Montana distribution: Carter and Richland 

 counties. 



Carter County distribution: One population 

 was located in 1 996 by Keith Dueholm on the 

 Custer National Forest in the Ekalaka Hills. 



Solldago ptarmlcoldes 

 Pralria Aster 



HABITAT: Habitat throughout its range is described as "open, drying prairies, often on limestone 

 bluffs, or sandy areas"(Great Plains Flora Association 1986). In South Dakota it is reported as 

 "common in dry prairie and open woods over the state" (Van Bruggen 1985) and in Wyoming it is 

 reported from "prairie hills, and open woods" (Dom 1992). It occurs on south-facing ridge slopes 

 overlying limestone in Harding Co., SD but has not been found to date on the most similar local 

 habitat on Chalk Butte (Heidel and Dueholm 1995). The occurrence in the Ekalaka Hills was in 

 partial shade of ponderosa pine {Pinus ponderosa) on a dry ridge above an escarpment. The soil was 

 a sandy loam with sandstone parent material, and Missouri goldenrod (Solidago missouriensis) was 

 an associate. 



SPECIES BIOLOGY: Prairie aster is a long-lived perennial with a deep root system. It does not 

 have a rhizome like many other Solidago so it is widely-scattered rather than occurring in dense 

 patches. Population size estimates are not available for either of the Montana occurrences. 



OTHER COMMENTS: There is no evidence to indicate that it likely to occur on BLM- 

 administered lands in the slate. Therefore, no BLM status is recommended. 



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