Montana populations of Loinalium attenuatum face few direct threats from management activities 

 at this time. The slopes where it grows have low timber and forage productivity and are 

 unsuitable for logging or grazing. In spite of this, the Ruby Range site was logged in the past, 

 probably for fuelwood, and cattle trailing may occur on more level sites. Future mining activity in 

 or near limestone formations could pose threats to populations. Exotic weeds are increasingly 

 becoming established in southwestern Montana and may pose the greatest tlu'cat to populations in 

 the future. In general, weed infestations are more extensive in the Ruby Range study area than in 

 the vicinities where Lomatium attenuatum grows in Beaverhead County. The introduced forage 

 alfalfas Medicago lupulina and M. sativa are becoming established on the scree slope habitat of 

 Lomatium attenuatum in the study area, and the habitat is believed to be especially susceptible to 

 invasions of spotted knapweed (Centaurea maculosa). 



Oryzopsis contracta (Johnson) Shechter 



CONTRACTED INDIAN RICEGRASS 



Grass Family (Poaceae) 



Note: The following infomiation is an update to the status infonnation presented in Heidel and 

 Vanderhorst (1996), providing the basis for changing the state rank and recommending BLM 

 status change. 



CONSERVATION STATUS 



U.S. Fish and Wildlife Sei-vice: None. It was recently listed as a Category 2 (C2) species 

 by the USDI Fish and Wildlife Service (1993), but recommended moved to Category 3C 

 because it was not in jeopardy based on survey and herbarium studies in Wyoming which 

 documented a broad distribution and limited degree of tlireat. The Category 2 list was 

 discontinued by the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1996) before any changes were made 

 to the species' status. 



Bureau of Land Management: Watch (USDI BLM 1996). It is recommended dropped 

 from watch status based on this study in concert with other 1996 studies. 



Montana Natural Heritage Program rank: Prior to this study it was ranked G3 SU 

 (globally vulnerable; state status undetermined). The 1995 survey results suggested that it 

 had been overlooked rather than being imperiled. This study in concert with other 1 996 

 studies supports reranking the species to S3 (vulnerable in the state), and taking it off 

 from the list of species which are actively tracked to be moved to the watch list. 

 Distribution information will still be collected for it, and its status will be re-evaluated 

 should there be evidence of decline. 



DESCRIPTION: Contracted Indian ricegrass is a tufted perennial with glabrous stems 30-65 cm 

 (12-28 inches) tall. The inflorescence is a panicle with branches that are initially contracted 

 (hence the common name) but which become stiffly spreading at maturity. Spikelets are 1- 

 flowered, slender, and app. 1 cm (3/8 inch) long. The lemmas are covered by short, white, silky 

 hairs that do not exceed the lemma; the lemmas have an awn 6-12 mm (1/4-1/2 inches) long 

 (from Fertig 1994, Wyoming Rare Plant Technical Committee 1995). 



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