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monitoring studies should be established in 

 several locations, especially at Green Timber 

 Basin (002) (note: ecodata plots were established 

 at this sites in 1988) . Similar studies, if 

 established in one of the large populations in the 

 Bob Marshall Wilderness Area, would provide useful 

 comparisons. The method outlined by Lesica (1987) 

 is a good one for obtaining data on both 

 demographic trends and reproductive success, and 

 could perhaps be combined with the ecodata plot 

 studies. 



SUMMARY: Orchis rotundifolia is an orchid species 

 distributed broadly across boreal North America. The 

 southern portion of its range includes northwestern 

 Montana, where it has been found on the Flathead and 

 Lewis & Clark national forests. The occurrences in 

 Montana are the majority of those known to occur in the 

 western United States (one site has been found in 

 northwestern Wyoming) . It is currently listed as a 

 sensitive species in Region 1 of the U.S. Forest 

 Service. There are presently 17 known sites in 

 Montana; 14 of these occur on U.S. Forest Service lands 

 (12 on Lewis & Clark National Forest, 2 on Flathead 

 National Forest) . During field surveys on these lands 

 in 1988, four previously known locations were verified, 

 and ten new occurrences were found. Owing to 

 specialized habitat requirements and obligate 

 relationships with soil fungi, the species does not 

 appear to be one which would tolerate any severe 

 habitat alteration. Management planning should take 

 all Montana sites into consideration, in order to 

 maintain viable populations on Region 1 lands. 



