D. History of knowledge of taxon: Astragalus barrii 

 was described by R.C. Barneby in 1956. He was given 

 specimens of the plant that were originally labeled 

 as A. tridactylicus Gray, but which he then 

 determined to represent a new species. These 

 specimens were collected by Claude A. Barr at 

 Limestone Butte, Fall River County, South Dakota in 

 May of 1952 (Barneby 1956) . 



Astragalus barrii was first collected in Montana 

 near Ekalaka (Carter County) , by Schunk and Schwantz 

 in 1943 (Barneby 1964) . This historic record was 

 not relocated during recent surveys. 



Of the 27 currently known records for this species 

 in Montana, 11 records were located during a survey 

 by the Montana Natural Heritage Program under 

 contract to the Custer National Forest in 1988. In 

 1989, the Montana Natural Heritage Program was 

 contracted by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service to 

 conduct a status survey for A. barrii in Montana 

 (Project Agreement No. SE-5-P-2) . During surveys of 

 11-17 May 1989, another six populations were 

 located. 



E. Comments on current alternative taxonomic 

 treatments: Orophaca barrii (Barneby) Isely, comb, 

 nov. - Isely (1983) feels that Barneby's (1964) 

 Orophaca phalanx is not associated with any other 

 group of Astragalus . He based this on the 

 characteristics of chromosome number, large hyaline 

 connate stipules, unique leaves and the unilocular 

 and deciduous pods of the group as a whole. In 

 Isely 's words, "This combination of characters is 

 found in no other Astragalus . " Although his 

 systematic treatment has merit, it has not been 

 widely accepted. 



Present legal or other formal status. 



A. International. 



a. Present designated or proposed legal 

 protection or regulation: None. 



B. National. 



1. United States. 



a. Present designated or proposed legal 

 protection or regulation: Currently, 

 Astragalus barrii is under notice of 



