IV. RESULTS 



Four sensitive species were documented in the Sweetgrass Hills: 



* New discovery of Ranunculus pedatifidus 



* Relocation and additional site of Halimolobos virgata 



* Relocation and addition site of Ranunculus cardiophyllus 



* Verification of extensive Claytonia lanceolata var. f lava 



The presence of each target species in the Sweetgrass Hills represents 

 a disjunct distribution, and the site information that was collected 

 adds breadth to their known ecological amplitude in Montana. 



Only Claytonia lanceolata var. f lava was found at both East and West 

 Buttes in relative abundance. Otherwise, East Butte was documented 

 with two sites for Halimolobos virgata , and West Butte was documented 

 with two sites for Ranunculus cardiophyllus and one for Ranunculus 

 pedatifidus (Figure 2; excluding Claytonia lanceolata var. f lava 

 distribution) . 



All four target species are in open habitats, otherwise differing in 

 habitat specificity. The Claytonia lanceolata var. f lava grows in 

 mesic upper montane grassland typically dominated by rough fescue 

 ( Festuca scabrella ) , and some lower elevation microhabitats or 

 ecotones that are also cold and seasonally moist though very different 

 in their vegetation. The Ranunculus cardiophyllus is found in meadow 

 habitats associated with watercourses, appearing restricted to the 

 foothills flanks above localized groundwater discharge zones at the 

 wet end of the gradient dominated by rough fescue ( Festuca scabrella ) . 

 The Ranunculus pedatifidus is also in a foothills setting. Though the 

 wetland vegetation in which it occurs is highly altered, it appeared 

 to be associated with tufted hairgrass ( Deschampsia cespitosa ) meadow. 

 Habitat of Halimolobos virgata is in dry foothills settings, the 

 apparent restrictiveness of it within this very widespread habitat 

 warranting further investigation. 



Survey results are not taken to represent every possible sensitive 

 species occurrence, but a filling in of gaps identified from previous 

 survey work, and a baseline for conducting any site-specific 

 evaluations. 



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