13 



C. Biological characteristics. 



1. Vegetation physiognomy and conununity structure: 



Most population sites fit the description of 

 Bamberg's Drvas octopetala community, as 

 studied northward at Siyeh Pass (1964) . 

 However, they had neither the continuous Dryas 

 cover or sharp patterning described by Bamberg. 



Dominance by Carex rupestris to the exclusion 

 of shrubs was noted at some sites, a prevailing 

 sedge community dominant as identified in 

 Bamberg's work. 



2. Regional vegetation types: Most sites fall 

 within the Dryas octopetala / Carex spp. plant 

 association, classified and ranked as G5S5 by 

 the Montana Natural Heritage Program. 



3. Frequently associated species: A composite 

 list of associated species found at more than 

 one site is listed as follows in approximate 

 decreasing order of frequency. 



Shrubs 



Dryas octopetala 

 Arctostaphylos uva-ursi 

 Potentilla fruticosa 



Graminoids 

 Carex rupestris 

 Poa alpina 

 Festuca rubra 

 Kobresia myosuroides 

 Trisetum spicatum 



Forbs 



Androsace chamejasme 

 Antennaria aromatica 

 Oxytropis sericea 

 Erigeron compositus 

 Arenaria congesta 

 Smelowskia calycina 

 Eriogonum flavum 

 Erigeron ochroleucus 

 Astragalus molybdenus 

 Townsendia parryi 

 Sedum rosea 

 Bupleurum americanum 

 Senecio cana 



