The previously known population of Eleocharis rostellata on private land at Warm Springs above 

 Ruby Reservoir was revisited but no population or potential habitat were found within the study 

 area. This species is restricted to accumulations of travertine often associated with hot springs. 

 The site at Warm Springs is heavily impacted by cattle grazing and recreationists, but the 

 occurrence of Eleocharis rostellata seems resilient under these pressures. Three other species 

 restricted to spring-fed alkaline meadows are found southeast of the study area, including 

 Astragalus leptaleus, Senecio debilis, and Triglochin concinnum var. debile. This study did not 

 afford the opportunity to inventory these potentially significant wetlands. 



A number of species which were previously but are no longer tracked by MTNHP were 

 documented in the Ruby Range; these are Cirsium subniveiim, Castilleja rustica, and Stanleya 

 viridiflora. These species are confined in Montana to the southwestern part of the state and were 

 poorly known prior to the extensive surveys conducted by MTNHP in recent year's. These surveys 

 found them to be more common than previously known and not tlireatened in the state and they 

 were dropped from tracking by MTNHP. Their occurrence in the study area is further evidence of 

 their relative security in Montana. 



A total of 433 species of vascular plants in 57 families were identified in the Ruby Range study 

 area (Appendix D). This is a relatively high number considering the relatively dry growing 

 season of 1996, the heavily cattle impacted vegetation, and the relatively small area covered. It is 

 probably explained by the elevational amplitude of the study area, and by the fact that it was 

 surveyed by four botanists, each with their own taxonomic strengths, working tliroughout the 

 growing season. By comparison, there was a total 469 taxa identified on BLM and Beaverhead 

 National Forest lands in the Tendoy Mountains and upper Big Sheep Creek drainage 

 (Vanderhorst 1995c), a somewhat larger area with broader elevational and ecological amplitude. 

 On the lower end, there were 329 taxa identified on BLM lands in the Horse Prairie Creek 

 drainage (Vanderhorst 1994a), a larger study area which is confined mostly to foothill and basin 

 topography. 



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