3.0 RESULTS 



3.1 PJ^FE PLJ^KT EV?lLiATION 



Lesica et al. (1934) list 34 vascular plant species of limited 

 distribution in the north-central region of Montana. Of those listed, 

 only one, heart-leaved buttercup ( Ranunculus cardiophyllus ) vras listed 

 by Thcrrpson and Kuijt (1975b) as occucring in the S\veet Grass HilJ,s. 

 Because of the relative paucity of botanical information for the Hills, 

 all species not readily identified in the field were collected to 

 evaluate other potentially rare taxa, and to obtain as ccnplete a 

 species list as possible. Three species have been identified as 

 meriting additional investigation: heart-leaved buttercup, 

 springbeauty ( Claytcma lanceolata Pursh var. flava (A. Nels.) C.L. 

 Hitcho. ) and t\-7iggy halimolobos ( Halimolobos virgata ) (Nutt. ) Schulz. 



3.1.1 Ranunculus cardiophyllus (Heart-leaved buttercup) 

 F?anunculus cardio^T/Uus has been recorded frcm only six locations in 

 Montana: four staticns in Glacier County, one in Stveetgrass County, 

 and one in Toole County (Montana Natural Heritage Progra-n database, 

 Helena . ) The locaticn din Toole County is frcm the Vtest Butte in the 

 S\-,eet Grass Hills, erd \s'as collected by Miller and Hassinger ( 4828 ) on 

 West Butte on June 30, 1975. The collection site ;-;as described as a 

 "flat, exposed, meaoa.sy area near Fred and George Creek" (University of 

 Lethbridge herbarium label ) . 



