only before flowering, while others are 

 poisonous throughout their life (Ewan 1945) . 

 The exact toxicity of D. andersonii is not 

 known. 



ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT RECOMMENDATIONS 



A. THREATS TO CURRENTLY KNOWN POPULATIONS: In the Helena 



National Forest, Delphinium andersonii occurs midway up 

 a 500 foot, 60-80% talus slope. Although this slope is 

 along the main road past Refrigerator Canyon, it is 

 doubtful that any threats to this population currently 

 exist barring road widening activities or aerial 

 herbicide broadcast. 



B. MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND RESPONSE: None. 



C. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR MAINTAINING VIABLE POPULATIONS: As 



there are no current or anticipated management 

 practices which might affect this population in the 

 near future, this population is probably self- 

 maintaining. 



D. RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT: As Delphinium 



andersonii was just discovered on the Helena National 

 Forest, this Watch/Sensitive species should be surveyed 

 in other potential habitat, particularly in the long 

 gap between this population and the next closest one in 

 Jefferson County. 



E. SUMMARY: Delphinium andersonii was discovered for the 



first time on National Forest land in the Helena 

 National Forest during the course of this rare plant 

 survey. This Montana peripheral should undergo a 

 status upgrade from U.S. Forest Service Region 1 Watch 

 to Sensitive. Little is known concerning the biology, 

 population structure, and response to management of 

 this rare species in Montana. Additional surveys 

 should be conducted to determine the extent of this 

 species on Forest Service lands, particularly in the 

 Helena National Forest. 



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