ssp. idahoa is known. Wetlands in the study area are often 

 heavily impacted by cattle, thus surveys to identify sensitive 

 species which occur in these habitats should be given high 

 priority. Also apparently missing from the Beaverhead 

 National Forest in the Tendoys are examples of low sagebrush 

 (Artemisia arbuscula) communities, where the target species, 

 Eriogonum caespitosum and Haplopappus macronema ssp. linearis, 

 are known in the nearby basins. 



Perhaps the most unique and characteristic plants of the 

 Tendoy Range, in its strict sense, are those which grow in 

 lithic substrates of Madison limestone parent material. Two 

 target species, Agastache cusickii and Lomatium attenuatum, 

 were found in limestone habitats on both Beaverhead National 

 Forest and BLM lands. Although it was not found, the annual 

 Phacelia incana, known in Montana only from the Tendoys, is 

 likely to occur on limestone canyon slopes in the Beaverhead 

 National Forest. The hot, dry growing season of 1994 was not 

 conducive to the germination and growth of annuals and few 

 were seen. Other target species which should be sought in 

 limestone habitats include Hutchinsia procumbens , Sphaeromeria 

 argentea and Thlaspi parviflorum. Two limestone endemics. 

 Delphinium bicolor ssp. novum and Sphaeromeria capitata, are 

 common on BLM land in the range and are not considered 

 sensitive; these occur at low elevations in the foothills and 

 are not expected to be common on the Beaverhead National 

 Forest in the range. 



Prior to 1993, the flora of the Tendoy Mountains was not 

 well known, although an indication of its uniqueness was given 

 by several known occurrences of rare plants in the range. 

 After two seasons of surveys, the range is now better known 

 botanically. These surveys resulted in the discovery of three 

 state records, Lomatogonium rotatum, Lomatium attenuatum, and 

 Eriogonum caespitosum, all by Peter Lesica. Fourteen species 

 previously tracked as Montana plant species of special concern 

 were found, largely by these surveys, to be too common to 

 warrant further tracking (Appendix A) . This project resulted 

 in first records on a National Forest for three target 

 species, Agastache cusickii , Astragalus scaphoides , and 

 Lomatium attenuatum. These results are an indication of a 

 rapid advance in the knowledge of a unique flora, and an 

 indication of the potential for similar progress in other 

 poorly known areas. Despite these advances, the results of 

 this survey should not be considered complete. They are meant 

 to serve as a baseline and reference for biological 

 assessments and evaluations and for long term planning by the 

 Beaverhead National Forest, but should not be construed as 

 site clearances or as a definitive inventory of plant 

 biodiversity in the range. 



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