRENCE PRINT-OUTS AND MAPS 15
V. PHOTOGRAPHS S^

SPECIES INFORMATION

A. CLASSIFICATION

1. SCIENTIFIC NAME: Lesquerella humilis R. Rollins.

2. COMMON NAMES: Few-seeded bladderpod, Bitterroot
bladderpod .

3. FAMILY: Brassicaceae (=CrLicif erae; Mustard
Fami ly ) .

^. GENUS: Lesquerel 1 a humi lis is one of
approximately 75 species in the genus in North
America; of these, most are concentrated in the
southwestern United States, Mexico, and the Rocky
Mountain and intermontane basin regions of the
western United States (Rollins and Shaw, 1973).
Within the genus, the nearest relative to L.
humi lis is L. hemiphysar ia . The ranges of the
two species are allopatric; L. humi 1 is is
restricted to the Bitterroot Range in Montana, and
L. hemiphysaria is confined to central Utah
(Rollins, 198^).

5. SPECIES: Lesquerel la humi lis is a recently
described species (Rollins, 198^). It was first
discovered on St. Joseph Peak in the Bitterroot
Range in 1966, by Klaus H. Lackschewitz and Tor
Fageraas. This specimen, and other early
collections, were variously labeled as Lesquerel la
alpina, Physaria didymocarpa, or P. qeyeri , but
Dr. Reed Rollins ultimately determined that they
represented a previously undescribed species. The
type specimen was collected in 1983 by Reed and
Kathryn W. Rollins, with Lackschewitz, Peter
Lesica, and Aileen G. Roads, near the summit of
St. Mary Peak, also in the Bitterroot Range. In
Montana, L. humi lis is one of six species reported
for the genus (Dorn, 198^; Rollins, 198^).

B. PRESENT LEGAL OR OTHER FORMAL STATUS

1. FEDERAL STATUS

a. U.S. FISH AND WILDLIFE SERVICE: None.

b. U.S. FOREST SERVICE: Lesquerella humilis is
currently included on the list of sensitive
plant species for Region 1 (Northern Region)
of the U.S. Forest Service (A. Evenden, pers.
comm. ) . Agency objectives and policy in the

198^ Forest Service Manual provide for the
management and protection of sensitive

species (Section 2670.32). Under these
guidelines, the U.S. Forest Service is to

"(a) void or minimize impacts to species whose
viability has been identified as a concern"

(2670.32.3).

2. STATE STATUS: Lesquerella humilis is currently
listed by the Montana Natural Heritage Program
(Shelly, 1988) as "critically imperiled globally"
owing to extreme rarity (5 or fewer occurrences;
global rank = Gl ) . In Montana, it is similarly
listed as "critically imperiled in state" (state
rank = SI ) .

Th» Btate ranks do not currently provide any
direct legal protection for L. humi lis. Through
its inclusion on the Region 1 sensitive plant
list, the species has legal protection under the
agency policies (W. Ruediger, pers. comm. ) .

C. DESCRIPTION

1. GENERAL NONTECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Lesquerella
humi lis is a small, perennial herb with stems
which are mostly about 1-2 inches tall. They lie
flat on the soil surface, with the flowei —
bearing tips curved slightly upward. The flowers
are yellow, with only three to six or so produced
near the end of each stem. The petals are about
0.3 inches long. The basal leaves are clustered
together at the top of the taproot, and are about
0.6 to 1 inch long. The stem leaves are smaller,
being about '^ inch long. The plants are generally
in flower from late June to early July, with
variation depending on exposure and weather
conditions. Fruiting occurs from July into early
August. See Section V, p. 2^, for color photos of
plants and habitat.

2. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Perennial, densely
pubescent and silvery from an encrustment of
stellate trichomes; primary branches 5-6, free to
base to slightly fused at center, forked or 3-
branched, trichomes with 16-25 free ends,
appressed on upper leaf surface, less appressed to
somewhat flaring on lower leaf surface; caudex
usually simple, thick, covered with old leaf-
bases; stems prostrate, simple, one or two to
several, arising below and among a terminal
rosette of leaves, 2-5 cm. (0.8-2.0 in.) long;
rosette leaves petiolate, entire, ( 1-) 1 .5-2.5(-3)
cm. ( (0.^-)0.6-l .0(-l .2) in.) long, blade
elliptical to broadly ovate or obovate, usually
narrowed abruptly, 3-6 (-7) mm. (0.12-0.2^ (-0.28)

in.) wide, ^-7 mm. (0.16-0. SB in.) long, obtuse;
cauline leaves 3-6, spatulate, cuneate at base, 3-
7 mm. (0.12-0. 28 in.) long; inflorescences 3-5
flowered, scarcely elongating in fruit; sepals
yellowish, oblong, densely pubescent, ^-5 mm.
(0.16-0.20 in.) long, 1.5-2 mm. (0.06-0.08 in.)
wide, outer pair slightly saccate, inner pair non-
saccate; petals yellow, spatulate, retuse or
rarely with a deeper sinus at apex, narrowed
gradually from blade to claw, 7-8.5 mm. (0.28-0.33
in.) long, 3-3.5 mm. (0.12-0.1^ in.) wide; stamens
strongly tetradynamous; filaments of paired
stamens ca. ^ mm. (0.16 in.) long, anthers ca. 1
mm. (0.0^ in.) long; pedicels straight to slightly
curved, nearly paralleling rachis, 3-^ mm. (0.12-
0.16 in.) high, ^-5 mm. (0.16-0.20 in.) wide,
valves densely pubescent on exterior with
trichomes that have ascending to erect rays,
sparsely pubescent on interior; replum oval to
broadly oblong, acute at apex, 2.5-3.5 mm. (0.10-
0.1^ in.) long; septum usually folded; styles 2-3
mm. (0.08-0.12 in.) long; ovules 2 in each locule;
seeds plump, wingless, slightly compressed,
orbicular to semiorbicular , ca. 2 mm. (0.08 in.)
in diameter; cotyledons accumbent, orbicular or
nearly so (Rollins, 198^).

3. LOCAL FIELD CHARACTERS: During field surveys in
1987, one other conspicuous member of the Mustard
family, Smelowskia calycina (Alpine Smelowskia),
was observed growing with L. humi lis. Smelowskia
is distinguished in having white petals, which are
sometimes purple-tinged, and plnnatifid or pinnate
(lobed or divided) leaves. These are in contrast
to the yellow petals and entire (smooth-
margined) leaves of L. humi 1 is. Several other
species in the Mustard family have been reported
from St. Mary Peak, including Arabis spp . and
Draba spp. (Lackschewi tz , 1970). Members of
Arabis in Montana have white to pink or purple
petals and longer, narrow fruits; Draba species
often have strongly flattened fruits which are
flattened parallel to the septum (internal fruit
partition), rather than being not, or only
partially, flattened in Lesouerella .

D. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION

1. RANGE: Lesguerel la humi 1 is is a state endemic,
restricted to three sites in the Bitterroot Range
in northwestern Ravalli County, Montana. It is
located on the Bitterroot National Forest, in
Region 1 (Northern Region) of the U.S. Forest
Service. The distribution of the species is

indicated in Figure 1, p. 5. The exact locations
are indicated on the maps provided in Section IV,
pp. 19-Sl.

2. CURRENT SITE: Lesquerella humil is is recently
documented (1987) from one site, on St. Mary Peak
in the Bitterroot Range. The location of this
site, including the legal description, latitude
and longitude, elevation, and USGS topographic
quad name, is provided in Table 1, p. 6. Field
surveys in the Bitterroot Range were conducted by
the author on 21-S3 and 30-31 July, 1987.

Throughout this report, the three-digit occurrence
numbers are indicated in parentheses after the
site names; these correspond to the occurrence
numbers provided in the tables and computer print-
outs.

3. HISTORICAL RECORDS: None known.

^. SITES NOT RECENTLY SURVEYED: Lesquerella humilis
has been documented from two additional sites in
Ravalli County, Montana (occurrence nos. 002 and
003). These locations were studied by Klaus
Lackschewitz in 1970 and 1971. The legal
descriptions, latitude and longitude, elevations,
USGS topographic quad names, and locations of
these sites are provided in Table 1, p. 6. Owing
to the extreme rarity of the species, and the
location of these two populations within the
Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness Area, it was decided
that field surveys in 1987 should emphasize
searches for the species in adjacent suitable
habitats. Additionally, the information
originally collected by Lackschewitz includes data
on associated species and estimated population
size. Future field monitoring of these sites is
recommended, owing to the global rarity of L.
humi lis.

3. AREAS SURVEYED BUT SPECIES NOT LOCATED: The
alpine and timberline flora in the Bitterroot
Mountains has been exhaustively studied by
Lackschewitz (1970, 1986). The major summits and
areas explored in the earlier studies include
Lolo, Sweeney, St. Mary, St. Joseph, "East St.
Joseph", Trapper, Bass, Ranger, Boulder, Bare,
Watchtower, and West Como peaks. Pyramid Buttes,
Gash Point, Glen Lake Mtn., Blodgett Mtn., Ward
Mtn., Lost Horse Mtn., El Capitan, Chaff in Creek
Headwater Basin, and Mt . Jerusalem. In discussing
the possible locations where L. humi lis might
additionally be found, Lackschewitz (pers. comm.)

-AOOOICt" i.UahO vM.i.;| 11

-^^T'i- NATIONAL-

- :r"^

Figure 1. '

Geographic

distribution of

l£sguerella

humilis,

Ravalli County,

Montana.

TABLE 1. Lesquerella hmilis locations) Ravalli County, Montana,

CURRENT SITE;

Occurrence nuaber: 6il
Site naae: ST. HftRY PEAK
COUNTY: RAVALLI

ToNHBhip i Range: 009N021H Section: E8 Subsection/additional sections: SE'iNW't.NE'nEl.SW'iSE't
Latitude: ^liSeSA Longitude: lUl^e Elevation: 9E00

USGS Quad: SAINT MARY PEAK

Location: APPROACH TO AND NEAR SUMMIT OF SAINT MARY PEAK, BITTERROOT
RANGE.

SITES NOT RECENTLY SURVEYED;

Occurrence nuiber: 002

Site naie: EAST ST. JOSEPH PEAK

COUNTY: RAVALLI

Township i Range: 010N0E1W Section: 26 Subsection/additional sections: NW'iNH'i

Latitude: ^liSie? Longitude: Il'il2't9 Elevation: 9000

USGS Quad: SAINT MARY PEAK

Location; 'EAST ST. JOSEPH PEAK' (UNNAMED SUMMIT), BITTERROOT RANGE.

Occurrence nutber: 003

Site naie: ST. JOSEPH PEAK

COUNTY; RAVALLI

Township i Range: 010N021H Section: 28 Subsection/additional sections: NH^iNHii

Latitude: ^63603 Longitude; HUSH Elevation: 9500

USGS Quad: SAINT JOSEPH PEAK

Location; ST, JOSEPH PEAK, BITTERROOT RANGE.

recommended detailed surveys in two areas. In a
note to the author, he wrote that "...I suspect
it to occur on Gash Point... but have never
collected it anywhere s. of St. Mary's." He also
suggested that Sweeney Peak should be surveyed.
Thus, these two locations were studied in detail
during 1987. All areas of suitable habitat were
intensively searched. As in the earlier field
research, Lesquerel la humi lis was not located on
or near either of these summits. The areas
surveyed during this study are within the
following legal descriptions:

a. Sweeney Peak:

T10N, R21W, Sec. 3, S'^SE'-i

S'iSE'-4SWV<

SE'/4SW/4SW^
Sec. 10, NE'/4NE'/4NE'/4

NW/4NE'/4NW/4

NE'^NW'/4NW'/4
Sec. 11, M'iNW'/4NM'/4

b. Gash Point:

T8N, RE2W, Sec. S3, S'iNWV4SW/4

E"iSW/4SW/4
ig'i5E'/4SM'^
SE"/4SE"/4SW/4
SW''4SW'/4SEV4
Sec. 26, N'iNE'/4NW/4
NW'/4NM'/4NE'/4

The exact locations and boundaries of these areas
are shown on the maps provided in Section IV, pp.
22-23.

E. HABITAT

1. ASSOCIATED VEGETATION: Lesquerel la humi lis occurs
in sparsely vegetated areas in the upper krummholz
zone, and in alpine fellfield areas above the
upper treeline. On St. Mary Peak <001), the
krummholz consists of wind-trimmed individuals of
Pinus albicaulis (White-bark pine). The
associated herbaceous vegetation is characterized
by a mixture of species, including:

Astragalus kentrophyta var . implexus (Thistle

mi Ikvetch )
Dicentra unif lora (Steer 's-head )
Draba spp . (Draba)
Dryas octopetala (White dryas)
Er iqeron simplex (One-flower f leabane)

Er i trichium nanum (Pale alpine forget-me-not)
Haplopappus lyallii (Lyall's goldenweed)
Hulsea alqida (Alpine hulsea)
Ivesia gordonii (Gordon's Ivesia)
Pedicularis contorta (Coiled-beak lousewort)
Sedum lanceo latum (Lance-leaved stonecrop)
Smelowskia calycina (Alpine smelowskia)
Veronica cusickii (Cusick's speedwell)

2. TOPOGRAPHY: Populations of L. humil is occur on
moderately steep slopes and ledges^ and in level
exposed areas* at high elevations in the
Bitterroot Range. The slope of the St. Mary Peak
(001) site varies from zero to approximately ^5*/..
The known sites range from E6B3 m. (8800 ft.) to
E923 m. (9587 f t . ) .

3. SOIL RELATIONSHIPS: The Bitterroot Range
escarpment is a fault block at the eastern edge of
the Idaho batholith. The latter is a granitic
mass which is faintly gneissic in character» and
the soils developed from the batholith are
strongly acidic. However, the high mountains
north of Big Creek (which include the St. Mary and
St. Joseph massifs) consist of high grade
metamorphic rocks, mostly gneiss and schist,
locally penetrated by granitic rocks (Lackschewi tz
1970, 1986; Ross et_ aj.. , 1955). Although
appearing largely granitic in character, the rocks
on St. Mary Peak are slightly reddish-orange in
color, and the St. Joseph Peak massif appears to
be similarly colored. Lesquerel la humi lis is
restricted to this area, but it is not known
whether this restriction is strictly edaphic in
nature.

The soils of the St. Mary Peak (001) site are
generally stony and poorly developed. In some
areas, they have weathered enough to form a sandy
substrate. Lesquerel la humi lis is predominantly
found in these open, gravelly or sandy areas. It
was also observed growing from crevices of exposed
rocks, and in small mats of associated vegetation.

i*. REGIONAL CLIMATE: The alpine areas of the
Bitterroot Range are characterized by exposure to
high, erosive winds and low temperatures. The
timberline areas receive the highest snowpack
accumulations and the open, alpine areas the least
(Lackschewitz, 1970).

From July, 1967 to 1969, a temporary weather
station was established on St. Mary Peak by S.
Arno and J. Habeck. Because of unusual heat and

drought in the summer o^T 1967, only measurements
from 1969 are considered nearly average
(Lackschewitz , 1970). The daily mean minimum
temperature in January was -13.0"C (8.6'F); the
daily mean maximum temperature in July was 1^.7*C
<58.5»F).

Data for precipitation are available for Lolo Pass
(1738 m. (5700 ft.) in elevation), approximately
3E km. (S0 mi.) northwest of St. Mary Peak. Over
17 years, from 19^8 to 196^, the average annual
precipitation was 13S cm. (52 in.); the maximum
amount was 178 cm. (70 in.), and the minimum
amount was 79 cm. (31 in.) (Lackschewitz, 1970).

F. POPULATION DEMOGRAPHY AND BIOLOGY

1. PHENOLOGY: Lesquerel la humi lis is in bloom from

late June to mid-July, with some variation
depending on climatic conditions and exposure.
Fruiting extends from early July to early August.

2. POPULATION SIZE AND CONDITION: Populations of L.
humi lis range in size from approximately 200-^00
to 1000+ individuals. The total number of plants
observed rangewide to date is approximately 1500-

1800. Details regarding population size and
condition are as follows:

OCCURRENCE NUMBER: 001

SITE NAME: St. Mary Peak

ACREAGE: 20

POPULATION SIZE AND CONDITION: Est. 300-^00+

plants (1987 estimate), sparsely scattered in and

above krummholz; recreational use of hiking trail

and summit area is impacting site.

OCCURRENCE NUMBER: 002
SITE NAME: East St. Joseph Peak
ACREAGE: 15

POPULATION SIZE AND CONDITION: 200-^00 plants
(1970 estimate); site is located just west of
Wilderness Area boundary, not currently accessed
by maintained trail.

OCCURRENCE NUMBER: 003

SITE NAME: St. Joseph Peak

ACREAGE: 25

POPULATION SIZE AND CONDITION: More than 1000

plants (1971 estimate); site is not currently

accessed by maintained trail.

10

REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

a. TYPE OF REPRODUCTION: The flowers of L.
humil is are chasmogamous (they have
conspicuous corollas, and open normally for
fertilization). Self-incompatibility is
widespread in the genus, though self-
compatibility is also present in at least
some species. Most populations of
Lesguerel la are in open habitats, with the
plants aggregated together. Undoubtedly,
cross-pollination is the norm for the genus
as a whole (Rollins and Shaw, 1973). In an
alpine species such as L. humi lis, self-
pollination may be more prevalent, owing to
the short growing season. Fruit set during
peak periods appeared to be very vigorous.
During surveys in 1987, no evidence of any
vegetative reproduction was observed.

b. POLLINATION BIOLOGY: Rollins and Shaw (1973)
report that "(i)n the field, insects, mostly
bees and flies, were repeatedly observed
visiting the flowers" of Lesguerel la . During
field surveys in 1987, no insects were
observed visiting the few individuals of L.
humi 1 is which were flowering. It is unknown
whether there are any specific plant-
pollinator dependencies involving L.
humi lis.

c. SEED DISPERSAL AND BIOLOGY: Each fruit of L.
humil is is capable of producing four seeds.
The seeds are wingless, and about H mm. (0.08
in.) in diameter (Rollins, 198^); there does
not appear to be any mechanism that might aid
in long-distance dispersal. Thus, it is
likely that most seeds fall near the parent

plants.

G. POPULATION ECOLOGY

COMPETITIVE INTERACTIONS: Little information is
available regarding the competitive ability of
perennial alpine plant species such as L. humilis.
As noted previously, the species grows most
frequently in more open microsites within the
timberline and alpine areas which it inhabitats.
This suggests that the species would not be very
agressive in more densely vegetated areas. In a
few cases, plants were observed growing amongst
small mats of associated vegetation. These
situations may arise from the suitability of such
microsites for seed germination.

11

H. LAND OWNERSHIP

All three known L. humi lis sites are located on
lands administered by Region 1 (Northern Region)
of the U.S. Forest Service, on the Bitterroot
National Forest. In addition, all known sites are
within the Selway-Bi tterroot Wilderness Area. The
East St. Joseph Peak (002) occurrence is just west
of the wilderness boundary, and there is a
possibility that a small number of plants may
occur outside the boundary on the east-facing
slope below the summit.

II. ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS

A. THREATS TO CURRENTLY KNOWN POPULATIONS: The most
imminent threat to the continued existence of L.
humi lis, at or near its present level of abundance, is
from recreational use of the hiking trail and summit
area on the St. Mary Peak (001) site. The trail (#116)
traverses the south-facing slope of St. Mary Peak
through the southeastern portion of the population; it
then ascends to the summit, in a series of switchbacks,
along the northeastern edge of the south subpopulation.
However, once the trail reaches an elevation of 2683 m.
(8800 ft.), which is the lowermost limit of the L.
humi lis population, it was noted that some off-trail
hiking directly to the summit is occurring. Such use
is possibly leading to impacts on the main portion of
this subpopulation.

The East St. Joseph (002) and St. Joseph (003) Peak
sites occur in areas which are not currently accessible
via maintained trails. However, some occasional
recreational use undoubtedly occurs in these areas,
which might lead to some minor impacts on the
populations. Other impacts, via resource management,
are not known at this time.

B. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND RESPONSE: The degree to which
L. humi lis tolerates habitat disturbance is not known

in detail. As discussed previously, it shows a
preference for more open microsites at the St. Mary
Peak (001) location, which suggests that it may be able
to colonize disturbed soil areas. However, the need
for protected sites for seed germination in the harsh
alpine environment may moderate this response. The
most direct impacts on the plants, through trampling,
may be leading to a decline in the size of the
population on St. Mary Peak (001).

12

C. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAINTAINING VIABLE POPULATIONS:
The following recommendations are made to insure the
long-term persistence of viable populations of L.
humi lis on U.S. Forest Service lands:

1 • Protection of the St. Marv Peak (001) population
from serious impacts due to recreational use. The
impacts from the hiking trail could potentially be
reduced or eliminated in the following ways:

a. Designation of St. Marv Peak as a special
botanical area. In addition to L. humi 1 is.
the St. Mary Peak area supports populations
of two other plants of limited distribution

in Montana: Draba daviesiae (Pointed draba)
and Penstemon f lavescens (Pale yellow
penstemon). Though not as rare as L.
humi lis, these species occur in Montana only
in the Bitterroot Range. The presence of
these three species together on St. Mary Peak
emphasizes the botanical uniqueness of the
area.

b . Placement of signs recommending use of the
trail hiking. Signs at the trailhead, and
possibly in the timberline area, may be
useful in minimizing off-trail impacts to the
L. humi 1 is population.

2- Analysis of any proposed recreational development
in the St. Joseph Peak area. Any future proposed
trail construction or other developments should be

carefully planned, to reduce or eliminate impacts
to the St. Joseph Peak (003) and East St. Joseph

Peak (002) populations of L. humil is.

D. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT

1 • Monitoring surveys of the St. Joseph Peak (003)
and East St. Joseph Peak (005) occurrences. These
locations should ideally be checked every three to
five years, in order to detect any major declines
in population size, or impacts should recreational
use of these areas increase.

2. Establishment of monitoring studies of the St.

Mary Peak (001) occurrence. Permanent monitoring

transects (i.e., Lesica 1987) would be useful in
assessing the impacts of recreational use on the
population. Plot studies in locations away from
the trail, as well as within the area currently
being used, could reveal any reduction in numbers
which might be occurring.

13

SUMMARY: Lesquerel la humi lis is endemic to the state
of Montana, and is narrowly restricted to a small
geographic area in the Bitterroot Range in Ravalli
County. It is currently listed as a sensitive species
in Region 1 of the U.S. Forest Service. The species is
known only from three summits, and the estimated total
number of individuals is approximately 1500-1B00.
Intensive surveys on adjacent summits, and throughout
the Bitterroot Range, have failed to reveal the
presence of any other populations. One population, on
St. Mary Peak, is possibly being impacted by
recreational use of the area; in addition, a lookout
tower is located on the summit. Two other populations,
on and east of St. Joseph Peak, are not currently
accessed by maintained trails. Although they occur in
the Selway-Bi tterroot Wilderness Area, any proposed
management activities near the known populations of L.
humi lis should be carefully planned, owing to the
extreme global rarity of the species.

14

III. LITERATURE CITED

Dorn» R.D. 198^. Vascular Plants of Montana. Mountain Press
Publishing* Cheyenne » Wyoming. 276 pp.

Lackschewitz, K. 1970. Alpine and timberline flora in the
Bitterroot Mountains, Montana. Proceedings Montana Acad.
Sci. 30: 1-30.

Lackschewitz, K. 1986. Plants of west-central Montana-
identification and ecology: annotated checklist. General
Technical Report INT-217. Ogden, UT: U.S. Department of
Agriculture, Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station.
128 pp.

LsBiCA, P. 1987. A technique for monitoring nonrhizomatous,
perennial plant species in permanent belt transects.
Natural Areas Journal 7: 65-68.

Rollins, R.C. 198^. Studies in the Cruciferae of western North
America II. Contr. Gray Herb. 21^: 1-18.

Rollins, R.C, and E.A. Shaw. 1973. The Genus Lesquerella
(Cruciferae) in North America. Harvard University Press,
Cambridge, Massachusetts. 288 pp.

Ross, C.P., B.A. Andrews, and I.J. Witkind. 1955. Geologic map
of Montana. U.S. Department of Interior, Geological Survey,
Washington, D.C.

Shelly, J.S. 1988. Plant species of special concern. Montana
Natural Heritage Program, Helena. 12 pp. (mimeo).

U.S. Department of Commerce. 1982. Monthly Normals of
Temperature, Precipitation, and Heating and Cooling Degree
Days 1951-80. National Oceanic and Atmospheric
Administration, CI imatography of the United States No. 81.
23 pp.

15

IV. ELEMENT OCCURRENCE PRINT-OUTS AND MAPS <PP. 16-23)

16

ELEMENT OCCURRENCE RECORD

EOCODE: PDBRAINI Y0. 001

NAME: LESDUERELLA HUMILI5

COMNAME: FEW-SEEDED BLADDERPOD

MARGNUM: 1 TENTEN: 1,9 I DENT : Y EORANK: B

EORANKCOMM: MODERATE-SIZED POPULATION, ADJACENT TO HIKING TRAIL.

SURVEYDATE: 19B3-07-17 LASTOBS : 1987-07-21 FIRSTOBS: 1967 GRANK : Gl

SRANK: SI STATE: MT CGUNTVNAME: MTRAVA

QUADCODE: ^611^52

PRECISION: SC
^63031 N: 463057 E: 11414BE W: 11414'
E8 MERIDIAN: PR

PHYSPROV: NR WATERSHED: 17010205

APPROACH TO AND NEAR SUMMIT OF SAINT MARY PEAK, BITTERROOT
RANGE.

QUADNAME: SAINT MARY PEAK
LAT: 463036 LONG: 1141430 S
TOWNRANGE: 009N021W SECTION:
TRSCOMM: SE4NW4 , NE4 ; 21 , SW4SE4

DIRECTIONS:

GENDESC;

ELEV:
EODATA;

ON STEEP HILLSIDES OF METAMORPHOSED ROCKS; ALPINE SLOPES
(E. AND S. -FACING), SANDY TO GRAVELLY GRANITIC FELLFIELD
SOIL; WITH PINUS ALBICAULIS, DRABA SPP. ( CONT . ) .
9200 SIZE: 20

EST. 300-400+ PLANTS, SPARSELY SCATTERED IN AND ABOVE
I KRUMMHOLZ; RECREATIONAL USE OF HIKING TRAIL IS IMPACTING

AREA; ALSO WITH IVESIA GORDONII, ERIGERON SIMPLEX, HUL5EA
ALGIDA, SMELOWSKIA CALYCINA, ERITRICHIUM NANUM, DRYAS.
COMMENTS: TYPE LOCALITY, NEWLY DESCRIBED SPECIES (1984); VOUCHER-
ROLLINS, R.C., ET AL. (83300), 1983, GH.
MACODEl: FFSWASELWIMTUS CONTAINEDl: YMACODEE: FFSNFBITTIMTUS C0NTAINED2: Y
MAC0DE3: C0NTAINED3: ADLMAS: MORELAN: MOREPRO

MOREMGMT: SITECODE:

SITENAME: ST. MARY PEAK

OWNER: BITTERROOT NATIONAL FOREST

OWNERCOMM:

PROTCOMM: SITE IS LOCATED IN THE SELWAY-BITTERROOT WILDERNESS AREA.

MGMTCOMM:

MONITOR: MONITORNUM:

BESTSOURCE: SHELLY, J.S. 1987. FIELD SURVEYS IN RAVALLI COUNTY OF 21-23

& 30-31 JULY; SHELLY, J.S. (1381), 1987, UM.

F87SHE04MTUS PNDSHE01MTUS S73LACUMMTUS S87SHEUMMTUS PND

LAC01MTUS U85LES02MTUS S67W00UMMTUS A84ROL01
BOUNDARIES: Y PHOTOS: Y OWNERINFO:

85-11-26 JSS CDREV: Y MAPPER: 86-01-21 JSS QC : Y

SOURCECODE

DATASENS:
TRANSCRIBR:

UPDATE: 88-04-04 JSS

17

ELEMENT OCCURRENCE RECORD

EOCODE: PDBRAINI Y0.00E
NAME: LESQUERELLA HUMILIS
COMNAME : FEW-SEEDED BLADDERPOD

MARGNUM: E TENTEN: 3,2 I DENT : Y EORANK :

EORANKCOMM:

SURVEYDATE: 1970-07-0^ LASTOBS : 1770-07-0^ FIRSTOBS: 1970 GRANK

SRANK: SI STATE: MT COUNTYNAME : MTRAVA

QUADCODE: ^611^52

QUADNAME: SAINT MARY PEAK PRECISION:

LAT: ^63607 LONG: 11412'+9 S: 0 N: 0 E: 0

TOWNRANGE: 010N021W SECTION: 26 MERIDIAN: PR

TRSCOMM: NW^NW^ PHYSPROV : NR WATERSHED:

DIRECTIONS: EAST ST. JOSEPH PEAK, BITTERROOT MOUNTAINS.

SC

W:

17010205

GENDESC: ROCKY FELLFIELD, WITH DRABA SP .

ELEV: 9000 SIZE: 15

tEODATA: 200-^00 PLANTS (1970 ESTIMATE); SITE IS LOCATED JUST WEST OF
' WILDERNESS AREA BOUNDARY, NOT CURRENTLY ACCESSED BY MAIN-

TAINED TRAIL.

COMMENTS: NEWLY DESCRIBED SPECIES (198^); VDUCHER-LACKSCHEWITZ , K.H.

(2126), 1970, SPECIMEN #65828 UM.
MACODEl: FFSWASELWIMTUS CONTAINEDl: Y MACODEE : FFSNFBITTIMTUS C0NTAINED2: Y
MAC0DE3: C0NTAINED3: ADLMAS: MORELAN: NOREPRO'

MOREMGMT: SITECODE:

SITENAME: EAST ST. JOSEPH PEAK

OWNER: BITTERROOT NATIONAL FOREST

OWNERCOMM:

PROTCOMM: SITE IS LOCATED IN THE SELWAY-BITTERROOT WILDERNESS AREA.

MGMTCOMM:

MONITOR: MONITORNUM:

BESTSOURCE: ROLLINS, R.C. 198^. STUDIES IN THE CRUCIFERAE OF WESTERN

NORTH AMERICA II. CONTRIB. GRAY HERB. 21^: 1-18.
SOURCECODE: A8^ROL01MTUS PNDLAC01MTUS S70LACUMMTUS U85LES02MTUS

DATASENS: N BOUNDARIES: N PHOTOS: N OWNERINFO:

TRANSCRIBR: 85-11-26 JSS CDREV: Y MAPPER: 86-01-21 JSS OC : Y

UPDATE: 88-0^-0^ JSS

18

ELEMENT OCCURRENCE RECORD

EOCODE: PDBRAINI Y0 .003
NAME: LESQUERELLA HUMILIS
COMNAME: FEW-SEEDED BLADDERPOD

MARGNUM: 1 TENTEN : 10,2

EGRANKCOMM:

SURVEYDATE: 1971-07-2^ LASTOBS :

SRANK: SI STATE: MT C

QUADCODE: ^611^53

GUADNAME: SAINT JOSEPH PEAK

LAT: ^63603 LONG: 11^1513 S:

TOWNRANGE: 010N0S1W SECTION:

TRSCOMM: NW+NW^

DIRECTIONS: ST. JOSEPH PEAK, BITTERROOT RANGE,

I DENT: Y

EORANK:

1971-07-E4 FIRSTOBS: 1966
:OUNTYNAME: MTRAVA

GRANK: Gl

0 N: 0

28 MERIDIAN:
PHYSPROV: NR

PRECISION:
E: 0
PR

WATERSHED:

S
W :

17010205

GENDESC:

DRY LEDGE, SOUTH SLOPE; ALPINE ROCKY FELLFIELD,
SPP., DOUGLAS I A MONTANA, ERIGERON SIMPLEX.

WITH DRABA

ELEV: 9500 SIZE: 25

^EODATA: MORE THAN 1000 PLANTS (1971 ESTIMATE); SITE IS NOT CURRENTLY
I ACCESSED BY MAINTAINED TRAIL.

COMMENTS: NEWLY DESCRIBED SPECIES (198^); LACKSCHEWITZ , K.H., 1966,

SPECIMEN ♦♦60039 UM; LACKSCHEWITZ L GOUAUX , 1971, ♦♦69003 UM.
MACODEl: FFSWASELWIMTUS CONTAINEDl: YMAC0DE2: FFSNFBITTIMTUS C0NTAINED2: Y
MAC0DE3: C0NTAINED3: ADLMAS : MORELAN: MOREPRO'

MOREMGMT: SITECODE:

SITENAME: ST. JOSEPH PEAK

OWNER: BITTERROOT NATIONAL FOREST

OWNERCOMM:

PROTCOMM: SITE IS LOCATED IN THE SELWAY-BITTERROOT WILDERNESS AREA.

MGMTCOMM:

MONITOR: MONITORNUM:

BESTSOURCE: ROLLINS, R.C. 198^. STUDIES IN THE CRUCIFERAE OF WESTERN

NORTH AMERICA II. CONTRIB. GRAY HERB. 21^: 1-18.

A8^ROL01MTUS S66LACUMMTUS S71LACUMMTUS PNDLAC01MTUS U85

LES02MTUS

BOUNDARIES: N PHOTOS: N OWNERINFO:

85-11-27 JSS CDREV: Y MAPPER: 86-01-21 JSS QC:

SOURCECODE

DATASENS:
TRANSCRIBR;

UPDATE: 88-0^-0^ JSS

*••'