I . INTRODUCTION 



This report represents an update to the status review of 

 Penstemon lemhiensis (Shelly 1987) , a sensitive plant species 

 that occurs on the Beaverhead and Bitterroot National Forests in 

 Montana. Additional field surveys were conducted during the 

 summer of 1989, in areas on the Beaverhead National Forest that 

 had not previously been studied. Also, surveys were conducted on 

 the Bitterroot National Forest, to attempt relocation of two 

 historical records in southern Ravalli County, and to survey for 

 new populations in that region. 



These surveys resulted in the discovery of ten new P. 

 lemhiensis populations in Beaverhead County (one wholly, and one 

 partially, on Beaverhead National Forest lands) , and two new 

 populations in Ravalli County (one wholly, and one partially, on 

 Bitterroot National Forest lands) . In addition, it is believed 

 that the two historical locations (originally documented in 1950 

 and 1952) were relocated during the surveys in Ravalli County; 

 both of these sites are located on private lands. 



Additionally, permanent demographic monitoring transects 

 were established in three locations on the Beaverhead National 

 Forest. Two transects were installed in the French Creek 

 drainage, and one near Badger Pass. The purpose of these studies 

 will be to provide long-term data on the survival and fecundity 

 of P. lemhiensis populations, and to allow assessment of natural 

 and man-caused impacts on them. 



II. SPECIES INFORMATION 



A. REVIEW OF PRESENT STATUS 



1, FEDERAL STATUS: Currently, P. lemhiensis is 

 included in Category 2 of the U.S. Fish and 

 Wildlife Service Notice of Review (U.S. Department 

 of Interior 1985) , under consideration for federal 

 listing as a threatened species. Category 2 taxa 

 are those "... for which information now in 

 possession of the Service indicates that proposing 

 to list them as endangered or threatened species 

 is possibly appropriate, but for which substantial 

 data on biological vulnerability and threat (s) are 

 not currently known or on file to support the 

 immediate preparation of rules." 



In addition, P. lemhiensis is currently included 

 on the U.S. Forest Service Region 1 sensitive 

 species list (U.S. Department of Agriculture 1988; 

 Reel et a^. 1989) . Sensitive species are 

 "...those plant and animal species identified by 

 the Regional Forester for which population 

 viability is a concern, as evidenced by: 



