relocated. The latter two were lowered in consideration based on 

 review of available information. 



Helena National Forest in the Big Belt Mountains maintains the 

 largest concentrations of Lesguerella klausii throughout its 

 global range; two-thirds of all known populations occur in the 

 northern half of the Big Belt Mountains of the Helena National 

 Forest and most of the remainder occur on another district of the 

 Forest. Discoveries of Cirsium lonqistvlum in the Big Belt and 

 Elkhorn Mountains represent major range extensions of another 

 species endemic to Montana, currently considered as a Category 2 

 species by the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service. 



Discovery of Delphinium andersonii and rediscovery of Juncus 

 hallii and Polygonum douqlasii ssp. austinae in the Big Belt 

 Mountains represent significant range extensions, as well as the 

 largest known populations of the latter. 



A total of 694 vascular plant species in 72 families were noted 

 in the Big Belt Mountains (Appendix 6) , and 382 species in 62 

 families were recorded in the Elkhorn Mountains (Appendix 7) . 

 The preliminary list of 48 species of special concern was 

 refined, and presently consists of 26 taxa in the course of the 

 study (Appendix 4) . 



Several areas, habitats and species need more research to provide 

 a rudimentary information base for the sensitive species program. 

 Unsurveyed and undersurveyed areas include the Dry Range, the 

 Gates of the Mountain Wilderness, select low elevation areas 

 around the Big Belts, and the burned portion of the northern 

 Elkhorn Mountains. Undersurveyed habitats include riparian and 

 wetland communities, old growth forest and alpine habitats. 

 Species needing additional surveys include Juncus hallii , 

 Astragalus convallarius var. convallarius . Delphinium andersonii . 

 Carex vallicola . Polygonum douglasii ssp. austinae and Potent ilia 

 diversifolia var. multisecta . In addition, survey is recommended 

 for three early-blooming species which have high probabilities of 

 occurring on the Helena National Forest. 



Our preliminary results document significant rare species and 

 species' sites in the Big Belt Mountains and Elkhorn Mountains, 

 as well as notably intact habitats. These sites contribute to 

 Helena National Forest biodiversity and should be protected to 

 conserve the genetic diversity of the species and their habitat. 



