CONSERVATION STATUS: 



U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: None 



Montana Bureau of Land Management: None 



Montana Natural Heritage Program rank: G3-S2S3 



HABITAT: Townsendia nuttallii is most common in sparse 

 bunchgrass grasslands {Agropyron spicatum/ cushion plant) of ridge 

 tops at 6,900-7,500 ft, but also occurs in sagebrush grasslands 

 {Artemisia tridentata vaseyana/Festuca idahoensis) and grasslands 

 (Agropyron smithii) of alluvial fans at 6,500-7,4 00 ft. Common 

 associated species include Poa secunda, Oxytropis lagopus, 

 Eriogonum mancum. Phlox hoodii, Artemisia frigida, Cymopterus 

 bipinnatus , Antennaria microphylla. Astragalus miser and 

 Penstemon aridus . 



POPULATION INFORMATION: Townsendia nuttallii flowers very early 

 and is low and inconspicuous. It is sparsely distributed but 

 occurs over large areas of widespread habitat. Thus, population 

 size is difficult to estimate, but many are large, and there are 

 likely many other populations that have not been mapped. 



I^IANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS: Townsendia nuttallii is low growing 

 and completes its life cycle early in the growing season. It is 

 likely favored by the moderate levels of disturbance resulting 

 from livestock grazing. Current management practices are 

 probably not detrimental to populations of this plant. 



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