isolated populations that occur only in western 

 Montana. " 



A number of specimens documenting sites were 

 annotated by Lisa Campbell during her work on the 

 species as a graduate student at the University of 

 Montana; her study was never completed. Specimens 

 collected during the 1990 field season that 

 document locations contained in this report, were 

 sent for identification to Dr. Dieter Wilken, a 

 specialist in the family Polemoniaceae (Phlox 

 Family) . He reviewed the specimens, but did not 

 feel he had enough knowledge of this complex of 

 species to annotate the specimens. It was his 

 feeling that a full systematic study was needed 

 for the genus Phlox . Until a more informed 

 opinion can be had, the specimens and the sites 

 will remain as currently labeled. 



B. PRESENT LEGAL OR OTHER FORMAL STATUS 



1. FEDERAL STATUS: Phlox kelseyi var. missoulensis 

 is on the Watch List for Region 1 of the U.S. 

 Forest Service. Under the Endangered Species Act, 

 administered by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife 

 Service, it is categorized as 3C ("taxa that have 

 proven to be more abundant or widespread than was 

 previously believed, and/or those that are not 

 subject to any identifiable threat"). 



2. STATE: Phlox kelseyi var. missoulensis has most 

 recently been ranked by the Montana Natural 

 Heritage Program (Shelly 1990) as an S2 species 

 ("imperiled in Montana because of rarity", 6-20 

 occurrences) . 



C. DESCRIPTION 



1. GENERAL NON-TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Phlox kelseyi 

 var. missoulensis is a small perennial plant up to 

 4 inches tall, with stems that grow in a crowded 

 tuft from a taproot. The leaves are linear to 

 linear-lanceolate, usually 0.4-1.0 inch long or a 

 bit shorter, and 0.04-0.10 inch wide near the 

 middle. The leaf surfaces vary from hairless to 

 spreading hairy, and sometimes have small glands. 

 The leaf margins are thickened but not whitish, 

 and are hairy, at least towards the base. The 

 inflorescences contain 1-5, light blue to white 

 flowers, which are solitary at the branch ends. 



