phacelia. Sweetclover is an introduced nitrogen-fixing 

 legume which in large numbers can shift the course of 

 succession and outcompete native plant species. 



HERBIVORY: None known. 



H. LAND OWNERSHIP: Two of the three known occurrences for this 

 species in Montana are on the C. M. Russell National Wildlife 

 Refuge. The third is on private land. 



I. ASSESSMENT AND MIANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS 



1. THREATS TO CURRENTLY KNOWN POPULATIONS: There are few 

 populations known and scant information about them for 

 assessing threats, so it is to be presumed vulnerable. 



2. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND RESPONSE: Unknown. 



J. SUMMARY: Hot spring phacelia ( Phacelia thermalis ) is a watch 



species on the Big Dry, Judith and Phillips Resource Areas. If 

 it is restricted to habitats that are close to the reservior, 

 then it has little potential habitat on BLM lands. Like Geyer's 

 milkvetch, it is an annual species at the northern limits of its 

 range here, and may be susceptible to weed encroachment. 



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