Plains elements combined with boreal, Rocky Mountain and eastern 

 deciduous floras. The isolated escarpments also represent features 

 f bioqeographic interest, lying between the zones of glacial 

 ivance from the Black Hills to the south, and from the continental 



o 



advance from 



ice sheets to the north 



The Sioux District presents a challenge to Regional U.S. Forest 

 Service policy in setting meaningful standards for sensitive 

 species designation because it straddles two states having major 

 differences in floras, both corners of which are botanically poorly 

 known and where the peripheral eastern species rare in one state 

 overlap with the peripheral western species that are rare in the 

 neighboring state. The Sioux District also provides tremendous 

 opportunity to conduct a study spanning state lines near this 

 remote intersection of three state boundaries, and a prospect for 

 integrating disparate study area information and state species 

 lists for a more cohesive picture of key Regional botanical 

 resources. 



We recommend that this baseline survey information be incorporated 

 in management planning, and that extended studies be conducted on 

 the following: 



- Late season survey in mesic habitats of at least the Cave Hills 

 for Aster pauciflorus , Gentiana affinis and Solidago sparsif lo ra ; 

 and the Long Pines for Sphenopholis obtusata var. major 



- Extended survey around East Short Pines boundaries with use of 

 aerial photos for identifying the loose sand habitats _ of 

 Chenopodium subqlabrum and the boggy habitat of Carex vesicaria 



Extended survey in the North End of Long Pines for at least 

 Phlox andicola and Physaria brassicoides . 



In the future, all new sightings of plant species recommended for 

 sensitive or watch status on the Sioux District should be collected 

 or photographed as compatible with species conservation. In 

 addition, basic information should be collected on the Montana or 

 South Dakota sensitive plant forms for documenting sensitive plant 

 species records. A half-day training session for biologists 

 (including seasonal employees) and other interested field people 

 would heighten interest and awareness and provide needed training 

 skills for applying technical information in the field. 



This preliminary study spanning state lines presents an opportunity 

 to integrate disparate study area information and state species 

 lists to provide a more cohesive picture of key regional botanical 

 resources. It provides a synthesis and framework for building 

 botanical resource information and developing a District sensitive 

 plant species program. 



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