12 



mm, the wings ±1-4 mm shorter, the obtuse keel (8)8.5-10.5 

 mm long; ovary glabrous; ovules 24-36; pod erect, sessile, 

 continuous with receptacle, in profile narrowly oblong or 

 ovate-oblong, 12-17 x 3-6.5 mm, strait or slightly incurved, 

 obtuse at base, abruptly contracted into a short, laterally 

 compressed beak, otherwise dorsoventrally compressed, 

 carinate ventrally by the cordlike suture, flattened or 

 openly sulcate dorsally, the lateral angles rounded, the 

 green, fleshy valves becoming coriaceous, stramineous, 

 inflexed as an almost complete or complete septum ±1 mm 

 wide; dehiscence through the narrowly gaping beak while pod 

 yet attached to raceme-axis. 



3. Diagnostic characters: The following combination of 



features can be used to separate A. terminalis from other 

 Montana species of Astragalus (adapted from Dorn 1984): 



-Leaves on stem, with 11-21 leaflets, these not awl shaped 

 -Hairs on leaflets attached towards their middle 



(dolabriform) 

 -Stipules not united on the side of the stem opposite the 



petiole 

 -Calyx tube less than 6.5 mm long, banner 11-16.5 mm long 



B. CURRENT LEGAL OR OTHER FORMAL STATUS 



1. Federal 



a. Bureau of Land Management: Astragalus terminalis is on 



the list of proposed Watch plants for Montana (USDI 

 Bureau of Land Management 1993). 



b. U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service: none 



c. U.S. Forest Service: none 



2. State: The Montana Natural Heritage Program ranks 

 Astragalus terminalis G3G4 and S2 (Heidel 1994). This means 

 the species is somewhat vulnerable to extinction to 

 apparently secure globally, but is imperiled because of 

 rarity in Montana. The species is ranked SI in Wyoming 

 (Fertig 1994), indicating extreme rarity there. 



C. GEOGRAPHIC DISTRIBUTION 



1. Species range: Central Idaho, southwest Montana, and 

 immediately adjacent Wyoming (Barneby 1989). 



2. Montana distribution: Astragalus terminalis is known in the 

 state from 8 sites in Beaverhead and Madison Counties, in 

 the drainages of the Beaverhead, Madison and Red Rock 



