I. INTRODUCTION 



The relict nature of the montane and subalpine flora of the Sweetgrass 

 Hills has been considered (Thompson and Kuijt 1976) , and a survey 

 conducted in the Sweetgrass Hills for sensitive plant species on BLM 

 lands (Western Technology and Engineering, Inc. 1989). The purpose of 

 this study was to address sensitive plant species questions raised in 

 these earlier investigations. Sensitive plant species questions 

 concerned the nature and extent of twiggy halimolobos (Halimolobos 

 virgata) and heart-leaved buttercup ( Ranunculus cardiophvllus ) 

 populations and habitat. In addition, question had been raised as to 

 the identification of the putative Clavtonia lanceolata var. f lava 

 previously collected from the Sweetgrass Hills, and its taxonomic and 

 protection status. Ancillary objectives were to augment existing 

 botanical characterizations of the Sweetgrass Hills. 



II. STUDY METHODS 



Prior to fieldwork, the Biological Conservation Database maintained by 

 the Montana Natural Heritage Program was queried for records of BLM 

 proposed sensitive and watch species (USDI Bureau of Land Management 

 1993) known from the Sweetgrass Hills vicinity (Table 1). All of 

 these had also been reported in the study by Western Engineering and 

 Technology, Inc. (1989), except for one wetland species, the long 

 sheath waterweed (Elodea lonqivaqinata ) , collected from a nearby 

 prairie pothole. The study area has not been intensively studied 

 botanically, so while survey focused on known plants proposed for BLM 

 sensitive or watch status , consideration was given as well to any 

 state species of concern (Heidel and Poole 1993) . 



