Creek and SirnTDns Creek. Understory ccnsists largely of dense 

 shrubbery including Rocky Mountain maple, serviceberxy, dcgvxDod, 

 hav/thom, chokecherry and v;illcws. 



Potholes and reservoirs . Saiall glacial kettles, from a f&^ square 

 meters to several hectares, are found as high as 1300 m and are 

 abundant north and west of East Butte. Pcnds are shallow, and 

 most are usually dry by late July. Scrre sutport cattail, rushes, 

 bulxushes and sedges. Since no natural lakes or marshes are found 

 within the Hills prcper, natural wetland ccrrmunities similar to 

 marshes of the Cypress Hills (Breitung 1954) are absent from the 

 Sweet Grass Hills. 



MKTANE COvNUNITIES 



Nfcntane grassland . Dry south- facing slopes and foothills between 

 1500 and 2000 m, and many ncn-forested portions of north-faciiX[ 

 slcpes, are dcminated by rough fescue, Idaho fescue and shrubby 

 cinquef oil . 



Subalpine grassland . Small grassland areas above timberline on 

 the sumnaits of Kjount Royal and Viest. Butte appear distinct frcrn the 

 Ic^-^r-elevation mcntane grassland, and somewhat resemble alpire 

 turdra. Caespitose vegetaticn is dcminated by stunted rough 

 fescue and shrubby cinquef oil, with American bistort a irejor 



15 



