29 



long, 1.5-2.4 cm (.6-. 9 in) wide; stamens 5 or 6, anthers 4- 

 5.5 mm (.2-. 22 in) long, filaments 10-15 mm (.4-. 6) long; 

 stigmas 2-lobed, style slender, about as long as ovary. 

 Capsule ellipsoid, to 2 cm (.8 in) long. 



3. LOCAL FIELD CHARACTERS: The broad, glaucous, opposite 



leaves of Eustoma arandiflorum look superficially similar to 

 those of Penstemon nitidus with which it might be mistaken 

 before flowering. Its flowers are reminiscent of the 

 domestic tulip or the sego lily, but it has five petals 

 which are cleft, and it is otherwise unmistakeable _ with a 

 wide-open large corolla compared to all other species of 

 gentian. 



D. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 



1. RANGE: Tulip gentian is a Great Plains species at the _ 

 northern limits of its distribution in Montana, extending as 

 far south as Mexico, and from Arkansas and Louisiana to 

 Utah. It is known from South Dakota and Wyoming among 

 adjoining states, where it is also considered to be a state 

 species of special concern. 



2. CURRENT SITES: The only known site for it in the state is 

 in McCone County. 



3. HISTORICAL SITES: None. 



4. UNVERIFIED/UNDOCUMENTED REPORTS: None. 



5. AREAS SURVEYED BUT SPECIES NOT LOCATED: This species was 

 first reported in 1994 after this study was completed, so it 

 was not among the search targets. Surveys were conducted in 

 wet meadow habitat near Circle and it was determined after- 

 the-fact that these settings were probably too alkaline. 

 However, the visit may have been too early in the season for 

 drawing conclusions. 



E. HABITAT 



1. ASSOCIATED VEGETATION: Throughout its range, this species 

 is restricted to wet meadow plant communities. Information 

 on associated species is wanting in Montana. 



2. TOPOGRAPHY: It is found at the bottom of the local 

 topographic gradient. 



3. SOIL RELATIONSHIPS: Information elsewhere in its range 

 indicates that it locally restricted to semi-saturated soils 

 associated with groundwater discharge areas, including areas 

 with "constant moisture in the Nebraska sandhills", settings 

 "near seeping springs", and "moist meadows" (Barr 1983). 



