INTRODUCTION 



The Blindhorse, Ear Mountain, Chute Mountain and Deep 

 Creek/Battle Creek, Outstanding Natural Areas (ONAs) are 

 located in the Front range Mountains approximately 32 km. (20 

 mi.) west of Choteau, Montana. These ONAs are administered by 

 the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (B.L.M.). They encompass 

 13,087 acres and contain a diversity of habitats 

 representative of the Front Range ecosystem. 



The topography varies from streambeds and meadows to steep 

 forested slopes, cliffs and high-elevation peaks. Elevations 

 within the ONAs range from 1524 m (5000 ft.) to 2165 m 

 (8580 ft.) in elevation. The principle geologic features of 

 these areas include: Lower Cretaceous and Jurassic rocks, 

 (sandstone, mudstone, and fissile shale); Upper and Lower 

 Mississippian Rocks (Castle Reef Dolomite) , with lesser 

 amounts of Upper and Lower Cretaceous Rocks, (sandstones and 

 shales); and glacial and landslide deposits (Mudge et al . , 

 1983) . 



Much of the terrain supports stands of Pinus f lexil is 

 (limber pine), Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas fir) and Populus 

 tremuloides (guaking aspen) , although some areas include 

 stands of Picea engelmannii (Engelmann spruce) and Abies 

 lasiocarpa (supalpine fir) . These forested areas are 

 interspersed with foothills prairie and riparian areas around 

 the numerous creeks and streams. 



A rare plant inventory of the Blindhorse, Ear Mountain, 

 Chute Mountain, and Deep Creek/Battle Creek ONAs on the Front 

 Range of Montana was conducted between 17-29 June, 1988. The 

 purpose of this investigation was to determine the occurrence, 

 frequency, and distribution of threatened or endangered plant 

 species within these ONAs. The first section of this report 

 includes information pertaining specifically to the rare plant 

 species. Orchis rotundif ol ia , which was found to occur on the 

 Ear Mountain ONA. Additionally, although a comprehensive 

 plant inventory of the resource area was not attempted or part 

 of the purpose of this survey, a partial list of vascular 

 plants was identified. The second section then includes this 

 list and brief habitat descriptions for each species. 



