> 



> 



appear to be compatible with persistence of known 

 Castilleja longispica populations in Montana. 



2. U.S. FOREST SERVICE STATUS RECOMMENDATIONS: There 

 are many large populations of Castilleja 

 longispica currently known, and it is likely that 

 many more are yet to be found. There are no known 

 threats to most of the populations, and current 

 management practices seem to be compatible with 

 long-term persistence of the species. Thus, 

 Castilleja longispica should be removed from the 

 list of sensitive species maintained by Region One 

 of the U.S. Forest Service. 



D. SUMMARY: Castilleja longispica is endemic to northwest 

 Wyoming, central Idaho and southwest and south-central 

 Montana. There are currently 21 known populations in 

 the Pryor Mountains, Beartooth Mountains and 

 Yellowstone area with an estimated 50,000-350,000 

 plants. Populations occur in plant communities 

 dominated by sagebrush, Idaho fescue and bluebunch 

 wheatgrass, a common habitat throughout this part of 

 Montana. All known large populations are on public 

 land administered by the U.S. Forest Service and 

 managed for cattle grazing. Castilleja longispica 

 appears to be unaffected or enhanced by grazing. Two 

 small populations in the Yellowstone area are 

 immediately threatened by weed encroachment and 

 residential development; however, all other populations 

 appear to be secure. Current management practices seem 

 to be compatible with long-term persistence of the 

 species. Castilleja longispica should be removed from 

 the list of sensitive species maintained by Region One 

 of the U.S. Forest Service. 



III. INFORMATION SOURCES 



A. HERBARIUM SPECIMENS: Collections vouchering many of the 

 populations in the Pryor and Beartooth mountains are 

 housed at the University of Montana herbarium (MONTU) . 

 A specimen documenting the Commissary Ridge population 

 collected by Judy McCarthy is at Montana State 



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