12 



RESULTS 



In the course of this project, 46 new occurrences of 13 target species were documented (Table 1). 

 Additionally, new information was collected at sites of previously known occurrences. Six of the 

 target species, Astragalus scaphoides, Astragalus terminalis, LesquereUa pulchella, Lomatium 

 attenuatum, Sphaeromeria argenfea, and Taraxacum eriophorum, are on the proposed BLM 

 sensitive species list. Four are recommended for retaining as sensitive; two, Lomatium 

 attenuatum and Sphaeromeria argentea, are recommended for redesignation as watch. Two 

 species are proposed for deleting from watch status consideration: Astragalus pJatytropis and 

 Townsendia nuttallii. The infonnation compiled for each is presented in the following text by 

 study area. Only one species was found in more than one of the study areas: Astragalus 

 terminalis. We have also included information on Phacelia lutea, which is known in Montana 

 only from one historic collection, located in the Melrose vicinity of the Big Hole Study Area. 

 Tliree species addressed in this report have also been documented in the Sage Creek area 

 {Astragalus terminalis, Sphaeromeria argentea, and Townsendia nuttallii), and are cross- 

 referenced between reports. The results section does not include information on previously- 

 documented species that are in the study area for which no new infonnation was collected 

 {Penstemon lemhiensis in Grasshopper Study Area). 



An overview of kno\vn sensitive species distribution in the study areas and their surroundings in 

 southwestern Beaverhead County is presented on a summary map (Figure 4), with the local and 

 statewide distributions of individual species elaborated on maps that accompany the text for each 

 species. 



In addition, new populations often species that were once on the Montana Plant Species of 

 Special Concern tracking list but have since been deleted were documented in the study area: 

 Arenaria kingii. Astragalus lentiginosus. Delphinium bicolor ssp. novum, Eriogonum ovalifolium 

 var. nevadense, Gentiana aquatica, Gilia inconspicua, Mimulus suksdorfii, Pediocactus 

 simpsonii, Sphaeromeria capitata, and Stanleya viridiflora. Some of these remain on the watch 

 list as species of limited distribution. Interpretation of all results is presented in the discussion 

 section. 



The body of general infonnation provided on each species in the following text includes 

 infonnation stored and maintained in the Plant Characterization Abstract (PCA) Database that is 

 contained in the BCD. Topics taken from the PCA include description information, distribution 

 information, and habitat information. Sources for this information include that taken from floras, 

 from Lesica and Shelly (1991), from monographs, and from earlier reports, as expanded and 

 revised during this field study. 



