17 



linear or nearly so, acute, often rather numerous, 

 hispid-hirsute with spreading or ascending, 

 conspicuously pustulate-based hairs of varying size; 

 spikes naked or nearly so; fruiting calyx 4-6 mm. 

 long, subcilately strigose-hirsute and conspicuously 

 pustulate-hispid; corolla inconspicuous, about 1 mm. 

 wide; nutlets 4, lanceolate, 1.5-2 mm. long, 0.5-0.7 

 mm. wide, nearly or fully 3 times as long as wide, 

 smooth and shining, the margins rounded or broadly 

 obtuse; scar opening at the base into an 

 areola; style equaling or slightly 

 surpassing the nutlets. 



3. LOCAL FIELD CHARACTERS: Crvptantha f endleri is 



distinguished by the diffuse branching inflorescence. 

 The nutlets are lanceolate, averaging 0.5-0.7 mm 

 wide. 



D. GEOGRAPHICAL DISTRIBUTION 



1. RANGE: Cryptantha fendleri is found on sand dunes or 

 very sandy soils. It has been documented in 

 Washington, Oregon, Idaho and Sheridan County, 

 Montana. 



2. CURRENT SITES: Cryptantha fendleri is found within 

 the sand dune region of Centennial Valley, the north 

 side of Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge 

 (Schassberger, MTNHP) . In Montana, it is restricted 

 to sand dunes at opposite corners of the state in 

 Beaverhead and Sheridan counties. 



E. HABITAT 



1. ASSOCIATED VEGETATION: Cryptantha fendleri 



is found in blowout area within sand dune regions. It 

 is found in sandy, well drained soils with the 

 following grasses and forbs: 



Artemisia tripartita (threetip sagebrush) 



buckwheat) 

 Astragalus ceramicus var. apus (painted milk-vetch) 

 Elvmus flavescens (sand wildrye) 



Erioqonum ovalifolium var. nevadense foval-leaved 

 Festuca idahoensis (Idaho fescue) 

 Oenothera pallida var. idahoensis (pale evening 

 Phacelia hastata (whiteleaf phacelia) 



primrose) 

 Stipa comata (needle and thread grass) 

 Tetradvmia canescens (gray horsebrush) 



