HABITAT 



ASSOCIATED VEGETATION: In general Lesquerella 



klausii occurs on slopes with little vegetation. 

 Throughout its range, the species can be found in 

 forests of Pinus ponderosa and/or Pseudotsuqa 

 menziesii with associated herbaceous vegetation 

 dominated by bunchgrasses, including Agropyron 

 spicatum and Festuca idahoensis . At higher 

 elevations, L. klausii has occurs with Pinus 

 f lexilis , Abies lasiocarpa . and Festuca viridula . 

 (Adapted from Shelly 1988). 



Most Lesquerella klausii sites are shale barren 

 communities which support unusual plant 

 assemblages not commonly encountered in Montana 

 (Figure 15) . Several of the higher elevation 

 sites contain interesting examples of unusual 

 windblown cushion plant communities (adapted from 

 Shelly 1988) . 



In the Big Belt Mountains of the Helena National 

 Forest, Lesquerella klausii occurs sparsely 

 vegetated grasslands or on barren shale slopes. 

 Other plant species observed in the study area 

 with L. klausii include: 



Achillea millefolium 

 Acfropyron smithii 

 Amelanchier alnifolia 

 Androsace chamaeiasme 

 Antennaria neqlecta 



Apocynum androsaemi folium (Spreading dogbane) 

 Arctostaphylos uva-ursi (Kinnikinnick) 

 Artemisia frigida (Fringed sagewort) 

 Artemisia michauxiana 

 Artemisia tridentata (Big sagebrush) 

 Asclepias sp. 

 Astragalus gilvif lorus 

 Astragalus vexillif lexus 



Balsamorhiza sagittata (Arrowleaf balsamroot) 

 Berberis repens (Creeping oregongrape) 

 Bromus tectorum 

 Castilleja pallescens 

 Cerastium arvense 



Chrysopsis villosa (Hairy goldenaster) 

 Chrysothamnus nauseosus (Common rabbit-brush) 

 Chrysothamnus viscidif lorus (Green rabbit- 

 brush) 

 Cirsium longistylum 



Cirsium undulatum (Wavyleaf thistle) 

 Collinsia parvif lora 



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