4. Upper Gallatin Valley 



One target species not previously known from the Gallatin 

 National Forest was discovered. A population of Mimulus 

 suksdorfii was found on dry talus slopes across the river from 

 Snowflake Spring. This minute annual has been found this 

 summer to be far more common in Montana than previous reports 

 indicated. A total of 16 populations are now known from the 

 state, and the probability of many more is high. The species 

 often grows on talus slopes which are inherently protected, 

 and it is adapted to disturbance. Thus, it was recently 

 recommended that this species be dropped from the list of 

 Montana plant species of special concern (Vanderhorst and 

 Lesica 1994) . The species does not merit special attention 

 from the Forest Service, and is not treated further in this 

 report except for a map of the occurrence in Appendix C. 



In addition, two populations (or subpopulations of an 

 extensive occurrence) of Salix wolfii var. wolfii were found 

 along Taylor Fork. No new occurrences of Castilleja 

 gracillima were found. The latter species grows with Salix 

 wolfii near Snowflake Spring, but was not found in similar 

 wetland habitat along Taylor Fork. Further information on the 

 taxonomy, description, biology, and Gallatin National Forest 

 occurrences of C. gracillima is provided by Mathews (1989). 

 Close-up and habitat slides of C. gracillima are included in 

 Appendix D of this report (slides 1 and 2) . 



5. Gallatin National Forest Herbarium Search 



Two specimens of target species were found, and the Salix 

 wolfii specimen was annotated to variety. Complete label 

 information follows: 



Draba ventosa, "First Record for Montana", Madison 

 County, Gallatin National Forest, Bell Lake, on dam; 

 9,500 ft. elevation; level, gravelly clay loam, dry; open 

 alpine where soil had been broken 3 years ago, scarce. J. 

 C. Whitham #937, 6-19-31, U.S.F.S Herbarium # 66038. 



Salix wolfii, Montana, Gallatin County, Gallatin National 

 Forest, Lower Taylor Fork; 7,000 ft. elevation; moist 

 sandy clay loam; browse, 5/10 density; with other salices 

 and car ices; light use; along streams; common; forage 

 value: 30-70, for Elk: 60-70; plants 4-5 feet high. Eric 

 P. White # 1119, 6-20-32, U.S.F.S. Herbarium # 69760. 



The only "Bell Lake" in the Montana place names gazeteer 

 is in the southern end of the Tobacco Roots Range, now located 

 in Beaverhead National Forest, and it is an impounded lake. 

 Draba ventosa is also known from the Madison Range. The 

 collection of Salix wolfii var. wolfii specimen is probably 

 from the same location where I found the species along the 

 Taylor Fork. 



