Gentiana aquatics L. 

 Wet meadow gentian 



A. DESCRIPTION 



1. General description: This is a small annual (or possibly 

 biennial) member of the Gentianaceae . The leaves are opposite 

 on the stems, have white edges, and the pairs are fused, 

 forming a tubular base. The flowers are solitary and terminal 

 on the stems. The corollas are fused, shaped like a funnel or 

 bell, with folded lobes and are white, greenish, or pale 

 purplish or bluish. 



2. Diagnostic characters: Similar to G. prostrata, both 

 species with corollas less than 22 mm long. The corolla color 

 of G. prostrata is deep blue and its long cylindrical capsule 

 is borne on a slender stipe. The capsule of G. aquatxca is 

 barely longer than wide and is exserted from the pale colored 

 corolla borne on a more stout stipe, (adapted from Dorn 1984, 

 Weber 1987) 



B. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION 



1. Species range: Occurs from southern Alberta and southwest 

 Saskatchewan south to Colorado; Asia (Lesica and Shelly 1991) . 



2. Montana distribution: Previously known from eleven sites in 

 Beaverhead and Silver Bow Counties. 



3. Occurrences in the study area: Nine new populations were 

 found in the basins of Muddy Creek and upper Big Sheep Creek. 



C. HABITAT 



The populations occur in moist, alkaline bottomlands at 

 elevations ranging from 6,800 to 7,400 ft. Vegetation at 

 these sites is dominated by shrubs (Artemisia arbuscula, 

 Artemisia cana, Potentilla fruticosa) and/or graminoids 

 {Deschampsia caespitosa, Carex praegracilis, Juncus balticus, 

 Poa nevadensis, Poa pratensis) . These habitats are restricted 

 in distribution and are often grazed by livestock. 



D. POPULATION BIOLOGY 



The populations are large, with estimated numbers ranging from 

 greater than 500 to more than 10,000 individuals. This annual 

 species seems to respond positively to disturbance caused by 

 livestock. 



E. MANAGEMENT CONSIDERATIONS 



This species occurs in large populations in the Tendoys . 

 Although its habitat is often grazed, the populations do not 

 seem to be adversely affected. It is recommended dropped from 

 further BLM consideration and put in the state limited 

 distribution category. 



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