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	inventory and plant connuni ty

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MONTANA STATE LIBRARY

^^^^fcr/o« MAR 1 2 2004

RARE PLANT INVENTORY AND PLANT CQ^-UNITY DESCE^IPTIONS OF THE SVJEET GRASS HILLS PROPOSED AREA OF CRITICAL ENVIRON^-EOTAL CO^JCERN (PACEC), TOOLE AND LIBERTY COUNTIES, NDNTANA

Prepared for:

L'nited States Department of Interior

Bureau of Land Managsrent

812 14th Street North

P.O. Box 2865

Great Falls, Montana 59401

Prepared by:

Vfestem Technology and Engineering, Inc.

P.O. Box 6045

Helena, Montana 59604

In Cooperation With:

Montana Natural Heritage Program

Montana State Library Building

1515 East 6th Avenue

Helena, Montana 59620

ORDER.^r®. Mir950 - PH9 - 366 Decanber, 1989

CaVTENTS

Page

1 . 0 INTRODUCTION ' 1

2 . 0 METHODS 3

3.0- RESULTS 5

3.1 RARE PL^M" EVALUATION ' . 5

3.1.1 Ranunculus cardiophyllus (Heart-leaved buttertrup) 5 "

3.1.2 Claytcnia lanceolata variety (Springbeauty) 7

3.1.3 Halimolobos virgata (?) (Tvri.ggy halimolobos) - 8

3.2 SPECIES LIST 8

• 3.3 VEGETATION TYPE DESCRIPTiaNS 11

3.3.1 Literature Review 11

3.3.2 Habitat/Ccmmunity Types of the

Sweet Grass Hills 19

4 . 0 MANAGEKENT REOCM-ENDATIONS 31

5 . 0 LITERATURE CITED 34

APPENDICES

APPENDIX A. VASCULAR PLANT SPECIES BY CLASS, SWEET GRASS HILLS, TOOLE COUNTY AND LIBERTY COUNTY, tCNTANA, 1989 A-1

APPENDIX B. PHOTOGRAPHS B-1

TABLES

Paqe

TABLE 1. Subalpire and alpine plant taxa v;hich may represent

range extensions in the Sv;eet Grass Hills PACEC 10

TABLE 2. Habitat or ccjTTnunity types identified in or peripheral

to the Sv;eet Grass Hills 20

TABLE 3. Percent cxrnposition (by v/eight) of three near-pristine

sites in foothills grassland of the Svjeet Grass ' Hills . . 24

TABLE 4. Percent conposition (by v.'eight) of ijngrazed and grazed foothills prairie in the Sweet Grass Hills (Gold Butte cerretery) 25

FIGURES

FIGURE 1. Sv;eet Grass Hills ertphasis area - surface a-.';rership

map 2

FIGURE 2. Vegetation profiles along two north- south transects

through the nxntane regions of East Butte 14

11

1.0 INTFDDUCTION'

The Sv;eet Grass Hills proposed Area of Critical Environrrental Concern (PACEC) ccmprises about 3,220 hectares of Bureau of Land KanageiTent surface in Toole and Liberty counties of north-central Montana (Figure 1). The Hills are the smallest and, in many respects, the most isolated of the intrusive "island" mountain ranges of the northern Great Plains (Thcrrpson and Kuijt 1976a). High peaks rise abruptly from the surrounding prairie, supporting montane to sutelpine plant ccrmrunities . Elevations within the PACEC range frcm about 1340 m to over 2100 m en tog of Vfest Butte. The geographic position, rugged topography and elevational range support a diversity of plant ccnrnunities more closely related to the Rocky Mountains than the Northern Great Plains. The presence of both floras results in a unique ass3Tiblage of plant ccrrmunities .

The purpose of this inventory was to assess the status of any rare plants potentially occurring within the PACEC. Secondary objectives v.'ere to generate a cctrprehensive species list and briefly describe the major plant carrnunities of t2~e PACEC.

2.0 METHODS

Tasks ccnpleted prior to the field inventory included:

1. Search of Montana Natural Heritage Program data base to determine rare plants previously identified in the area.

2. Review of local and regional literature regarding rare plants and plant ccmmunities pertinent to the area.

3. Cbtain USGS topographic iraps and outline PACEC boundaries.

4. Ccxitact landc^,Ters and obtain acosss across private lands.

Field work was ccrducted June 13-14, 1989 ard July 18-21, 1989. The range of vegetaticxi types en West, East and Middle (Gold) Buttes was surveyed by pedestrian reccxinaissance. Species lists v^ere made at selected locations; taxa not readily identified in the field were collected and pressed for verification in the office. Photograjiis were taken of representative plant ocnnmunities .

The site previously recorded for Ranunculus cardic^yllus Hock. (Thcnpscn and Kuijt 1975b) was intensively surveyed, although it is located outside the PACEC boundary. Likely habitats for R. cardicphyllus within the PACEC were also inventoried.

Plant specimens \-^£re identified in the office using a stereozocm dissecting microscope. Taxonomic manuals used for plant identification included Hitchcock and Crcnquist (1973), Hitchcock et

al. (1955-59), Dom (1984), Great Plains Flora Associaticn (1986) and Scoggan (1978).

3.0 RESULTS

3.1 PJ^FE PLJ^KT EV?lLiATION

Lesica et al. (1934) list 34 vascular plant species of limited distribution in the north-central region of Montana. Of those listed, only one, heart-leaved buttercup (Ranunculus cardiophyllus ) vras listed by Thcrrpson and Kuijt (1975b) as occucring in the S\veet Grass HilJ,s. Because of the relative paucity of botanical information for the Hills, all species not readily identified in the field were collected to evaluate other potentially rare taxa, and to obtain as ccnplete a species list as possible. Three species have been identified as meriting additional investigation: heart-leaved buttercup, springbeauty (Claytcma lanceolata Pursh var. flava (A. Nels.) C.L. Hitcho. ) and t\-7iggy halimolobos (Halimolobos virgata) (Nutt. ) Schulz.

3.1.1 Ranunculus cardiophyllus (Heart-leaved buttercup) F?anunculus cardio^T/Uus has been recorded frcm only six locations in Montana: four staticns in Glacier County, one in Stveetgrass County, and one in Toole County (Montana Natural Heritage Progra-n database, Helena . ) The locaticn din Toole County is frcm the Vtest Butte in the S\-,eet Grass Hills, erd \s'as collected by Miller and Hassinger (4828) on West Butte on June 30, 1975. The collection site ;-;as described as a "flat, exposed, meaoa.sy area near Fred and George Creek" (University of Lethbridge herbarium label ) .

Hitchcock and Cronquist (1973) list heart-leaved buttencup as occurrirg in rrountain rreada.'.'S frcm British Columbia to Alberta and Sasl<atchev.cn, sporadically south to northeast VJashington, and in I'tycming, Utah, l^.-i hfexico and Arizona. The eastern limit of the species in the U.S. is apparently the Dakotas, \vhere it is found infrequently in v.et rreada/.'s and along streams in the Black Hills of South Dakota (Van Bruggen 1976; Dom 1977) and in MxcKenzie County, North Dakota (Great Plains Flora Association 1986). The ta>:on is apparently poorly understood (Welsh et al. 1987) and is similar to R^ inamoenus Greene and R^ pedatifidus Smith. It is considered by Scoggan (1978) to be a variety of R. pedatifidus. Heart- leaved buttercup has been reported for both the Saskatcha-ran and Alberta portions of the Cypress Hills, approximately 112 km northeast of the Svjeet Grass Hills (Breitung 1954; de Vries and Bird 1968). To the rorthv?est, Kuijt (1982) lists the species as occurring on rather dry grassy meadot^ra at lcf,-7 elevations in Watertcn Lakes National Park.

Moss (1959) lists heart-leaved buttercup as ccnmon in moist prairie and mountain rreadows of Alberta, ^vtdle Locman and Best (1979) report the species as unocrrmDn in v.^stem parklands of the Canadian prairie provinces. In the Cypress Hills, it is ccrrmon in grasslands of the plateau (Breitung 1954).

Habitat affinity for heart-leaved buttercup changes frcm north to south. In the north it is characterized as occurring primarily in mountain iTeadCTv's at lav to mid-elevations (Hitchcock and Cronquist

1973, Kuijt 1982, Vteber 1975, Van Bruggen 1976, Harrington 1964 and Dom 1988). In Arizona, ha-^ver, it is found in pine forests frcm 7,CX)0 to 9,500 feet (Kearney and Peebles 1960).

Vfest Butte v.-as revisited in an atterrpt to relocate hsart-leaved buttercup. Several Ranunculus specimens v.'ere collected, but R. cardiophyllus v.-as not found. Given the inprecise location reported on the herbarium label frcm the previous collection, a gereral site traverse was conducted in suitable habitats in and near the PACBC.

The veracity of the previous collection is not questioned; failure to relocate the population may indicate that it is very small, or that it has been extirpated. Also, the previous collection may have been made on private land outside the Sv/eet Grass Hills PACEC.

3.1.2 Claytcnia lanceolata variety (Springbeauty)

Springbeauty (Claytcsiia lanceolata var. flava) is listed as critically imperiled in Montana because of extreme rarity; it is designated "C2" by t±>e U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (current information indicates that proposing to list as endangered or threatened is possibly appropriate but substantial biological infoxmation is not on file to support an iirrrediate ruling); and as sensitive by the U.S. Forest Service (Shelly 1989). Claytonia lanceolata is ccmrron in the Hills and several specirrens v;ere collected. Specirrens collected have v.Mte floisers and narrow leaves, and may represent either variety multiscapa or a v;hite form of variety flava (Shelly pers. ccrnn. ). Systematic

studies of these ta>3, by J.S. Shelly and P. Lesica, ere not yet ccnpleted, and a positive identification cannot te irade at this tirre. Upon ccnpletion of these studies, the Montana Natural Heritage Rnogram v;ill update the Bureau of Land t>^anagement as to the identification of these plants. The taxon is ccmrron on East and Vfest Buttes in grassland habitats, and no imrediate threats are apparent.

3.1.3 Hali'molobos virgata (?) ( Tv;iggy halimolobos )

Plant specimens tentatively identified as tv;iggy halimolobos \ l-\l^' "" ( Halimolobos virgata) v/ere collected near a rock outcrop en foothills north of Mount Brcs-n in the East Butte area. The specimens depart from

A^

the published species descriptions, in having pubescent siliques and shorter petals. Specimens are beirg sent to the New— York— Botanic

:'xt^ i'i^>^^'.'Jv.w '\

1 ' V /

Garden- for verification. Shelly (pers. ccnrn. , Etecenber, 1989) also \- ,,■

collected specimens tentatively identified as Halimolobos from the Bull _ \

River in northwestern Montana. If correctly identified, these collections represent new state records for Montana. Twiggy halimolcixs is previously documented frcm open prairies to la.',er mountains, ficm Yukon to Aiberta and Saskatche;-ran, south to eastern Idaho, Wycming, Utah and Colorado (Hitchcock and Cronquist 1973).

3.2 SPECIES LIST

Thcrpson and Kuijt (1976b) prepared a comprehensive species list for

the S\seat Grass Hills during their investigations in 1972-1975.

Hagener (1972) and Hagener and Hagener (1977) list common plants of north-central I-'ontana.

^pendix A lists plant species encountered during the 1989 rare plant inventory. Appendix A also lists additional species recorded for the Sweet Grass Hills area by Thcnpson and Kuijt (1976b), but v.-hich v/ere not observed in the rare plant inventory conducted by VJESTECH.

A total of 339 species v;ere recorded, of v±iich 71 were gramiroids, 228 \'?er^ forbs, 27 v;erB Icf^i shrubs and subshrubs and 13 v.ere trees and tall shrubs. Seme of the taxa listed by Thcrtpson and Kuijt (1976b) may not occur vd-thin the PACEC boundaries surveyed by VESTECH; ha.'^ver they are at least proxirral and are included in Appendix A since many of these species are expected to occur in the PACEC.

Although very few rare plant species have been listed for the Sv^eet Grass Hills and vicinity (Lesica et al. 1984), a number of taxa are of phytogeographical interest due to island biogeography considerations. Sore species within the PACEC which may represent range extensions of subalpine/alpine taxa are included in Table 1. Thcrrpson and Kuijt (1976a) listed cordilleran species of phytogeographic interest in the a-reet Grass Hills.

Table 1. Subalpins and alpine plant ta:<a v.tach may represent range extensions in the Sv.-eet Grass Hills PACEC (see Appendix A),

Graminoids

Forbs

Agrostis thurberiana* Carex albonigra* Carex phaeocephala* Luzula spicata Poa alpina* Poa rupicola Phleum alpinum

Arenaria rubella Castilleja rhexifolia Epilcbium alpinum Erigeron sinplex* Hedysarum alpinum Ruirex acetosa Sibbaldia procumbens

Trees

Abies lasiocarpa Pinus albicaulis

* identified by Thcnrpson and Kuijt (1976a) in the Sweet Grass Hills, but not observed during the 1989 VJESTECH inventory of the PACBC.

10

3.3 VEGETATION TYPE DESCRIFTICKS

3.3.1 Literature Reviev;

Vegetaticxi ccrmiunities of the Svveet Grass Hills have been mapped and described in very general terms during several statev/ide efforts. Ptoss and Hunter (1976) utilized the USDA Soil Qxservation Service range site irethodology to rrep climax vegetation of Kicntana based oi soils apd climate. In the &.-.eet Grass Hills, upper elevation sites v;ere irejped as a forest-grassland cocrplex in the. 15 to 19-inch precipitaticn zone en shallow to moderately deep soils with a frigid tenperature regime. Species occurring en forested sites include Douglas-fir, sncwberry, spixea, Oregcn grape and Idaho fescue. Grassland species listed were Idaho fescue, bluebunoh vrf-eatgrass, Columbia needlegrass, lupine and arrowleaf balsamroot. Foothills surrounding the forest grassland ccrrplex were mapped as a silty range site, also in the 15 to 19-inch precipitaticn zcre. Dominant species listed for this rrepping unit jLnclude rougi^ fescue, Idaho fescue and bluebunch wheatgrass. The prairie surrounding the Sweet Grass Hills vras mapped as a silty-clayey range site ccnplex in the 10 to 14-inch precipitaticxi zone of the Western Glaciated Plains Geograj^iical Area. This range site occurs across much of northHcentral Montana, frcm v.'sst of Shelby to near Havre. Dominant species en silty sites include needle-and- thread, western and thickspike wheatgrass, green needlegrass, bluebunch wheatgrass, prairie junegrass, blue grama and several forts. Similar species corpositicn is listed for the clayey range site, although relative abundance v.ould be expected to differ frcm silty sites.

11

Payre (1973) rrapped and descriJDed rangeland sites of yontana. Upper elevation forested sites in the Sv.'eet Grass Hills v;ere irapped as lodgepole pine/Couglas-fir forest. Foothills and grassy iTeada^;s vjere mapped as a Foothills Grassland type. Principal forage species listed include fescues, v.'heatgrasses and needle-and- thread. The distinguishing feature of this type is the nrbcture of montane and plains species. Vegetation of the plains surrounding the Sv.eet Gra^s Hills is descriJDed as Northern Grassland, including blue graira, v;estem v;heatgrass, needle-and-thread and dryland sedges (threadleaf and needleleaf ) .

Pfister et al. (1977) have developed a ccnprehensive classification of Montana's forest habitat types; however, their study did not ir^clude stands frcm isolated, ncn-U.S. Forest Service-managed mountain ranges in central and eastern Kcntana. Mueggler and Stewart (1980) have classified grass and shrub ccrrmunities of the western cne-third of Montana. The Sv.'eet Grass Hills were not included in this classification, although sore similarities with their descriptions are apparent. Hansen et al. (1988) described riparian dominance types of Montana. Their ocrtpilation may be applicable to sore riparian types in the Sweet Grass Kills; ho-.'.ever, no sanpling or literature pertaining to the Hills was used in the classification.

Qualitative, site-specific descriptions of rrajor vegetation ccmmunities of the a-.^et Grass Hills are presented by Thcnpson and Kuijt (1976a).

12

Trey divided plant ccrmunities elevationally intX) t;'« groups: plains ccmmunities occxirring primarily belcw 14CX) m, and nx^ntane ccmrnunities primarily above 1400 n. Figure 2 profiles vegetation ccmmunities across the montane regicn of East Butte.

PLAI^S CaT-7JNITIE3

Agricultural land. Vost of the flat, arid prairie surrounding the Hills has been altered by agriculture. Little native prairie, prcbably formerly dominated by western wheatgrass, needle-and- thread and blue grama, new rerrains.

Foothills prairie. The higher grasslands surroundirg the Hills (about 1100 to 1500 m) are similar to the foothills prairie described by Kuchler (1964), normally supporting stands dcminated by wheatgrasses, fescues and needle- and- thread .

Riparian shrubteiy. Edges of intermittent prairie streams are lined with shrub ccrrmunities generally dcminated by serviceberry, havrthom ard chrf^echerry. Scattered stands of boxelder are present alcng seme drainage bottcms.

Riparian forest. A deciduous forest associaticn dcminated by black cottcnwood and plains cottonwood extends into the mcntane region of the Hills, reaching elevations up to 1500 m alo-g Breed

13

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Creek and SirnTDns Creek. Understory ccnsists largely of dense shrubbery including Rocky Mountain maple, serviceberxy, dcgvxDod, hav/thom, chokecherry and v;illcws.

Potholes and reservoirs. Saiall glacial kettles, from a f&^ square meters to several hectares, are found as high as 1300 m and are abundant north and west of East Butte. Pcnds are shallow, and most are usually dry by late July. Scrre sutport cattail, rushes, bulxushes and sedges. Since no natural lakes or marshes are found within the Hills prcper, natural wetland ccrrmunities similar to marshes of the Cypress Hills (Breitung 1954) are absent from the Sweet Grass Hills.

MKTANE COvNUNITIES

Nfcntane grassland. Dry south- facing slopes and foothills between 1500 and 2000 m, and many ncn-forested portions of north-faciiX[ slcpes, are dcminated by rough fescue, Idaho fescue and shrubby cinquef oil .

Subalpine grassland. Small grassland areas above timberline on the sumnaits of Kjount Royal and Viest. Butte appear distinct frcrn the Ic^-^r-elevation mcntane grassland, and somewhat resemble alpire turdra. Caespitose vegetaticn is dcminated by stunted rough fescue and shrubby cinquef oil, with American bistort a irejor

15

ccmpo-ent. A more rroist grassland found on the ste^, shady north face of Mount Royal is dcminated by sedge species.

Douglas-fir forest. Douglas-fir forest ccnprises the la,-«st coniferous forest of the Hills. Pcnderosa pine, more carmen in other isolated mountain rarges, is absent; apparently, base elevations of the Hills are above the cold limits of pcrderosa pine. The understory of Douglas-fir forest is the most developed of all coniferous forests found in the Hills. Shrubs are abundant, including serviceberry, Oregon grape, prince's pine, ocmmcn juniper, russet buffal(±eny and v^iite spirea. Ccnspicuous forbs include bluntleaf sandwort, orange arnica, clematis, spotted coralrodt, Virginia strawberry, northern bedstxaw, Richardscn's geranium, stcrecrop, starry Solcmcn's seal and rreadcwrue. A drier Douglas-fir savannah occurs on some south slcpes, while Douglas- fir and limber pine are found en the rocky, Icwer south slope of Vfest Butte.

Limber pine woodland. Limber pine occurs alcrg forest edges throughout the montane region, forming pure stands en dry ridges east of KDunt Brown.

Lodgepole pine forest. Dense, even-aged stands of lodgepole pire occur en steeper, north-facing slopes from 1500 to 2100 m. The understory is sparse and includes heart-leaved arnica, twinflcwer, white spirea, sidecells pyrola, ore-flas'ered wintergreen, green

16

wintergreen, dwarf huckleberry, blue huckleberry, myrtle huckleberry and grouse v;hortleberry.

Spruce-lodgepole pire forest. This type is found en north-facing slopes ard alcxg streams from 1600 to 2100 m on East Butte cxily. Lodgepole pine ard spruce dcminate a sparse understory similar in ccmpositicn to the lodgepole pine forest.

Temperate subalpire fir forest. Subalpine fir and spruce dcminate steep, shady north-facing slcpes from 1650 to 1800 m above Rittocn Gulch (west side of East Butte). This unusually low-elevation oocurrence of subalpine fir rray be due to cold air drainage down the canycn. Scattered lodgepole pine and Douglas-fir are found in the type. Tne understory includes Rocky fountain maple, harebell, fireweed, twinflower, one-flowered wintergreen, russet buffaloberry and grouse whorU-eberxy.

Subalpine forest. V/hitebark pine is a major conpcrient of forests near the sunmits of Nfeunt Brcwn and Mount Royal. Lodgepole pine, limber pire, spruce, and, en the north face of Mount Brown, subalpine fir also occur. These stands are apparently above the cold limits of Dcxiglas-fir. VJhitebark pine and lodgepole pine dominate forest stands at timber line en the summit of Vtest Butte. On Vfest Butte, subalpine fir is found only en the dry, rocky ridge south of the summit, v^-^ere its stunted, wind-blo^sTi form resembles

17

kxummholz. Understory plants acre virtually absent frcm most subalpine forest stands.

Aspen groveland. Groves of aspen surrouri^ed by grassland are found up to 1800 m. These stands support a dense understory of herbaceous and shruMDy species, and are similar to the aspen groveland described by Lynch (1955) on the east slcpe of tie Rockies.

Aspen woodland. Clcnes of aspen occur within the Douglas-fir forest at elevations between about 1400 and 1600 m. These stands have understories similar to the Douglas- fir forest and prcbably represent a fire-caused serai stage.

Mountain ravines. In the higher mcntane regions, between 1500 and 2000 m, major streams flew through steep rocky ravines. These ravines are generally bordered by coniferous forest and support stands of aspen and Rocky Mountain maple.

Rubble slopes . ' Higher montane steep slcpes v;ith loose, lichen- covered rocks (1 to 4-dm diameter) are sparsely vegetated, occasicnally supporting clunps of spruce or lodgepole pine. Other species found on these rul±)le slopes Include sulfur buckwheat, klnikinnick, matted saxifrage and raspberry.

18

Several vegetaticn inventories of other isolated mountain ranges in Montana ard Canada may be pertinent to the Sv;eet Grass Hills. The flora of the Cypress Kills has been described by Breitung (1954), deVries and Bird (1968) and Newscme and Dix (1968). Forest habitat types of the Bear's Pav; Mountains have been classified by Roberts and Sibibemsen (1979a) and Roberts (1980). Forest habitat types of the Little Rocky Kjountaip.s have also been classified by Rcterts and Sitbemsen (1979b) and Rtierts (1980). Culv;ell et al. (1989) have described vegetation types of a porticxi of the Little Rocky Mountains.

Forest habitat types of tl^ Blackfeet Indian Reservation have been classified by Cooper (1981), and Lynch (1955) has inventoried aspen groveland in Glacier County, Montana.

Table 2 lists habitat types and ccnrnunity types reported in pertinent vegetaticn inventories.

3.3.2 Habitat/CoTTTiunity Types of the Sv.eet Grass Hills A preliminary assessrrent of habitat/oGrrmunity types of the PACEC is possible utilizing general descriptions provided by Thcmpscn and Kuijt (1976a), qualitative notes frcm the rare plant inventory, and extrapolaticn of reports from adjacent, isolated mountain ranges. This assessment of types —List be cansidered speculative given the lack of quantitative ecological data. Photographs of representative vegetaticn types are presented in Arpendix B.

19

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22

GRASSLAND TfPES

Prairie grassland. Several types potentially occur in the prairie surrouTiiing the Sv/eet Grass Hills; however, the PACEC is primarily above elevaticns characteristic of Northern Great Plains prairie associaticns . AJ^sence of fescue species differentiates the prairie grassland from foothills, montane and subalpine grasslands. Ecminant species include wheatgrasses (primarily western in association with thickspike and bluebunch), needlegrasses (primarily needle-and-thread with seme green needlegrass ) , blue grama and dryland sedges (threadleaf ard needleleaf ).

Foothi 1 1 s grassland . This type is dominant in the Buttes iirmediately above prairie grassland. Fescues doninate most stands. Table 3 presents qualitative data en ccnpositicn of three ... vicinity stands sanpled by Ross et al. (1973) in their assessnent of near-pristine sites in Mcntana. Each site is clearly dcminated by rough fescue. Idaho fescue is present in each stand, but ccnpositicn is lew. Perennial forbs contribute 4 to 10 percent ccnpositicn by v.eight. The foothills grassland most closely fits the rough fescue/Idaho fescue habitat type of. Mueggler and Stewart (1980). It differs in the ftLlls by a paucity of Idaho fescue and perennial forbs, and a very high ccnpositicn of rough fescue. Table 4 presents a ccnpariscn of ungrazed and grazed stands at the Gold Butte Coretery (Ross et al. 1973). Needle-and-thread, not recorded in the ungrazed stand, increased

23

Table 3. Percent ccnposition (by v«ight) of three near-pristire sites in foothills grassland of the Sv.ieet Grass Hills (Ross et al. (1973)).

Species	Gold Butte CefTetery
Rough fesov^.	80
Ifiaho fescue	T
VtestPtn & Thickspike wheatyi-ass 5
Green needlegrass	5
Cusick bluegiciss	T
Threadleaf sedge	T
Perennial forbs	10
Annuals and hipnm'al.c?	T

Thcnpson Ranc±i SE of Whitlash

92

2

T 1

T 5

Osvcod F?arch SE of VJhitlash

93

1

Prairie rose

1 4

T

1

24

Table 4. Percent ccrposition (by weight) of ungrazed and grazed foothills prairie in the Sweet Grass Hills (Gold Butte Canetexy) (Ross et al. (1973)).

Species Ungrazed Grazed

Rough rescue 80 5

Idaho fescue T

Western wheatgrass 5 5

Green needlegrass 5

Threadleaf sedge T 5

Needle-and-thread 50

Prairie junegrass 15

Cusick bluegrass T

Perennial forbs 10 15

Annuals T 3

Brocm snakeweed 2

25

to 50 percent ccrrposition (by v^eight) vath grazing. Ptough fescue decreased dramatically with grazing frcm 80 to 5 percent cornposition, indicating a grazing-induced serai ccmmunity daninated by needle-and- thread. This grazing response also indicates a substantial deviation frcm I-lisggler and Stew-art's (1980) rough fescue/Idaho fescue habitat type, since their paired stands for the type do not shew needle- and- thread as a primary increaser.

Grassland similar to the rough fescue/bluebunch wheatgrass habitat type was observed en slightly drier sites.

It is likely that additicxial investigaticns will delineate several associations for foothills grassland, reflecting the range of site differences within this zone.

Mcntane grassland . As in the foothills grassland zone, rough fescue is the dominant species over most of the montane grassland. Potential habitat types within this zore include:

Rough fescue/ Idaho fescue

Rough fescue/bluebunch wheatgrass

Idaho fescue/bluebunch v^eatgrass

These types were identified by Culwell et al. (1989) in the montane zone of the Little Rocky Fountains. Qualitative

26

observations indicate ccmpositional differences frcrr, :-l:eggler and Stewart's (1980) tj^pes. The rough fescue/bluebunch '.•.rsatgrass and Idaho fescue/bluebunch v;heatgrass types are much rore limited than the rough fescue/Idaho fescue type in the Sv;eet Grass Hills.

Subalplne grassland. The subalpins grassland is limited to relatively small areas above timber line on the sumrits of Kount Royal and West Butte. Ftough fescue is dcminant in scrre stands, but ccrTTTiunity stature and associated species ccnpositicn indicate dissimilarities vdth mcntane grassland. Tvro tentative types based on Thompson and Kuijt's (1976a) description are rough fescue/ shrubby cinquefoil and sedge rveado^i. Idaho fescue and shruttoy cinquefoil are dcminant on the top of Mt. Royal, suggesting a third type (possibly a serai phase of the rough fescue type ) . Herbaceous species indicative of the subalpine zone are listed in Table 1.

UPLAND SHRUB

Shrubby cinquefoil grassland. Relative cover of shrubby cinquefoil in sctre areas warrants separation fran grassland types. Rough fescue, usually the dcminant grass, identifies the shrubby cinquefoil/rough fescue habitat type of Mieggler and Stewart (1980). Idaho fescue is dcminant in other stands, implying a shrul±y cinquef oil/Idaho fescue type. Since shrubby cinquefoil generally increases with grazing, additional investigations ^ould be required to determine ^-rf^ether the t^pe is

27

climax or a grazing-irduced serai cxxmunity in 1±e Sv^eet Grass Hills.

Western sro'.-berTy/rose. Sv.'ales, upland drainages and other sna.v acxrijmulation areas support a la,'/ shrub type dominated by v^estem snc^±)erTY and rose. Understory species are similar to the adjacent grasslands v/ith higher abundance of rresic-site species. Kentucky bluegrass has generally invaded these stands.

oo^^:FEROUs forest and savannah types

Limber pine series . Limber pine is present as a codcminant or subdcminant in the Douglas-fir series, and forms pure stands on dry ridges east of Mt. Brc^•n. Limt)er pine stands are frequently open, appearing as a woodland or savannah. Idato fescue is the dcminant understory species, ijiplying the limber pine/Idaho fescue type of Pfister et al. (1977).

Douglas-fir series. Douglas-fir occurs as dense forests on north- facing aspects at la^/er elevations and as a savannah on drier south- facing slopes. It is a serai ccrrponent of higher elevation forest in the spruce or subalpine fir series. Thcrpson and Kuijt (1976a) describe the understory as the most well-developed of coniferous types in the Hills. Etouglas-fir types described for the Bear's Paw r-'ountains and Little Rocky Fountains that may be present in the Si-.-eet Grass Hills include Douglas-fir/westem

28

snovjberry, Douglas-fir/sexviceberry, Douglas- fir/kinikinnick, Douglas-fir/Oregon grape, Douglas-fir/Canac3a violet, Douglas- fir/ t-v;infla.'.'er and Douglas- fir /burx^hterxy dogvxxx3.

Lodgepple pine series . Lodgepole is extensive at mid to upper elevations on cool, mesic slopes. It is likely serai, related to fire history. Succession rrey be very slo,'/, hov^ver, reflecting possible soil loss follc^^ing extensive bums. Understory is depauperate, iraking classification difficult. Types that may be present include lodgepole pine/twinflo/,er, lodgepole pine/mixed shrub, lodgepole pine/huckleberry species, and lodgpole pine/ccnrron juniper.

Spruce series. Spruce is found on East Butte (Figure 2) at mid to upper elevaticns. Potential types include spruce/tvrinflc^•.■er, spruce/ccmnxDn juniper and perhaps spruce/matted clematis on limestone substrates.

Subalpine fir series. Subalpine fir/carmon juniper and subalpine fir/twinf lower are found in the Bear's Paw Mountains (Roberts, 1980), and nay be present in the S\-.eet Grass Hills. Other possible subalpine fir types include subalpine fir/grouse whortleberry and subalpine fir-^siTitebark pine at the highest elevaticns.

29

DECIDUOUS FOREST

^■spen series. Aspen cccurs as groves surrounded by grassland, and as voDdland in coniferous forest. Understory is dense and diverse. Possible types include aspen/si'ieetroot in the groves and aspen/ tv7infloi',er or aspen/westem srov-iDerry in the coniferous forest.

i

scree/t;^xus/rcck outcrop

Most rocky slopes are poorly vegetated and can be designated technically as scree, talus or rock outcrop. Scattered trees occur en seme rocky slopes and may be designated as limber pine/ scree, spruce/scree or lodgepole pine/scree, depending on tree species dcminance.

30

4.0 KANAGEKENT RBCa-MENDATIONS

Rare plants

Field investigaticns should be ccntinued to determine the status of heart-leaved buttercup in the Sv-eet Grass Hills. Bureau of Lard Nfanagement or contract botanists should periodically ccnduct botanical investigations during spring or early summer to determine if heart- leaved buttercup is present in the PACBC. Investigaticns should be conducted prior to any changes in land management policies that might affect the taxcn. If no threats are posed to suitable habitat, the priority for additicnal investigaticns is considered lew. Because access is limited, and the Hills are rugged, a detailed field inventory to document the status of heart-leaved buttercup will require a substantial field effort. The status of springbeauty and twiggy halimolcfcos should be determined following verification of the voucher specirrens.

Habitat type descriptions

Habitat types of the Sv,eet Grass Hills have not been quantitatively described. Previous investigaticns by Thcnpscn and Kuijt (1976a) have been qualitative. Although plant ccmmunities in the ?iills resemble seme habitat types described for I-tntana by Pfister et al. (1977) and Mueggler and Stewart (1980), neither study specifically addressed or sampled types within the Hills. Sana similarities are apparent with other prairie mountain ranges in north-central ^tntana; hois'sver, each range ccntains unique types. A detailed quantitative evaluaticn of

31

habitat types of the Hills vould alla^ caorparison with otr»2r isolated mountain ranges (e.g. Bears Paw Mountains and Little Rocky .'-'ountains ) , and identify unique tyx^es that may merit protection or special management.

Vegetation mapping

Vegetatia-i mapping was beyond the scqpe of the rare plant inventory. Mapping of general vegetaticn types identified by Thcrrpscn ard Kuijt (1976) could be accctrplished using aerial ji^otographs and field verificaticn. Preparation of a habitat type map would be of more value to land management decisions.

Noxious weeds

Three state- listed noxious weeds were encountered en the PACEC during the rare plant inventory: leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula), spotted knap;';eed (Centaurea maculosa), and Canada thistle (Cirsium arvense). Identified populaticns included:

Leafy Spurge - two locations on l-fest Butte: ere in the tottcm of Pratt Canyon bordering ccniferous forest (10m by 10m) and ere along a mining road en the west side of West Butte (Im x 5m); Spotted knapweed - A sizeable population on the edge of the quarry en the east side of East Butte - isolated plants were pulled; Canada thistle - A small population in a drainage north of Mount Brcxsn in a moderately to heavily grazed pasture.

Reocmmsndations for noxious weed control include:

32

1) Conduct additional surveys to identify populations of noxious weeds.

2) Mali tor knom populations.

3) Selectively spray the quarry area for spotted knapweed.

4) Mechanically control isolated populations of spotted knap;';eed by hand pullirg.

5) Consider spot spraying of Canada thistle and/or modificaticns to the grazing plan.

33

5.0 LITERATURE CITED

Breitung, A.J. 1954. A botanical survey of thie Cypress Hills. Can. Field-Natural. 68:55-92.

Cooper, S.V. 1981. Forest habitat types of the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. In coop with Intermountain For. and Range Exp. Stn. Forest Sci. Lab, R.D. Pfister. Prep, for Bur. Ind. Affairs, Wind River Agency, Fort V/ashakie, t'^ycming. 87 p. + apperd.

Culv^ell, L.D., K.L. Sco;-/ and L.A. Larsen. 1989. Vegetation resources of the Landusky and Zortman life-of-mine area. Little Rocky Mountains, Montana. Tech I^t. for Zortman Mining, Inc. by VESTBCH, Helena, Mcxitana. 40 p. + append.

deVries, B. and CD. Bird. 1968. Additions to the vascular flora of the Cypress Hills, Albei-fca. Blue Jay 26:98-100.

Dom, R.D. 1977. Flora of the Black Hills. Publ. by R.D. and J.L. Dom. 377 p.

Dom, R.D. 1984. Vascular plants of Mcntana. Mtn. Vfest Publ., Cheyenne, VJycming. 175 p.

Dom, R.D. 1988. Vascular plants of Wyoning. Mtn. West Publ., Cheyenne, V^ycming. 340 p.

Great Plains Flora Associaticn. 1986. Flora of the Great Plains. Univ. Press of Kansas, Lav/rence. 1392 p.

Hagener, L.W. 1972. Wild flowers, shrubs and trees of north central Mcntana. Botany Dept., Northern Mcntana College. Ashtcn Printing, Butte, I-fcntana. 79 p.

Hagener, L.V/. and A.R. Hagener. 1977. Free for all - edible and useful wild plants of north central Montana. Hill County Printing Co., Havre, Montana. 76 p.

Hansen, P.L., S.W. Chadde and R.D. Pfister. 1988. Riparian dominance types of Nixitana. Misc. Publ. No 49. Montana Forest and Ccnserv. Exp. Station, School of Forestry, Univ. of Mcxitana, Missoula. 411 p.

Harrington, H.D. 1964. Manual of the plants of Colorado. Auth. by the Colorado State Board of Agriculture and prepared with the cooperation of Colorado State Univ. The Swallow Press, Inc., Chicago. 666 p.

Hitchcock, C.L., A. Cronquist, M. CXvnbey and J.W. Thcrpson. 1955-1969. Vascular plants of the Pacific Northwest. Vols. 1-5, Univ. of Washington Press, Seattle.

34

Hitchcxxi<, C.L. and A. Cronquist. ' 1973. Flora of the Pacific Northwest. Urav. of VJashington Press, Seattle, Washington. 730 p.

Kearney, T.H. end R.H. Peebles (eds). 1960. Arizona flora. Univ. of California Press, Berkeley. 1085 p.

Kuchler, A.W. 1964. Potential natural vegetation of the ccnterminous Untied States (rrap). An-erican Geograf^iic Society, special publication No. 36.

Kuijt, J. 1982. A flora of Vfetertcn Lakes National Park. Univ. of Alberta Press, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. 584 p.

Lesica,, P., G. t-toore, K.M. Petersen and J.H. Rurrely. 1984. Vascular plants of limited distrihuticn in Montana. Koitana Academy of Science r-fcn. No. 2. 61 p.

Locman, J. and K.F. Best. 1979. Budd's flora of the Canadian praixie provinces. Res. Branch Agriculture Canada, Publ. 1662, Ottawa. 863 p.

Lynch, D. 1955. Ecology of the aspen groveland in Glacier County, Mcxitana. Ecological t'fcnographs 25:322-345.

Moss, E.H. 1959. Flora of Alberta. Univ. of Toronto Press. Toronto. 546 p.

Mueggler, W.F. and W.L. Stewart. 1980. Grassland and shrubland habitat types of western Kcxitana. USDA Forest Service, Cgden, Utah. General Tech. Rept. I^)T-66. 154 pp.

Newscme, R.D. and R.L. Dix. 1968. The forests of the Cypress Hills, Alberta and Saskatchewan, Canada. American Midland Naturalist 80:118- 185.

Payne, G.F. 1973. Vegetative rangeland types in Montana. Montana Agricultural Experirrent Station Bulletin 671. ^fcntana State Univ., Bozeman.

Pfister, R.D., B.L. Kovalchick, S.F. Amo and R.C. Presby. 1977. Forest habitat types of Montana, USDA Forest Service. General Tech. Report INT-34.

Roberts, D.W. 1980. Forest habitat types of the Bear's Paw Mountains and Little Rocky Mountains, Montana. Master's Thesis. University of M:xitana, Missoula. 116 p.

Rci)erts, D.W. and J.I. Sibbemsen. 1979a. Forest habitat types of the Bear's Paw Mountains. Unpublished report on file at the Montana Forest and Conservation Experirrent Station, Univ. of Montana, Missoula. Unpaged.

35

Ftoberts, D.W. and J.I. SUbbemsen. 1979b. Forest and woodland habitat types of north-central Montana. Vol. 1. The Little Rod<y I-tountains. Unpublished report en file at the t-tontana Forest and Ccnservaticn Experiment Station, Univ. of Montana, Missoula. Unpaged.

Ross, R.L. and H.E. Hunter. 1976. Cimax vegetation of I-fcntana based en soils and climate. USDA Soil Conservation Service, Bozeman, Montana. 64 p.

Ross, R.L., E.P. r-lurray and J.G. Haigh. 1973. Soil and vegetaticn inventory of near-pristine sites in Montana. USDA Soil Ccnserv. Serv. , Bozeman, MT. 55 p.

Scoggan, H.J. 1978. The flora of Canada. Four volumes. Nat. I-lus. Nat. Sci. Canada, Ottawa.

Shelly, J.S. 1989. Plant species of special concern. Unpublished mimeo. Mcxitana Natural Heritage Program, Helena.

Thcnpscn, L.S. and J. Kuijt. 1976a. Montane and subalpine plants of the Sweet Grass Hills, Montana, and their relation to early postglacial envircriTents of the Northern Great Plains. Can. Field-Natural. 90:432- 448.

Thcmpscn, L.S. and J. Kuijt. 1976b. List of vascular plants collected in the Sweetgrass Hills. Unpub. mimeo- 14 p.

Van Bruggen, T. 1976. The vascular plants of South Dakota. Iowa State Univ. Press, Ames. 538 p.

Weber, W.A. 1976. Rocky Nfciuntain flora. Colorado Associated Univ. Press, Boulder. 479 p.

Welsh, S.L., N.D. Atwood, S. Goodrich and L.C. Higgins, 1987. A Utah flora. Great Basin Naturalist t^-fenoirs No 9. Brigham Young University, Provo, ur. 894 p.

36

APPENDIX A.

Vascular plant species by class. S"- Liberty County. Kontana. 1989.

:t Grass Hills, Tool- Countj

: i n o ra 1 a 1

Code

Coaraon TJame

NATIVE PERENNIAL GSA>^INOIDS

Agrcpyron caninum

Agropyron dasystachyua

Agropyron splcatum

Agrostis scabra

Agrostis thurberiana*

Alopecurus aequalis

Bouteloua gracilis

BroBus carlnatus

Broaus ciliatus*

Calanagrostis canadensis

Calamagrostis purpurascens

Calamagrostis rubescens

Carex albonigra*

Carex aquatilis*

Carex athrostachya

Carex atrata*

Carex aurea

Carex caplllaris

Carex eleocharls*

Carex filifolla

Carex hoodi i

Carex hystricina £?)• Carex nicroptera Carex nebrascensis Carex obtusata Carex parryana* Carex pensylvanica Carex petasata Carex phaeocephala* Carex raynoldsii Carex ros s i i Carex s Icca t a Carex sprengelil Carex xerantica Catabrosa aquatica Danthonia californica Danthonia inte media Deschampsla cespitosa Festuca idahoensis Festuca ovina Festuca scabrella <Helictotrichon hooker! Kordeum brachyantherum Hordeum Jubatum Juncus baltlcus Juncus ensifollus Juncus nevadensis Juncus tenuis Koeleria cristata Luzula spicata Fhleum alplnum Pea alpina* Poa compressa Poa cusickii Poa fendleriana Poa interior ?oa Junclfolla Poa ne rvosa

Agr	can
Agr	das
Agr	spi
Agr	sea
Agr	thu
Alo	aeq
Sou	gra
3ro	car
Bro	cil
Cal	can
Cal	pur
Cal	rub
Car	alb
Car	aqu
Car	ath
Car	atr
Car	aur
Car	cap
Car	ele
Car	fil
Car	hoo
Car	hys
Car	nic
Car	neb
Car	obt
Car	par
Car	pen
Car	pet
Car	pha
Car	ray
Car	ros
Car	sic
Car	spr
Car	xer
Cat	aqu
Dan	cal
Dan	Int
Des	ces
Fes	Ida
Fes	ovl
Fes	sea
Hel	hoo
Kor	bra
Hor	jub
Jun	bal
Jun	ens
Jun	nev
Jun	ten
Xoe	cri
Lui	spl
Phi	alp
Poa	alp
Poa	COD
Poa	cus
Poa	fen
Poa	int
Poa	Jun
Poa	ner

Slender wheat grass

Thickspike wheatgras s

Eluebunch wheatgrass

Kough bentgrass

Thurber bentgrass

Shortawn foxtail

Blue grana

California brome

Fringed b rone

Bluejoint reedgrass

Purple reedgrass

Pinegrass

Black-and-white scaled sedge

-a ter sedge

Slende rbeaked sedge

Blackened sedge

Golden sedge

Hair sedge

Needleleaf sedge

Threadleaf sedge

Hood's sedge

Porcupine sedge

Saallwing sedge

Nebraska sedge

Blunt sedge

Parry sedge

Sun sedge

Liddon sedge

Dunhead sedge

Raynold's sedge

Ross' sedge

Silvertop sedge

Sprengel's sedge

Dryland sedge

Brookgrass

California oatgrass

Ticber oatgrass

Tufted hairgrass

Idaho fescue

Sheep fescue

Hough fescue

Splke-oat

Meadow barley

Foxtal 1 barley

Wire rush

Dagger-leaf rush

Sierra rush

Si ender rush

Prairie junegrass

Spiked woodrush

Alpine timothy

Alpine bluegrass

Canada bluegrass

Cusick bluegrass

Mutton-grass

Inland bluegrass

Big bluegrass

Vh eeler's bluegrass

ll

Common N'ane

? oa rup i co 1 a ?oa sandbergil* S t Ipa coma t a Stipa occidentalls S t Ipa vl ri dula Trisetura car. escens*

Poa rup Poa san Sti cos Stl occ Sti vir Trl can

Tinberline bluegrass N'ative bluegrass N'eedle-and-thread Columbia needlegrass Green needlegrass Tall trise turn

INTRODUCED PERENNIAL GRASSES

Acropyron repens Bromus inernis Festuca pratensls* Phleum pratense Poa palustris Poa p ra t ens i s

Agr rep Bro ine Fes pra Phi pra Poa pal Poa pra

Quackg rass Ssooth brorae Keadow f e s cue Cocnon ticothy Fowl bluegrass Kentucky bluegrass

INTRODUCED ANNUAL GRASSES

Eromus tectorura

Cheatgrass

NATIVE PERENNIAL F0R3S

Achillea nlllefoliua

Actaea rubra

Agoserls glauca

Allium cernuum

Allium textile

Anemone multlflda

Anemone patens

Angelica arguta

Antennarla anaphaloldes

An tennarla microphylla

Antennarla neglect a

Antennarla parvifolia

An tennarla racemosa

Antennarla ucbrinella

Arable lemmonll

Arabls nuttallil

Arceuthoblum amerlcanun

Arenarla congesta

Arena rl a lateriflora*

Arenarla rubella

Arnica cordl folia

Arnica f ulgens

Arnica sororia*

Artemisia campestris

Artemisia long! foil a*

Artemisia ludoviciana

Aster falcatus

Aster foliaceus

Aster occidentalls

As t e r pansus

Astragalus aboriglnuo*

Astragalus adsurgens

Astragalus agrestis

Astragalus drummondli

Astragalus vexilliflexus

Balsaraorhiza sagittata*

Besseya wyomingensis

Callitriche verna

Calypso bulbosa

Campanula parryi (?)*

Campanula rotundifolia

Castilleja lutescens

Castilleja rhexi folia (x ciniata?)

Ach mil Act rub Ago gla All cer All tex Ane oul Ane pat Ang arg Ant ana Ant nic Ant neg Ant par Ant rac Ant ucb Ara lea Ara nut Arc erne Are con Are lat Are rub Arn cor Arn ful Arn sor Art cam Art Ion Art lud Ast fal Ast fol Ast occ Ast pan Ast abo Ast ads Ast agr Ast dru Ast vex Bal sag Bes wyo Cal ver Cal bul Can par Cam rot Cas lut Cas rhe

Common yarrow

Red baneberry

Pale agoserls

Nodding onion

Textile onion

Ball anemone

Pasquef lowe r

Sharp tooth angelica

Tall pussy toes

Rose pussytoes

Field pussytoes

Snail-leaf pussytoes

Raceme pussytoes

L'=:ber pussytoes

Lemmon's rockcress

Nut tall rockcress

American dwarf mistletoe

Ballhead sandwort

Blunt leaf sandwort

Reddish sandwort

Keartleaf arnica

Orange arnica

Twin arnica

Field sagewor t

Long- leaved sagewort

Cudweed sagewort

Creeping white prairie aster

Leafybract aster

Western mountain aster

Tufted white prairie aster

Indian milkvetch

Prairie milkvetch

Purple milkvetch

Druomond milkvetch

Bent- flowered milkvetch

Arrowleaf balsamroot

Kittentall

Spring water- s tarworc

Fairy-slipper.

Parry's harebell

Roundleaf harebell

Yel low paintbrush

Khexia-leaved paintbrush

Blnomi a 1

Cerastlum arvense Chamaerhodos erecta Clcuta douglasli* Cirslura unc-jlatuna Claytonla la.iceolata var. Clematis colucbiar. a* Clematis tenuiloba Comandra usbellata Conlnitella viHiansii Corallorhiza aaculata* Corallorhiza trifida Corydallc aurea Crepis runcinata Cryptantha celosioides Cystopterls fragilis Delphinium bicolor Disporum trachycarpu= Dodecatheon conjugens Dodecatheon pulchellun* Draba au re a* Draba oligosperna* Epilobium alpinun Epilobium angustifolium Equisetum arvense Equisetum laevigatvia Erigeron acris* Erigeron caespitosus Erigeron coapositus Erigeron corynbosus Erigeron glabellus* Erigeron puailus* Erigeron sisplex* Erigeron speciosus Erlogonuo flavum Eriogonum u=bellacun Erysimum i neon spicu urn Fragaria Virginian a Fritlllaria pudica Gaillardia aristata Galium boreale Caura coccinea Gent i ana acarella* Geranium richardscnii Geranium viscosissicun Geum aleppicum Geum triflorun Habenaria hyperborea Hedysarum alpinum Hedysarua sulphurescens He li an thus rigidus Heracleum lanatura Heterotheca villosa Heuchera pa rvi folia Hieracium uzibel latum* Hymenoxys acaulis* Lathyrus ochroleucus Lesquerella alpina Linum perenne Lithophragna parviflora Lithospernua rude rale Loma t i um cous Lomatium dissectua Lomatiura cacrocarpum Lomatium triternatum Luplnus argenteus

Code

(?)

Cer	arv
Cha	ere
Cic	dou
Cir	und
Cla	Ian
Cle	col
Cle	ten
Con	umb
Con	wll
Cor	mac
Cor	trl
Cor	aur
Cre	run
Cry	eel
Cys	fra
Del	blc
Dls	tra
Dod	con
Dod	pul
Dra	aur
Dra	oil
Epi	alp
Epl	ang
Equ	arv
Equ	lae
Erl	acr
Erl	cae
Erl	COQ
Erl	cor
Erl	gla
Erl	pUffl
Erl	sla
Erl	spe
Erl	fla
Erl	umb
Ery	Inc
Fra	vlr
Frl	pud
Gal	arl
Gal	bor
Gau	COG
Ccn	aoa
Ger	rlc
Cer	vis
Geu	ale
Geu	trl
Hab	hyp
Hed	alp
Hed	sul
Hel	rig
Her	Ian
Het	vll
Heu	par
Hie	umb
Hyn	aca
Let	och
Les	alp
Lin	per
Lit	par
Lit	rud
Lorn	cou
Lorn	dls
Lom	cac
Lorn	trl
Lup	arg

C:;-non Name

rield chickweed

Cr.acaerhodos

Vestern water- he:=lock

-'avyleaf thistle

Sp ringbeau ty

r.zc'< clematis

Katted purple clematis

rale bastard toadflax

Coniml tel la

Spotted coral -root

Early coral-root

Golden corydalis

Dandelion hawksbeard

Miner's candle

Brittle bladderfern

Low larkspur

Sough-fruited fairy-bells

Shooting star

Few-flowered shooting star

Golden draba

Few -seeded draba

Alpine willow-herb

Fireweed

Cocmon horsetail

Smooth scouring- ru sh

Bitter f leabane

Tufted fleabane

Fernleaf fleabane

Purple daisy fleabane

Snoo th da i sy

Shaggy fleabane

Alpine daisy

Showy fleabane Yellow buckwheat

Sulfur buckwheat

S=all wallflower

Virginia strawberry

Yellowbells

Cocmon gaillardia

Northern bedstraw

Scarlet gaura

Northern gentian

Richardson geranium

Sticky geranium

Yellow avens

Prai riesmoke

Green bog-orchid

American sweetvetch

Yellow sweetvetch

Stiff sunflower

Cow parsnip

Hairy golden aster

Lit tie leaf alumroot

Narrow- leaved hawkweed

Stenless hymenoxys

Cream peavine

Alpine bladderpod

Blue flax

Smal 1 f lowe r woodlands tar

Vestern gromwell

Cous biscuit-root

Fern- leaved lomatium

Large- frui ted lomatium

Kineleaf lomatium

Silvery lupine

A - 3

Lupin us lepidus Lychnis dru-r.ondii Kertensia viridis* Monarda fist-jlosa Musineon divaricatuz Oenothera cespitosa Orobanche fasciculata Osrcorhiza depauperate* Cxytropis lagopus (?}* Oxytropis sericea Oxytropis splendens Parnassia palustris Penstemon cor. fertus Penstemon nitidus Penstemon procerus Perlderidia gairdr.eri Phacella sericea* Phlox alyssifolia Phlox hoodi i Polenonium pulcherrisua Polemoniun viscosun Polygonum bistortoices Potentllla anserina* Potentilla arguta Potentllla diversi folia Potentilla glandulosa Potentilla gracilis Potentilla hippiana Potent! 11a pensylvanica Pyrola asarifolia* Pyrola secunda Pyrola uniflora* Pyrola vlrens Ranunculus acris Ranunculus aquatilis Ranunculus cardiophyllus* Ranunculus glaberri=.us Ranunculus uncinatus Runex salicifolius Saxifraga bronchial is Saxifraga cernua* Saxifraga occidental is Sedua lanceolatua Selaginella densa Senecio canus Senecio integerriaus Senecio strepCanthifolius Sibbaldla procunbens Silene parry i* Sisyrinchiua angustifoliua Srailaclna racemosa Snilacina stellata* Solidago gigantea* Solidago missouriensis Solidago roultiradiata* Solidago nenoralis* Solidago rigida Solidago spa thu lata* Stellaria longi folia* Thalictrura spp. Thernopsis rhonbifolia Town send la parry! Urtlca dloica Veronica areericana

Lup	lep
Lye	dru
.'ler	vi r
Kon	fis
Hus	div
Oen	ces
Oro	fas
Osm	de?
Oxy	lag
Cxy	ser
Oxy	spl
Par	pal
Pen	con
Pen	nit
Pen	pro
Per	gal
Pha	ser
Phi	aly
Phi	hoo
Pol	pul
Pol	vis
Pol	bis
Pot	ans
Pot	arg
Pot	div
Pot	gla
Pot	gra
Pot	hip
Pot	pen
Pry	asa
?yr	sec
Pyr	unl
Pyr	vir
Ran	acr
San	aqu
Ran	car
Ran	gla
Ran	unc
Rum	sal
Sax	bro
Sax	cer
Sax	occ
Sed	laa
Sel	den
Sen	can
Sen	int
Sen	str
Sib	pro
Sil	par
Sis	ang
EDi	rac
Smi	ste
Sol	gig
sol	mis
Sol	Qui
Sol	nem
Sol	rig
Sol	spa
Ste	Ion
Tha	spp.
The	rho
Tow	par
Urt	dlo
Ver	ame

Coamon Nar.e

Prairie lupine

Dru.T.raond car^p ion

Green bluebel 1 s

Horsemint

Leafy musineon

Tufted evening prinrcse

Clustered broorarape

3lunt-fruited sweet- rsot

Haresfoot loco

Vhite point loco

Showy crazyweed

N'orthern grass-of-parr.assus

Yellow penst e-Ti o n

Uaxleaf pensteraon

Littleleaf penstemon

Yanipa

Si Iky phacel i a

Alyssura-leaved phlox

Hood's phlox

Showy polenoniuzi

Sticky polemoniua

Anerican bistort

Comnon silverweed

Tall cinquef oi 1

Diverse-leaved cincuefoil

Glandular cinque foil

Northwest cinquefoil

Horse cinquefoil

Prairie cinque foil

Cocaon pink wintergreen

Sidebells pyrola

W'oodnynph

Green- flowered wintergreen

Meadow buttercup

Wa tercrowf oo t buttercup

Heart- leaved buttercup

Sagebrush buttercup

Little buttercup

Ulllowleaved dock

Matted saxifrage

Nodding saxifrage

Western saxfrage

Lance leaf stonecro?

Cocpact clubmoss

Woolly groundsel

Lacbs tongue groundsel

Rocky Mountain butte r^.' e e d

Creeping sibbaldla

Parry " s silene

Blue-eyed grass

Feather solcTion's seal

Starry false soloaon's seal

Saooth goldenrod

Missouri goldenrod

Northern goldenrod

Field goldenrod

Stiff goldenrod

Dune goldenrod

Long-leaved star wort

Meadow rue

Round-leaved theraopsis

Parry's townsendia

Stinging nettle

American speedwell

Lai

Code

Co::;r.on U&me

Viria araericar.a Viola adunca Viola canadensis Viola nutrallii U'oodsia oreg = na Zigadenus elegans Zigadenus venenosus Zizia aptera*

Vic a .T. e Vio adu Vio can Vio nut V c o ore Zig ele Zig ven Ziz apt

Are r ican vetch

Western violet

Canada violet

N'uttall violet

W o c d s i a

Glaucous zigadenus

Meadow death caraas

Heart-leaved Alexanders

I.VTHODUCED rISENMAL ?CRBS

Centaurea maculosa Cirsiun arver.se Euphorbia esula Rusex acetcsa Ru::.ex acetosella Taraxacum officinale Trifolium reoens

C e n mac Cir arv Eup esu Rua ace Rua ace Tar off Tri rep

Spotted knapweed Canada thistle Lea f y spu rge Garden sorrel Sheep sorrel CosDon dandelion White clover

NATIVE ANNUAL/BIENNIAL FORBS

And rosace septentrional is Arabia divaricarpa Arabis glabra Arabis hirsuta Arabis holboellii Barbarea orthoceras Chenopodlun leptophylluo Collinsia parviflora Collonia linearis Descurainia pinnata Descurainia richardsonii Ellisia nyctelea Epilobium paniculatun* Erigeron strigosus* Crindelia squarrosa Kackelia deflexa Halicolobos vircata Ji:^ Lepidiun dens iflo run Minulus guttatus Monolepis nuttalliana Oenothera villosa Orthocarpus luteus Phacelia linearis Plagiobothrys scouleri Polygonum douglasii Potentilla rivalis* Ranunculus abortivus Ranunculus sceleratus Veronica peregrina

And sep Ara div Ara gla Ara hir Ara hoi Bar ort Che lep Col par Col lin Des pin Des ric Ell nyc Epi pan Eri str Gri squ Hac def Hal vir Lep den Mio gut Mon nut Oen vil Ort lut Pha lin Pla SCO Pol dou Pot riv Ran abo Ran see Ver per

Northern rockjasoine Spread ing-pod rockcress Tower mustard Hairy rockcress Holboell's rockcress Aner ican wintercress Narrow goosefoot Blue-eyed Mary Narrow-leaved collonia Pinnate tansyaustard Mountain tansynustard Nyctelea

Autuon willow herb Daisy f leabane Curlcup guiEweed Nodding stickseed Twiggy halimolobos Prairie pepperweed CocDon monkey flower Patata

Rycberg's evening primrose Yellow owlclover Linearleaf phacelia Scouler* s plagiobothrys Douglas knot weed Brook cinquefoil Small flower buttercup Celery- leaved buttercup Purslane speedwell

INTRODUCED ANNUAL/S I ENNI AL TORSS

Alyssum alyssoides Berteroa incana Camel ina microcarpa Capsella bursa-pastoris Chenopodiuio album Cirsiura vulgare Draba nemorosa Erysimum cheiranthoides* Melilotus officinalis Sisymbrium altissimum Thlaspi arvense Tragopogon dubius

Aly aly 3er inc Cam mic Cap bur Che alb Cir vul D r a n e ra Ery che Mel off Sis alt Thl arv Tra dub

Pale alyssum

Berteroa

Littlepod falseflax

Shepherd' s-purse

Lambsquarter goosefoot

Bull thistle.

Woods draba

Treacle mustard

Yel low sweetclover

Tumblemus tard

Fanveed

Common salsify

Binomial

SUBSHRUBS

Arctostaphylos uva-ursi Artemisia frigida Berberis repens* Chipaphila ucbellata* Cornus canadensis* Linnaea borealis

Arc uva Art fri 3 er rep Chi umb Cor can Lin b o r

KinikinnicK Tringed sage wort Creeping Oregon- grape Prince's pine Bunchberry dogwood Ues-ern twinf lowe r

Lev SHRUBS

Aaelanchier alnifolia Ceanothus velutinus* Cornus stolon ifera* Juniperus coasunis Junlperus horizontalis Juniperus scopulorua* Potentllla fruticosa Prunus virginiana Ribes set05i:n Rosa acicularis (?) Rosa arkansana Rosa woodsi i Rubus Idaeus Shepherdla canadensis Spiraea betulifolia Symphoricarpos albus* Synphoricarpos occidental: Vacciniura caespitosua Vaccinium aecbranaceua* Vacclnium nyrtillus* Vaccinium scoparium*

A =: e a 1 n C e a V e 1 Co r s t o J u n com Jun hor J u n SCO Pot fru Pru vir Rib set Ros aci Ros ark Ros woo Rub ida She can Spi bet Sya alb Syn occ Vac cae Vac nem Vac myr Vac SCO

Western serviceberry Snowbrush ce ano thus Red osier dogwood Cc==on juniper Creeping juniper Rocky Kountain juniper Shrubby cincuef oi 1 CoE=on choke cherry Reds hoot gooseberry Prickly rose Prairie rose Wood ■ s rose Red raspberry Canada buffaloberry Uhi te spirea CocEon snowberry Western snowberry Dwarf huckleberry Thin leaf huckleberry Dwarf bilberry Grouse whortleberry

TREES AND TALL SHRUBS

Abies lasiocarpa Acer glabruQ Acer negundo* Crataegus douglasii* Picea engelmannii x glauca Pinus albicaulis Pinus contorta Pinus f lexilis Populus trenuloides Populus trichocarpa Pseudotsuga nenziesii Salix bebbiana Sallx exigua

Abi las Ace gla Ace neg Cra dou Pic eng Pin alb Pin con Pin fie Pop tre Pop tri Pse nen Sal beb Sal exi

Subalpine fir

Rocky Mountain naple

Box- elder

3 1 ack hawthorn

Engelnann spruce x White spruce

Whitebark pine

Lodcepole pine

Licber pine

Cuaking aspen

Bl ack Cottonwood

Douglas -fir

Bebb willow

Slender willow

Scientific nomenclature follows Hitchcock and Cronquist (1973) and Hitchcock et al. (1955-1969). Conion nanes were mostly taken from these sources.

*Taxa listed by Thompson and Kuijt (1976b) for the Sweet Grass Hills, but which were not observed during 1989 WESTECH surveys: although some of these species are located on lands outside the PACEC, many are expected to occur within the PACEC.

APPENDIX B.	PH0T0C3RAPHS
Photo No.	Location
EAST BJn'E 1	Locking W toiv-ard Middle and West Buttes
2	S side ^tt. Bxcwn
3	Tog of ^It. Royal looking SW
4	N side Mt. Bro.-7n
5	Little Joe Creek

MIIX)I£ BUTTE 8

10 11

WEST BLTTTE 12

13 ■

14

15

16

(Ntt. Royal on left)

Locking down Little Joe Creek to Breed Creek

NW ELM boundary (Mt. Brown en left)

NW end Middle Butte

E side of West Butte fron Middle Butte

N side Middle Butte

Looking N from Middle Butte

SW end of l-fest Butte locking N f rem Coal Mine road

Locking N to head of Fred and George Creek

W side of West Butte

Locking SW at Kicking Horse Canyon

Saddle en W side Vtest Butte

Ccmmunity Type

Coniferous forest

Scree/talus

Subalpine grassland

Foothills grassland

Montane grassland vd.th lupine and shrutiy cinquefoil

Shrubby cinquefoil grassland

Foothills grassland

Scree/ talus. Forested scree/talus. Foothills grassland

Foothills grassland

Cpen coiiferous forest

Foothills grassland with shrubby cinquefoil

Scree/ talus. Forested scree/ talus. Rock outcrcp. Foothills grassland

Mcntane grassland. Coniferous forest

Mosaic of types

Mcntane grassland, Ccniferous forest

Mcntane grassland. Shrubby cinquefoil

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