B. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION 



1. Species range: Along the coast to the Cascades from British 

 Columbia to California, also in Idaho and Montana (Hitchcock 

 and Cronquist 1973, Hermann 1975). 



2. Montana distribution: Outside of the Crazies, two 

 varieties of the species are found in northwestern Montana 

 (Lesica and Shelly 1991) . 



3. Occurrences on the Gallatin National Forest: one collection 

 determined as J. covillei from Big Timber Canyon in the 

 Crazies (Lackschewitz 10449 at MONTU) . The stated location 

 along the Big Timber Creek Trail in section 5 was searched but 

 the species was not found, nor was it found elsewhere. Mature 

 specimens of three species of Juncus were collected from Big 

 Timber Canyon; these were J. confusus, J. ensifolius, and J. 

 longistylis . The specimen of J. covillei at MONTU was checked 

 by Peter Lesica, and appears to be misidentif ied. The plants 

 are greater than 2.5 dm tall, the leaves have conspicuous 

 auricles, and the fruits are immature (Lesica, pers . commun.). 

 J. covillei is usually less than 2 dm tall and has 

 inconspicuous auricles. The collection at MONTU may be C. 

 longistylus , which is close to J. covillei in the keys but is 

 taller and has conspicuous auricles. Thus, it appears, as 

 with Artemisia norvegica in the Bridgers, that the reported 

 occurrence of J. covillei in the Crazies is based on a 

 misidentif icat ion. 



C. MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS 



There is no evidence that J. covillei occurs on the Gallatin 

 National Forest, thus it need not be considered in management 

 plans. However, riparian areas in the Crazies are 

 concentrated in areas which are often heavily impacted and 

 should generally be considered sensitive habitats. The seep 

 areas where rushes are found along the Big Timber Canyon Trail 

 are not heavily impacted at present levels of use. These 

 communities should be considered in trail management plans. 

 The trail is centered on a primitive road, and bisects a 

 number of seeps and native wetland plants that are well 

 established along its sides. Other riparian zones on Gallatin 

 National Forest in the Crazies such as the Sweet Grass Creek 

 drainage are heavily trampled by cattle and have been taken 

 over by exotic and weedy species. 



16 



