20 



Gutierrezia sarothrae 

 Haplopappiis acaidis 

 Ipomopsis congesta 

 Lepidium ramosissimum 

 Lesquerella alpina 

 Koeleria macrantha 

 Opuntia polyacantha 

 Oxytropis sericea 

 Paronychia sessiliflora 

 Penstemon aridus 

 Phlox bryoides 

 Plantago patagonica 

 Poa scabrella 

 Selaginella densa 

 Senecio cana 

 Stipa comata 



POPULATION INFORMATION: The largest known populations are along relatively low 

 elevation limestone ridges, where numbers are in the hundreds (e.g., east of Melrose above Camp 

 Creek). The majority of occurrences have low numbers of plants, often fewer than 10, and are 

 widely scattered across the landscape in clusters or subpopulations. Dispersal of the inflated 

 balloon-like seed may be a factor in producing its scattered, low-density population distribution 

 patterns. 



Individuals appear to be relatively long-lived, as judging by the many old leaf remnaiits found at 

 the root crowns of the specimens collected at two separate sites. 



The small size of most populations provides the rationale for retaining broad-keeled milkvetch 

 on the watch list as a vulnerable species of limited distribution despite the many populations, 

 relatively broad ecological amplitude, extent of potential habitat, and low level of threats. It is 

 possible that the small populations originally developed from one or a few individuals, and it 

 could be argued that only the large populations are significant to species consers'ation, and that 

 EG specifications should be set to disregard or downplay the many small occurrences. 

 Alternately, it could be argued that this species is a generalist in the area where it occurs and 

 typically has very low population numbers. 



This pattern of being locally widespread but with very low population numbers is shared with 

 Townsendia nuttallii in the Grasshopper Study Area, which is treated similarly. 



MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS: There are many low-level threats across its range of 

 habitats. Mining activities are concentrated in the low elevation limestone ridges that are its 

 primary potential habitat, but these are localized. Livestock grazing takes place in the general 

 vicinity of most populations, but the species' habitat is typically on secondary ranges, where the 

 livestock use is light or absent. 



