STATE: The Montana Natural Heritage Program listed 

 this taxon as G4T4S1 (Achuff 1991) . This means 

 that on a global basis both the species and the 

 subspecies were apparently secure although they 

 may be rare at the periphery of their ranges. 

 However the subspecies was considered critically 

 imperiled within Montana. Lesica and Shelly 

 (1991a) place this taxon within the Sensitive 

 Category, meaning that it is known from a limited 

 number of populations, has a restricted range, 

 occurs in threatened habitats, or is sparsely 

 distributed throughout the state. Based on the 

 number of new records and their extent, the state 

 rank assigned by the Montana Natural Heritage 

 Program will be changed to S2 (see p. 55: 

 Population Biology/Biological interactions/ 

 Competition) . Neither the rank nor the category 

 provide any legal protection for the taxon in the 

 state of Montana. 



C. DESCRIPTION 



GENERAL NONTECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Polygonum 

 douqlasii ssp. austinae is a low-growing, somewhat 

 scaly annual that is usually 2-4 in. tall, but may 

 grow up to 8 in. in height (Figure 17) . The 

 branches arise from the base and are erect to 

 curving upward. The numerous leaves are jointed 

 at the base. The lower leaves are more or less 

 egg-shaped to elliptic in outline, narrowing to a 

 very short stalk, usually %-% in. long, and \-Vz as 

 wide. The leaves become gradually smaller up the 

 stem and non-stalked. The stipules are Vs-ij in. 

 long and appear torn. The flowers occur in open 

 clusters of 1-4 in the axils of all but the 

 lowermost leaves. Each individual flower is on a 

 very short stalk less than Vs in. long. The five 

 petal-like parts are less than '/s in. long, joined 

 for about \ their length, and are greenish with 

 whitish or pink-tinged margins. The seed-like 

 fruit is triangular, black, shiny, smooth, 

 slightly less than '/a in. long, and egg-shaped in 

 outline but tapered at both ends. 



TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Low-growing more or less 

 scurfy annual 5-10 (-20) cm tall, branched at the 

 base, ascending to erect; leaves numerous, jointed 

 at the base, the lower ones ovate or elliptic to 

 broadly oblanceolate, usually 5-15 mm long and \-Vz 

 as broad, narrowed to a very short petiole, 

 gradually reduced and becoming sessile upward and 

 transitional to the uppermost small bracts; 



66 



