23 

 minimum, the population consists of 10,000 individuals. 



The plant appears to be relatively long-lived, as judging by the presence of many plants with stout 

 woody bases and numerous old, broken-off stems. Small plants were also present without woody bases, 

 appearing to represent a mixed age structure that includes immature individuals. 



MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS: Red sage appears to be palatable to livestock early in the 

 growing season but avoided tliroughout mid and late summer. The Big Hole populations were in two 

 different pastures, and many plants in the Section 28 pasture that was grazed early in the season were 

 browsed to the ground. The grazed plants produced vigorous new stems, though they had fewer stems 

 than ungrazed plants. No signs of grazing were found on red sage in the Section 27 pasture. Livestock 

 was not seen in the pasture during a June and an August visit, but the site appeared to be grazed later in 

 the season. In preliminary obser\'ations, we did not discern a difference in their densities and survival 

 with the presence or absence of grazing. It is possible that habitat alterations incidental to grazing, such 

 as gullying and increases in the numbers of exotic species, pose threats. Allotment information already 

 on hand may help to elaborate or to modify this assessment. 



In Section 27, red sage is also part of a plant association that is being considered for addition to the state 

 vegetation classification. It is codominant with Distichilis sthcta in the understory of Sarcobatus 

 vermiculatus - Artejnisia tridentata. 



The large population and possible lack of response to grazing provide reason to question whether this 

 species belongs on the list being tracked as Montana Species of Special Concern. Most of its potential 

 habitat is on low elevation alkali flats, which are likely to be concentrated on private lands. It remains 

 on the list because the information collected at this single site is insufficient for extrapolation across all 

 of southwestern Montana. It is appropriate to search for this species in the course of allotment studies 

 locally in both the Dillon and Headwaters Districts. 



