Exotic plant invasion of populations should be followed 

 to ensure that the non-native species do not extirpate 

 Polygonum douqlasii ssp. austinae at those sites. 



RECOMMENDATIONS FOR FURTHER ASSESSMENT: Further survey 

 work should be conducted to learn the full extent of 

 the taxon in the Big Belt Mountains and to re-evaluate 

 whether it warrants Sensitive status. It is possible 

 the its habitat overlap with Lesquerella klausii is 

 basis for predicting new locations; it was not sought 

 from but may possibly have major populations in the 

 Gates of the Mountains Wilderness where Lesquerella 

 klausii is found. A major shale outcrop area in the 

 vicinity of Sulphur Bar Creek was not visited, and may 

 represent the location for the historic site east of 

 Townsend. 



SUMMARY: Polygonum douglasii ssp. austinae is a Forest 

 Service Sensitive plant which usually occurs on barren 

 shale slopes within the ponderosa pine-bluebunch 

 wheatgrass plant association at low to moderate 

 elevation. This subspecies has been, and in some 

 floras still is, recognized as a species. Although it 

 is common outside of Montana, there are only seven 

 sites in three counties in the state, with 4 sites and 

 an unrelocated historic collection being on the Helena 

 National Forest in the Big Belt Mountains. Most of 

 these populations are in good condition. Further 

 survey work to realize the full extent of this taxon 

 within the Helena National Forest and to determine 

 whether it warrants Sensitive status is warranted. 

 There is possible threat from road maintenance 

 activities and exotic plant invasion. 



