I . SUMMARY 



This report summarizes the findings of field surveys conducted 

 from 1-5 July 1991, by the Montana Natural Heritage Program, and 

 fieldwork completed by Lewis & Clark National Forest personnel, 

 for Aauilectia brevistvla (short-styled columbine) on the Lewis & 

 Clark National Forest in Montana. 



This member of the Ranunculaceae (Buttercup Family) is peripheral 

 in Montana, and is found more commonly to the north in Canada and 

 Alaska. Prior to the 1991 field season, this species was known 

 from only two verified locations within Montana; both were in the 

 Little Belt Mountains, on Lewis & Clark National Forest lands. A 

 third population on the Boulder River south of Big Timber, MT, 

 was unverified due to a questionable specimen. Field surveys 

 conducted during 1991 by Montana Natural Heritage Program and 

 Lewis & Clark National Forest personnel revealed seven new 

 populations, all in the Judith River watershed. The Boulder 

 River population remains unverified. Of the nine known 

 populations of A. brevistvla , two contain plants that exhibit 

 characteristics intermediate to A. brevistvla and A. flavescens. 

 Hybridization is extremely common among species in the genus 

 Aquileqia and may be occurring here. A chromosome count and an 

 electrophoretic study of the Montana populations might confirm 

 the presence of the suspected hybrids. 



Fire swept through the Sage Creek (003) population in the fall of 

 1990. Field observations in 1991 indicate that in lightly burned 

 areas, where the duff remained intact, plants survived. Plants 

 did not survive in areas where the duff was eliminated by hot 

 fire. Observations of the Sage Creek (003) population should 

 continue for several years to determine long term fire effects, 

 especially with respect to the removal of shade and logging 

 activities. 



Further survey work will be necessary to try to verify the 

 Boulder River (002) record. Additional surveys should also be 

 completed in the Judith River watershed to better detail the 

 range of this species. 



