D. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT: As Astragalus 



convallarius var. convallarius was found for the first 

 time on the Helena National Forest this year and 

 represents only the seventh record for Montana, further 

 searches for this interesting taxon on the Helena 

 National Forest should be conducted. Also the known 

 population should be revisited for a longer survey 

 period and in more favorable climatic conditions, to 

 assess the true extent of the population. 



E. SUMMARY: The populations of Astragalus convallarius var. 



convallarius in the Helena area are isolated from the 

 rest of the variety's range at the northern end of its 

 range. Variety convallarius is the only variety of 

 this species found in Montana. There are no known 

 current threats, but it occupies habitat elsewhere in 

 the county that has been subject to mining and noxious 

 weed invasions. The population on the Helena National 

 Forest was first discovered during the course of this 

 study. Additional survey work should be conducted at 

 the low elevations around the Big Belt Mts. to 

 elucidate the full extent of this population as well as 

 survey for additional locations. 



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