Threats: The only current potential threat to the population is 

 from a nearby hiking trail. 



Reconunendations for Maintaining Viable Populations: Management 

 plans should take the occurrence of this species fully into 

 account and prevent disturbance to the sites. To prevent 

 inadvertent impacts, detailed information on the location of 

 populations in the Goat Flat Proposed Research Natural Area 

 should be made known to all personnel involved in planning 

 activities in the area. Additional surveys of the high altitude 

 meadows of Goat Flat and also east of Storm Lake should be done 

 to fully delineate the extent and size of populations in the Goat 

 Flat Proposed Research Natural Area. 



Saxifraqa tempestiva (storm saxifrage) 



Species Information: Saxifraqa is a large genus of ca . 300 

 species, most of which are in the Northern Hemisphere and 

 including many that are circumboreal . In contrast, Saxifraqa 

 tempestiva is endemic to southwestern Montana. Thirteen locations 

 are currently known for it in Montana and the Goat Flat 

 populations are at the center of the range. It can be 

 distinguished from other high-altitude members of this genus by 

 the combination of small size, more nearly linear leaves, and 

 petals that are smaller than the sepals, rather than longer or 

 absent. 



Present Legal or Other Formal Status: Saxifraqa tempestiva 

 currently has no status under the Endangered Species Act but is 

 on the Sensitive list for Region 1 of the U.S. Forest Service. It 

 is currently ranked by the Montana Natural Heritage Program 

 globally as G2 (imperiled globally because of rarity, 6-20 

 occurrences) and in Montana as S2 (imperiled because of rarity, 

 6-20 occurrences) . 



Geographic Distribution: The global range of Saxifraqa tempestiva 

 currently comprises thirteen locations in Ravalli, Beaverhead, 

 Deer Lodge and Granite counties. It is endemic to southwestern 

 Montana. Four populations of Saxifraqa tempestiva are currently 

 known from the Goat Flat Proposed Research Natural Area. 



Habitat and Associated Species: Saxifraqa tempestiva occurs in 

 vernally moist, exposed mineral soil in meadows or on rock ledges 

 near or above treeline. The sites receive snowmelt through the 

 early part of the growing season. Associated species include: 



Dodecatheon pulchellum 

 Eriqeron pereqrinus 

 Eriqeron simplex 

 Pedicularis pulchella 

 Poa alpina 

 Poa cusickii 



few-flowered shooting star 



subalpine daisy 



alpine daisy 



pretty dwarf lousewort 



alpine bluegrass 



Cusick's bluegrass 



