194 6 by Hitchcock and Muhlick ( 14335 , NY) . On the 

 basis of the Blair specimens, Keck (1940) described 

 Penstemon speciosus ssp. lemhiensis . The first 

 collection in Montana was made in 1947 by F.H. Rose 

 ( 3502 . MONTU) , in Beaverhead County. The first 

 collection in Ravalli County, Montana, was made by 

 T.G. and V.C. McCall (352, MONTU) in 1950. These 

 additional specimens, along with more detailed 

 information regarding the distribution and 

 relationships of P. speciosus . substantiated the 

 need to elevate ssp. lemhiensis to the species level 

 (Keck and Cronquist 1957) . 



During the period 1973-1988, 19 populations were 

 documented in Lemhi County, Idaho; most of these 

 were found by Dr. Douglass Henderson, University of 

 Idaho. In Montana, an early assessment of 

 threatened and endangered plant species (Watson 

 1976) reported five populations in Beaverhead 

 County, Montana. Subsequently, a detailed 

 ecological study of the species was completed 

 (Ramstetter 1983) ; four populations in Montana, and 

 two in Idaho, were studied in detail. 



Field surveys in Montana were also conducted in 

 1986, 1987, and 1989 by the Montana Natural Heritage 

 Program (MTNHP) . These surveys have been partially 

 funded by the U.S. Forest Service; funding was also 

 provided by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 

 (Section 6 Project Agreement SE-5-P-1) . Prior to 

 1989, P.. lemhiensis had been recently documented 

 (1986-1988) from 18 sites in Beaverhead County; 12 

 new sites were located in 1989. One recent report 

 could not be verified (Medicine Lodge Creek, 022), 

 and one historical collection (021: "West of Big 

 Hole Battlefield," 1947, F.H. Rose (3502) . MONTU) 

 has not been relocated. In Ravalli County, two 

 historical records were known; it is believed that 

 the 1989 surveys resulted in the rediscovery of 

 these populations. Also, two previously unrecorded 

 populations were found, and one population was 

 reported to the MTNHP. Thus, P. lemhiensis is 

 currently known from 35 locations in Montana (30 in 

 Beaverhead County, five in Ravalli County) . 



E. Comments on current alternative taxonomic 



treatments: There are no known current alternative 

 taxonomic treatments. 



2. Present legal or other formal status. 



A. International: None. 



