3. Occurrences in the study area: Two rather large 

 occurrences are known, one previously documented along 

 Medicine Lodge Creek (possibly on private land) , and one 

 discovered by this project in the foothills just south of 

 Clark Canyon Reservoir. Another possible occurrence is 

 located in the foothills south of Bell Canyon, where plants 

 with intermediate morphology were found. 



C. HABITAT 



In southwestern Montana, E. ovalifolium var. nevadense occurs 

 in a range of dry, open habitats. In the Tendoys area it was 

 found on flats dominated by Artemisia tridentata , on slopes 

 dominated by Juniperus scopulorum and bunchgrasses {Agropyron 

 spicatum, Oryzopsis hymenoides) , and on rocky slopes and 

 outcrops (slide 10, Appendix E) . Additional associates 

 include Allium textile, Artemisia frigida, Artemisia 

 ludoviciana, Chrysothamnus nauseosus , Opuntia polyacantha, 

 Oxytropis lagopus, and Penstemon aridus . The soil at the 

 foothills site was dry and rocky, and the slope had a southern 

 exposure. 



D. POPULATION BIOLOGY 



Both populations in the study area are fairly large. The 

 Medicine Lodge Creek population was incompletely surveyed but 

 was described as "extensive," while the foothills population 

 was estimated to consist of over 500 plants covering at least 

 50 acres. The population of E. ovalifolium in the foothills 

 south of Bell Canyon was assumed at the time to be var. 

 nevadense , however, the collection taken is intermediate in 

 morphology (light yellow flowers, medium sized leaves). The 

 degree to which the varieties intergrade is not clear. North 

 of this study area at Dutchman Mountain (Vanderhorst 1994) two 

 varieties were collected but remained morphologically distinct 

 and seemed to have individual habitat preferences. Plants 

 were not collected or photographed at the Medicine Lodge Creek 

 site. 



E. MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS 



There is need for further work examining the morphological 

 distinctions and distributions of varieties of E. ovalifolium 

 in Montana as well as to resolve the confused nomenclature. 

 However, yellow flowered forms of the species are common in 

 Beaverhead County and the taxon has a broad range outside of 

 the state. Large populations were seen along roadways outside 

 of project boundaries in the vicinity of Horse Prairie and on 

 BLM lands on Dutchman Mountain (Vanderhorst 1994). The plants 

 often grow in dry rocky habitats which are relatively 

 undisturbed. We recommend that this species be dropped from 

 further BLM consideration and from state tracking. 



