Botanical methods 



Prior to fieldwork, the Biological Conservation Database maintained by the MTNHP was queried 

 for occurrences of plant species of special concern (Heidel 1996) known from the vicinity of the 

 study area. There was one reported occuiTcnce oi Machaeranthera conmixta near the crest of the 

 range, based on a specimen collected by K. Lackshewitz. A population oi Eleocharis rostellata 

 was known just outside the study area boundaries at Warm Springs on the west side of Ruby 

 Reservoir. These occuiTcnces and the results of recent extensive botanical surveys in 

 southwestern Montana (listed in the introduction of this report) were used to identify target 

 species and habitats and guide timing of fieldwork. 



Surveys for sensitive plants were conducted by Bonnie Heidel on June 2-5 and July 3-5, by Jolin 

 Pierce in late July and early August and and by Jim Vanderhorst on August 21-28. A map 

 showing survey routes in the Ruby Range is provided in Appendix A. When populations of 

 Montana plant species of special concern were encountered, MTNHP field survey forms were 

 filled out and the populations were mapped. Infomiation was recorded on habitat (associated 

 vegetation, landscape position, soils), demography (population numbers and area covered), plant 

 biology (phenology, vigor, reproductive success), and potential threats to the populations. 



In the course of ecological and sensitive plant fieldwork, lists of the general flora of the Ruby 

 Range were compiled by all workers. The primary references used to key out plants in the field 

 were Dorn (1984, 1992) and Hitchcock and Cronquist (1973). Specimens were collected when 

 field identification was difficult and to document populations of sensitive and other notable 

 species. Specimens will be deposited at the herbaria of Montana State University (MONT) and 

 University of Montana (MONTU). 



Tliroughout this report the scientific plant names accepted by Dorn (1984) are used, with a few 

 exceptions. To accommodate use with conventional range management references, older 

 taxonomic treatments as presented in Hitchcock and Cronquist (1973) are followed for the wheat 

 and rye grasses (the gtntxa Agropyron and Elymus). These are lumped, except for crested 

 wheatgrass, Agropyron cristatum, under the genus Elymus by Dom (1984), and are split into 

 Elytrigia, Leymus, Pseudoroegneria, and Pascopynim by other authorities. Synonymy is given, 

 as appropriate, to promote familiarity with the newer names. Synonyms (abbreviated syn.) are 

 also given in the text for species where nomenclature in the constancy/cover tables (Appendix B) 

 differs from Dom (1984). Dom's treatment for Montana does not cover infraspecific taxa but the 

 subspecies of big sagebrush, Artemisia tridentata, are important ecological indicators and are 

 used to designate southwestern Montana community types (Cooper et al. 1995). Taxonomic keys 

 to these subspecies may be found in Beetle (1982) and in Dom (1992). 



10 



