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E. SUMMARY 



Although Epipactis qiqantea is a widely distributed 

 species, it is rare throughout its range because of its 

 restriction to very specialized sites. Edaphic or 

 chemical factors, as well as the presence of perennial 

 water seepage, may be important in determining its 

 distribution. Field surveys in Montana in 1988 revealed 

 five previously unrecorded occurrences of this species, 

 all within the lower Swan River Valley. Two of these 

 sites are on Flathead National Forest lands, one is on 

 State of Montana land and three are on private land. It 

 is currently included on the sensitive species list for 

 Region 1 (Northern Region) of the U.S. Forest Service. 

 The species appears to be restricted to warm water springs 

 across Montana, in a wide variety of vegetation types. 

 This restriction, and the fact that several of the sites 

 in Canada have been lost, and another is threatened by 

 development, indicates a need to monitor populations. 

 Several of the sites in Montana are also along National 

 Forest roadways. Thus, it is important to take these 

 areas into consideration when planning land use activities 

 that may affect these populations. 



