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For the Love of Grass IV

Power Botanizing in Eastern Montana and Northeastern Wyoming

By

Larry Holzworth, Wendall Oaks, Bob MacLauchlan, Fred Gaffney, Jack Carlson and Curtis Sharp

June 2011

1

For the Love of Grass - IV

Power Botanizing in the Northern Great Plains of Montana

and Wyoming

Our fourth "For the Love of Grass" trek, in June 2011, included all previous participants. Route

organizer Larry Holzworth, plus Jack Carlson, Fred Gaffney and Wendall Oaks represented the

core of Power Botanists. Bob MacLaughlan and Curtis Sharp provided consistency (they have yet

to miss one), some botanical help, and class.

Our rendezvous was in Bozeman, MT on June 20. Larry had identified 10 grasslands to be

inventoried, but the number grew to 13, plus a few unscheduled ones. Five additional Point of

Interest stops were made, including the Bridger Plant Materials Center, The Little Big Horn

Battlefield and Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center and the Charles M. Russell museum in Great

Falls. It was an outstanding and busy agenda.

Our inventory mission at each scheduled site was the same as on previous treks; identify every

plant within a 'reasonable' area, consisting of one to several acres, and leave only when satisfied

that this has been accomplished. Miles to travel and darkness were our primary enemies.

Unscheduled inventories included whatever could be recorded before the vehicle moved on.

During the six days of inventorying we traveled 1965 miles, solved most of the world's problems,

correctly or incorrectly identified about 720 plants, and scheduled the 2012 trek. Of the 720 plants

identified 37% occurred only once, 22% twice, 13% three times and 4 through 13 times 28%. Two

plants occurred 10 times each; Koeleria macranth, prairie junegrass and Tragopogon dubius,

yellow salsify. The most frequently occurring plant was Pascopyrum smithii, western wheatgrass,

which was present in 13 of the 17 inventories. The four sites where it did not occur were the four

smallest in terms on land area surveyed.

We departed Bozeman on June 21st, traveling east on I-90. After 75 miles we took a break at the I-

90 Graycliff Rest Stop. As the doors swung open two headed for the bathroom and the rest for the

surrounding vegetation. The priority was clear, power botanizing first, personal comfort second.

Combining the time together with old friends, the outdoor beauty of Montana and Wyoming, the

historic sites visited and our mutual love of plants will mark the 2011 "For the Love of Grass" a

wonderful trek.

I believe if I should die, and you were to walk near my grave, from the very depths of the earth I would know you were only looking plants to identify. (Apology to). ~Benito Perez Galdos

Always the

student, our

committed leader, Larry

Holtzworth.

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Day 1 - Tuesday, June 21

Inventory 1 - Graycliff Rest Stop, I-90.

Our first unscheduled inventory was a great warm up. It was no larger than a quarter-acre and took

less than a quarter hour to complete. It is on the line of Major Land Resource Areas (MLRA) 46

(Northern Rocky Mountain Foothills) and 58A (Northern Rolling High Plains). Both MLRAs

support grassland vegetation, including bluebunch and western wheatgrasses. Plant recorder Jack

Carlson listed the following species.

Scientific Name Common Name Type Origin Brassica nigra (L.) Koch black mustard Forb Weed

Bromus inermis Leysis. smooth brome Graminoid Introduced

Bromus tectorum L. cheatgrass Graminoid Weed

Centaurea stoebe L. ssp. micranthos (Gugler) Hayek

spotted knapweed Forb Weed

Cerastium arvense L. field chickweed Forb Weed

Collomia linearis Nutt. tiny trumpet Forb Native Cynoglossum officinale L. gypsyflower Forb Weed

Dactylis glomerata L. orchardgrass Graminoid Introduced

Elymus repens (L.) Gould quackgrass Graminoid Weed

Galium boreale L. northern bedstraw Forb Native

Juniperus scopulorum Sarg. Rocky Mountain juniper

Tree Native

Koeleria macrantha (Ledeb.) Schult. prairie junegrass Graminoid Native

Pascopyrum smithii (Rydb.) A. Löve western wheatgrass Graminoid Native

Pinus contorta Douglas ex Louden lodgepole pine Tree Native

Noxious weed Cynoglossum officinale, gypsyflower, and Prunus viginiana, choke cherry, the everywhere

plant

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Pinus ponderosa C. Lawson ponderosa Pine Tree Native

Plantago major L. common plantain Forb Introduced

Poa pratensis L. Kentucky bluegrass Graminoid Introduced

Prunus viginiana L. chokecherry Shrub Native

Pseudoroegneria spicata (Pursh) A. Löve bluebunch wheatgrass Graminoid Native

Ribes lacustre (Pers.) Poir prickly current Shrub Native

Ribies cereum Douglas wax current Shrub Native

Inventory 2 - Route 421 County Line

A car full of Power Botanists driving through

Montana is like kids in a candy store. As we

traveled towards the Bridger PMC on state route

421 we were obligated to stop for roadwork.

"What's that yellow flowered job there in the

field?" In a flash the pilot car beckoned us on but

not before a couple pictures and five plants were

recorded. The yellow flowered job was Arnica

mollis, hairy arnica. The site was near the county

line between Sweetgrass and Stillwater. It wasn't as

romantic as the names implied.

Scientific Name Common Name Type Origin

Alyssum desertorum Stapf desert madwort Forb Native

Arnica mollis Hook. hairy arnica Forb Native

Camelina microcarpa Andrz. ex DC. littlepod false flax Forb Native

Hackelia floribunda (Lehm.) I.M. Johnst. many-flowered stickseed Forb Native

Thlaspi arvense L. field pennycress Forb Weed

Bridger Plant Materials Center, including Inventory Site 3.

This was our first Point of Interest site. First we had lunch in town with the PMC staff, including

Joseph Scianna, Roger Hybner, Susan Winslow and retired employees John Scheetz and Jean

Hobson.

Following a lunch we enjoyed a wonderful afternoon reviewing the PMC. Bridger has been a

national leader in developing widely tested cultivars that prove their merit by becoming high

demand and high volume releases. Since its establishment in 1959 this PMC has maintained a high

level of production and an innovative approach to doing business. For example, two trees for use

in Great Plains shelterbelts were released as germplasm. One of them was the first truly successful

germplasm releases, and represented the intent of this approach for plants requiring decades to

release as a tested cultivar. Their new plants have paid high dividends for soil and water

conservation in the Northern Great Plains, and for the commercial grower who produce them.

From the looks of things they will continue on that path.

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The following are some of the plants identified on the PMC:

Scientific Name Common Name Type Origin Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn. crested wheatgrass Graminoid Introduced

Agrostis scabra Willd. rough bentgrass Graminoid Native

Artemisia tridentata Nutt. big sagebrush Shrub Native

Astragalus crassicarpus Nutt. ground plum Legume Native

Astragalus drummondii Douglas ex Hook. Drummond's milkvetch Legume Native

Astragalus flexuosus Douglas ex G. Don flexile milkvetch Legume Native

Bouteloua dactyloides (Nutt.) J.T. Columbus buffalograss Graminoid Native

Bouteloua gracilis (Willd. ex Kunth) Lag. ex Griffiths

blue grama Graminoid Native

Elymus lanceolatus (Scribn. & J.G. Sm.) Gould thickspike wheatgrass Graminoid Native

Ericameria nauseosa (Pall. ex Pursh) G.L. Nesom & Baird ssp. nauseosa

rubber rabbitbrush Shrub Native

Festuca ovina L. sheep fescue Graminoid Native

Gaillardia aristata Pursh common gaillardia Forb Native

Helianthus pauciflorus Nutt. stiff sunflower Forb Native

Juncus arcticus Willd. ssp. littoralis (Engelm.) Hultén

mountain rush Graminoid Native

Juniperus scopulorum Sarg. Rocky Mountain juniper Tree Native

Krascheninnikovia lanata (Pursh) A. Meeuse & Smit

winterfat Shrub Native

Leymus cinereus (Scribn. & Merr.) A. Löve basin wildrye Graminoid Native

Penstemon eriantherus Pursh fuzzytongue penstemon Forb Native

Pinus contorta Douglas ex Louden lodgepole pine Tree Native

Pinus flexilis James limber pine Tree Native


Poa compressa L. Canada bluegrass Graminoid Native

Poa secunda J. Presl Sandberg bluegrass Graminoid Native

Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski Russian wildrye Graminoid Introduced

The trees on the left are Hunter ponderosa pines, Pinus ponderosa. On the right Rocky Mountain junipers,

Juniperus scopulorum.

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Purshia tridentata (Pursh) DC. antelope bitterbrush Shrub Native

Quercus macrocarpa Michx. bur oak Tree Native

Ratibida columnifera (Nutt.) Woot. & Standl. prairie coneflower Forb Native

Rosa woodsii Lindl. Wood's rose Shrub Native

Thermopsis montana Nutt. mountain goldenbanner Legume Native

Thermopsis rhombifolia (Nutt. ex Pursh) Nutt. ex Richardson

prairie thermopsis Legume Native

Vitus riparia Michl riverbank grape Vine Native

Larry on left and Joe Scianna, PMC manager on the right. They are

looking at a potential release. It is a hybrid of Russian olive and

silverberry, Elaeagnus angustifolia x Elaeagnus commutata.

To me a lush carpet of 'Covar" sheep fescue is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug. Apologies to Helen Keller

Susan Winslow explains the details of this project. The ID was not made of the plant in the forefront except that it was a

sunflower. One could speculate the fellow in the back is

looking for a place to lie down.

Fred never saw a rush or sedge he didn't

like. This one is Juncus arcticus, mountain

rush.

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Larry explaining planting, which has 1 row each of Rocky

Mountain juniper, blue spruce and Siberian peashrub.

Day 2 – Wednesday, June 22

Inventory 4 - The Rehberg Yellowstone Soil Conservation District Living Snow

Fence.

Following our over night in Billings, we needed to pick up our last trekker, Wendall Oaks, at the

airport around 10:00AM. Of course Larry would not permit us just hanging out at the airport, so

we visited a near by, cooperatively established living snow fence, established in 1989. This was

one of several demonstrational snow fences that were established around the state. Like Inventory

1 this site is on the line of MLRA 46 and 58A.

The original project had several objectives, including an evaluation of establishment methods.

For more details see Tillage for Weed Control in Windbreaks and Shelterbelts. Logar, R. and J.

Scianna. 2005. Montana NRCS, Bozeman, MT, Bozeman, MT. Forestry TN No. MT-24. 3p. on

the Bridger PMC web site.


Agropyron fragile (Roth) P. Candargy Siberian wheatgrass Graminoid Introduced

Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. wyomingensis Beetle & Young

Wyoming big sagebrush Shrub Native



Caragana arborescens Lam. Siberian peashrub Shrub Introduced

Chorispora tenella (Pall.) DC. crossflower Forb Introduced

Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. Canada thistle Forb Weed

Descurainia pinnata (Walter) Britton western tansymustard Forb Native

Not to be out done Siberian wheathrass

is protecting the edges.

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Filago vulgaris Lam. common cottonrose Forb Introduced


Lactuca serriola L. prickly lettuce Forb Weed

Lomatium cous (S. Watson) J.M. Coult. & Rose cous biscuitroot Forb Native

Medicago lupulina L. black medic Legume Introduced

Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam. yellow sweetclover Legume Introduced


Picea glauca (Moench) Voss white spruce Tree Native


Polygonum arenastrum Jord. ex Boreau oval-leaf knotweed Forb Introduced

Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkworth & D.R. Dewey

intermediate wheatgrass Graminoid Native

Around 9:45, as we were enjoying our snow fence discussion, a frantic phone call from Wendall,

advising us he was there. We were all pleased to see him, who had volunteered to be the

designated driver for the remainder of the trek, which delighted our host Larry. A quick departure

followed and in short order we were headed for the Battle of the Little Bighorn site.

Inventory 5 - I-90 Mile Marker 491

Regardless how good our Power Botanist are, Wendall exceeded even the speed at which they

could identify that bluish blur on the road bank. Bob and Curtis said they were pretty good at 80

MPH and above, but Wendall wheeled us to a stop. It was near mile post 491, on I-90 in Big Horn

County, near the Crow Indian Reservation. A few pictures were quickly taken and four plants

identified. The blue blur was Astragalus missouriensis, Missouri milkvetch.


Astragalus missouriensis Nutt. Missouri milkvetch Legume Native

Erodium L'Hér. ex Aiton stork's bill Forb ?


Stanleya pinnata (Pursh) Britton desert princesplume Forb Native

A morning-glory at my window satisfies me more than the metaphysics of books.-Walt Whitman (1819-1892)

Astragalus missouriensis, Missouri milkvetch

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Inventory 6 - The Battle of the Little Big Horn Battlefield.

We reached the Battle of the Little Bighorn

museum, Point of Interest 2, shortly after

lunch. From there, remaining on the battle

field, we conducted our first scheduled

inventory, about 4 miles south of the museum.

Along the way to it grave stones appear at the

spot where a soldier fell.

The inventory site was quite, serene and

beautiful. It was near the point where units

commanded by Major Marcus Reno and

Captain Frederick Benteen reunited on June

25, 1876, after Reno's retreat from their battle

at the Indian village. Here they developed a

strong defensive position on high ground. They held out here until reinforcements led by General

Gibbon arrived on the June 27. On seeing the arrival of fresh troops, the Sioux withdrew. Gibbon

then went north the 3 miles to where Custer had been fighting. He was overcome by what he

found. Realizing Custer's unit no longer existed the remnant of the Seventh Cavalry retreated to the

mouth of the Little Big Horn, where a steamer was waiting.

This was a typical Northern Rocky Mountain

Foothills site, also in MLRA 58A. In 1976 land

cover in Powder River County was 84%

rangeland, 10% woodland, and 5% cropland.

Irregularly sloping and hilly terrain at higher

elevations in the county are made up of silty

loams to clay loams. Soils are medium textured

and generally shallow. About 65 species were

identified over the several acres that were

surveyed.

Scientific Name Common Name Type Origin Achillea millefolium L. common yarrow Forb Native

Allium textile A. Nelson & J.F. Macbr. textile onion Forb Native

Alyssum desertorum Stapf desert madwort Graminoid Native

Antennaria neglecta Greene field pussytoes Forb Native


Artemisia campestris L. field sagewort Shrub Native

Artemisia frigida Willd. prairie sagewort Shrub Native


Asclepias speciosa Torr. showy milkweed Forb Native

The consultation is under way.

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Astragalus drummondii Drummond's milkvetch Legune Native

Astragalus gilviflorus Sheldon plains milkvetch Legume Native

Atriplex patula L. spear salt Forb Native

Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.) Torr. sideoats grama Graminoid Native


blue grama Graminoid ?

Brassica L. pale yellow mustard Forb Weed

Bromus arvensis L. field brome Graminoid Weed

Bromus tectorum L. cheatgrass Graminoid Native

Calochortus nuttallii Torr. & A. Gray sego lily Forb Native

Carex filifolia Nutt. threadleaf sedge Graminoid Weed

Comandra umbellata (L.) Nutt. bastard toadflax Forb Native

Crepis acuminata Nutt. tapertip hawksbeard Forb Native

Echinacea angustifolia DC. purple coneflower Forb ?

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Erigeron L. feabane Forb Native

Eriogonum flavum Nutt. alpine golden buckwheat

Forb Native

Festuca idahoensis Elmer Idaho fescue Graminoid Native


Gaura coccinea Nutt. ex Pursh scarlet beeblossom Forb Native

Geum triflorum Pursh old man's whickers Forb Native

Grindelia squarrosa (Pursh) Dunal curlycup gumweed Forb Native

Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh) Britton & Rusby broom snakeweed Shrub Native

Helianthus annuus L. common sunflower Forb Native

Hesperostipa comata (Trin. & Rupr.) Barkworth needle and thread Graminoid Native




winterfat Shrub Weed

Lactuca serriola L. prickly lettuce Forb Native

Linum lewisii Pursh Lewis flax Forb Native


Lupinus argenteus Pursh silvery lupine Forb Introduced

Melilotus officinalis (L.) Lam. yellow sweetclover Legume Native

Nassella viridula (Trin.) Barkworth green needlegrass Graminoid Native

Oenothera caespitosa Nutt. tufted evening primrose Forb Native

Opuntia polyacantha Haw. plains pricklypear Succulent Native


Pediomelum argophyllum (Pursh) J. Grimes silverleaf Indian breadroot

Legume Native

Pediomelum esculentum (Pursh) Ryb. large Indian breadroot Legume Native

Penstemon albidus Nutt. white penstemon Forb Native


Phacelia linearis (Pursh) Holz. threadleaf phacelia Forb Native

Phlox hoodii Richerdson spiny phlox Forb Introduced

Poa bulbosa L. bulbous bluegrass Graminoid Introduced

Poa pratensis L. Kentucky bluegrass Graminoid Native




Psoralidium lanceolatum (Pursh) Rydb. lemon scurfpea Legume Native

Rhus trilobata Nutt. skunkbush sumac Shrub Native


Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Hook.) Torr. greasewood Shrub ?

Senecio L. rag wort Forb Weed

Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg. dandelion Forb Native


prairie thermopsis Legume Weed

Tragopogon dubius Scop. yellow salsify Forb Native

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Vicia americana Muhl. ex Willd. American vetch Legume Native

Yucca glauca Nutt. soapweed yucca Shrub

As the afternoon drifted away, we took

leave of this most solemn place, which

the Lakota Indians called the "Battle of

Greasy Grass", and headed east, leaving

the Crow Indian Reservation and

entering the Northern Cheyenne

Reservation. The Northern Cheyenne

were allies of the Lakota in the Black

Hills War of 1876–77. This is their flag.

Inventory 7 - Camp Pass, Custer National Forest

This site is also in MLRA 58A, near

the Rose Bud and Powder River

County line. It is along US Route 212

to the east of the Northern Cheyenne

Reservation and approximately 20

miles west of Broadus, MT. The

Custer National Forest is the most

diverse and widespread forest of the

whole National Forest Service

System. It has three Ranger Districts.

Our location was in the Ashland

District, which offers a variety of

topography, varying from rolling

grasslands and forested areas, to steep

rock outcrops. Vegetation varies from

prairie to dense stands of ponderosa

pine. Our site was near the top of a ridge, along an abandoned road running into a forested area.


Achillea millefolium L. common yarrow Forb Native

Agropyron cristatum (L.) Gaertn. crested wheatgrass Graminoid Introduced

Agrostis stolonifera L. creeping bentgrass Graminoid Native

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Amelanchier alnifolia (Nutt.) Nutt. ex M. Roem.

Saskatoon serviceberry Shrub Native

Antennaria neglecta Greene field pussytoes Forb Native

Apocynum androsaemifolium L. spreading dogbane Forb Native

Arnica cordifolia Hook. heartleaf arnica Forb Native

Artemisia ludoviciana Nutt. white sagebrush Forb Native

Avenula hookerI (Scribin.) Holub spikeoat Graminoid Native

Balsamorhiza sagittata (Pursh) Nutt. arrowleaf balsamroot Forb Native

Bromus marginatus Nees ex Steud. mountain brome Graminoid Native

Calamagrostis rubescens Buckley pinegrass Graminoid Native

Cerastium arvense L. field Chickweed Forb Weed

Cirsium undulatum (Nutt.) Spreng. Wavyleaf thistle Forb Native

Collomia linearis Nutt. tiny trumpet Forb Native

Fragaria virginiana Duchesne Virginia strawberry Forb Native

Fraxinus pennsylvanica Marsh. green ash Tree Native


Glycyrrhiza lepidota Pursh American licorice Shrub Native


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Mahonia repens (Lindl.) G. Don creeping barberry Shrub Native

Maianthemum racemosum (L.) Link ssp. racemosum

feathery false lily of the valley

Forb Native




Phleum pratense L. timothy Graminoid Introduced

Phlox hoodii Richerdson spiny phlox Forb Native



Potentilla argentea L. silver cinquefoil Forb Native

Potentilla recta L. sulfur cinquefoil Forb Introduced


Pyrola asarifolia Michx. liverleaf wintergreen Forb Native

Ratibida columnifera (Nutt.) Woot. & Standl.

prairie coneflower Forb Native





Sisyrinchium angustifolium Mill. narrowleaf blue-eyed grass Forb Native

Symphoricarpos occidentalis Hook. western snowberry Shrub Native

Taraxacum officinale F.H. Wigg. dandelion Forb Weed

Thermopsis montana Nutt. mountain goldenbanner Legume Native

Toxicodendron rydbergii Small ex Rydb.) Greene

western poison-ivy Vine Native

Tragopogon dubius Scop. yellow salsify Forb Weed

Our third night's lodging found us

in beautiful downtown Broadus,

MT, county seat Power River

County. Our motel had the display

to the left at its entrance, containing

the horse, big sage, Indian

ricegrass, yucca, cactus and more.

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Day 3 – Thursday, June 23

Bright and early we have a hardy breakfast and head southeast from Broadus with our Thunder

Basin, WY destination. Soon after passing Alzada, MT and crossing the state line, that second cup

of coffee began to take its toll. Little did we know, however, that we were in historic territory: 125

years or so earlier our stop might have been much more exciting. Alzada was first settled as a

military telegraph relay station, and called Stoneville, after the second resident in town, local

bartender Lou Stone. In 1884 it was the site of a famous gun battle between local authorities and

rustlers known as the Exelby gang. Later its name was changed in to Alzada for Laura Alzada

Shelden. Now there is a story.

Laura was born in St. Lawrence County, NY. She grew to be six foot tall and was known for her

incredible strength. She married 6 feet 8 inch Ezekial Brown Shelden, had lots of tall kids, and

ended up with her family in Miles City, MT practicing medicine. With her strength, she became a

natural at setting broken bones, which she did throughout Eastern Montana, resulting in the honor

of having a town named for her.

Now, back to the short stop, and an even shorter inventory:

Inventory 8 - Hwy. 112 Wyoming


Carex spp. L. sedge Graminoid Native




Poa fendleriana (Steud.) Vasey muttongrass Graminoid Native


Thinopyrum ponticum (Podp.) Z.-W. Liu & R.-C. Wang

tall wheatgrass Graminoid Native

As we crossed the border into

WY, and made our stop, to the left is the landscape and below a

common species Quercus macrocarpa , bur oak

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Inventory 9 - Devils Tower/Thunder Basin National Grasslands, WY

Our next inventory site took us south about 80 miles into Thunder Basin National Grasslands; in

Campbell, Weston and Converse Counties. But we were drawn from miles away like a magnet,

southeast into Crook County and the Devils Tower, another of Larry's Points of Interest.

The Devils tower is a gigantic stump-like formation rising some 1,200 feet above the Belle

Fourche River bottom. Over the years there have been changing theories concerning its origin. The

latest suggests that about 60 million years ago when the Rocky Mountains were formed, there was

an upheaval similar to that which produced the Black Hills and associated mountains. Great

masses of very hot lava welled up into the earth's crust. In some instances it reached the surface to

produce lava flows which spread layers of ash many feet thick over a vast part of the Great Plains. In the Devils Tower vicinity, this up surging substance spent its force before reaching the surface, then

cooling and becoming solid within the upper layers of the earth.

During subsequent tens of millions of years, erosion has stripped away the softer rock layers in which

this solid mass formed, leaving them standing as dominant landmarks.

The Thunder Basin Grasslands are mostly in MLRA 58B, while the Devils Tower is in MLRA 62

(Black Hills), supporting a climax vegetation of Ponderosa pine, Richardson needlegrass, poverty

oatgrass, and Canada wildrye.

Once at the Devils Tower we circled its mile long perimeter, identifying plants among hundreds of

tourists, many of which were taking more interest in our doings than in the Tower.

16



Achnatherum nelsonii (Scribn.) Barkworth ssp. dorei (Barkworth & Maze) Barkworth

Dore's needlegrass Graminoid Native


Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. annual ragweed Forb Introduced

Amelanchier alnifolia (Nutt.) Nutt. ex M. Roem. Saskatoon serviceberry Shrub Native

Andropogon gerardii Vitman. big bluestem Graminoid Native

Andropogon hallii Hack. sand bluestem Graminoid Native

Antennaria parvifolia Nutt. small-leaf pussytoes Forb Native





Bouteloua curtipendula (Michx.) Torr. sideoats grama Graminoid Native



Calamagrostis canadensis Michx.) P. Beauv. bluejoint Graminoid Native


Campanula rotundifolia L. bluebell bellflower Forb Native


Carex filifolia Nutt. threadleaf sedge Graminoid Native




17

Comandra umbellata (L.) Nutt. bastard toadflax Forb Weed

Cryptantha cinerea (Greene) Conquist James' cryptantha Forb Native

Delphinium bicolor Nutt. little larkspur Legume Native


Dichanthelium oligosanthes (Schult.) Gould var. scribnerianum (Nash) Gould

Scribner's rosette grass Graminoid Native


Elymus trachycaulus (Link) Gould ex Shinners slender wheatgrass Graminoid Native

Euphorbia esula L. leafy spurge Forb Weed






Heuchera richardsonii R. Br. Richardson's alumroot Forb Native

Juniperus communis L. common juniper Shrub Native

Juniperus scopulorum Sarg. Rocky Mountain juniper

Tree Native



Leucopoa kingii (S. Watson) W.A. Weber spike fescue Graminoid Native


Mahonia repens (Lindl.) G. Don creeping barberry Shrub Native





18

Phacelia linearis (Pursh) Holz Threadleaf phacelia Forb Native







Polygonum arenastrum Jord. ex Boreau oval-leaf knotweed Forb Introduced

Polypodium hesperium Maxon western polypody Fern Native

Populus tremuloides Michx. quaking aspen Tree Native








Rubus idaeus L. American red raspberry Vine Native

Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash little bluestem Graminoid Native

Solidago L. goldenrod Forb Native

Sporobolus cryptandrus A. Gray sand dropseed Graminoid Native

Symphyotrichum ascendens (Lindl.) G.L. Nesom western aster Forb Native



prairie thermopsis Legume Native


Toxicodendron rydbergii Small ex Rydb.) Greene western poison-ivy Vine Native


Verbascum thapsus L. common mullein Forb Weed


Viola nuttallii Pursh Nuttall's violet Forb Native

Following this most delightful morning we selected a slightly different, and faster route back

north; our next inventory site for the day was 300 miles away in Glendive, MT.

Inventory 10 – Makoshika State Park, Montana Fish, Wildlife, and Parks,

Glendive

Around the normal end of a working day (5:00 PM) we rolled into the State Park. It is hard to

understand why a 'badlands' is so delightful.

The name Makoshika (Ma-ko'-shi-ka) is a variant of a Lakota phrase meaning land of bad spirits or

"badlands". Although the area resembles the badlands of the Dakotas, these badlands expose older

rock layers. Makoshika is the largest state park in Montana, covering over 11,400 acres. This

beautiful and unique terrain provides for endless exploration and discovery.

19

Most of these strata are the brownish-gray sediments of the Hell Creek Formation dating back 65

million years ago when the Rocky Mountains were rising in the west. At that time, this area was

rivers and floodplains similar to the present southeastern United States, with sub-tropical climate

and vegetation. Rivers draining the western mountains deposited layer upon layer of sediments

which over millions of years compacted to form the sandstones, mudstones, clays, and shale's that

form the badlands landscape. The Park is in MLRA 58A, although the site is more reflective of

MLRA 54 (Rolling Soft Shale Plain) to the east.

The lateness of the hour only seemed to add to our enjoyment of this site. The diversity of plant

life, the beauty of the evening shadows and landscape was so overwhelming we enjoyed an on-site

toast.

Our only excitement was when Wendall went off to take pictures, with the car keys, leaving the

doors open. Someone suggested we open the bar, which was accessible only from the rear door,

which was locked. Attempts to open it triggered the alarm system, which resounded up and down

the canyons and into every camp site. Wendall could hear it, but he didn't respond. When he did

return, being the teetotaler that he is, suggested we should be more mature.


Achnatherum hymenoides (Roem. & Schult.) Barkworth

Indian ricegrass Graminoid Native


Andropogon hallii Hack. sand bluestem Graminoid Native



Artemisia cana Pursh silver sagebrush Shrub Native

20

Aristida purpurea Nutt. purple threeawn Graminoid Native








Brassica L. mustard Forb Unknown



Calamovilfa longifolia (Hook.) Scrinin. prairie sandreed Graminoid Native



Chondrilla juncea L. rush skeletonweed Forb Introduced

Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus (Hook.) Nutt. yellow rabbitbrush Shrub Native



Echinacea angustifolia DC. purple coneflower Forb Native

21


Erigeron pumilus Nutt. shaggy fleabane Forb Native

Eriogonum umbellatum Torr. sulfur-flowered buckwheat Forb Native

Erysimum capitatum (Douglas ex Hook.) Greene sanddune wallflower Forb Native



Gutierrezia sarothrae (Pursh) Britton & Rusby broom snakeweed Shrub Native Hackelia floribunda (Lehm.) I.M. Johnst. many-flowered stickseed Forb Native


Heterotheca villosa (Pursh) Shinners hairy false goldenaster Forb Native

Hordeum brachyantherum Nevski meadow barley Graminoid Native

Hordeum jubatum L. foxtail barley Graminoid Native



Lepidium densiflorum Schard. common pepperweed Forb Native

Liatris punctata Hook. dotted blazing star Forb Native

Lithospermum incisum Lehm. narrowleaf stoneseed Forb Native

Lomatium foeniculaceum (Nutt.) J.M. Coult. & Rose desert biscuitroot Forb Native

Lupinus argenteus Pursh silvery lupine Forb Native

Machaeranthera tanacetifolia (Kunth) Nees tansyleaf tansyaster Forb Native


Muhlenbergia cuspidata (Torr. ex Hook.) Rydb. plains muhly Graminoid Native


Oenothera caespitosa Nutt. tufted evening primrose Forb Native

Onosmodium behariense Nutt. western marbleseed Forb Native

Oxytropis besseyi (Rydb.) Blank. Bessey's crazyweed Forb Native




22



Plantago patagonica Jacq. wooly plantain Forb Native


Polygala alba Nett. white milkwort Forb Native


Psoralidium lanceolatum (Pursh) Rydb. lemon scurfpea Legume Native





Schizachyrium scoparium (Michx.) Nash little bluestem Graminoid Native

Sphaeralcea coccinea (Nutt.) Rydb. scarlet globemallow Forb Native



23

Vicia americana Muhl.ex Willd. American vetch Legume Native

Vulpia octoflora (Walter) Rydb. six-weeks fescue Graminoid Introduced

Yucca glauca Nutt. soapweed yucca Shrub Native

Fortunately we had only a short trip to our night’s lodging, following a day of two outstanding

Points of Interest and inventories. Holzworth missed his calling.

24

God Bless the grass That grows through the crack They roll the concrete over it To try and keep it back The concrete gets tired Of what it has to do It breaks and it buckles And the grass grows through. Malvina Reynolds (1900-1978) from song God Bless the Grass

Day 4 – Friday, June 24

Early on the morning of June 24 we headed northwest for our

next inventory site at the Bowdoin National Wildlife Reserve,

near Malta, MT. However, en route we visited the Fort Peck

Dam, near Glasgow, MT, another Point of Interest. Nothing less

than volumes could even come close to fully describing the

magnitude of what occurred in Fort Peck, MT., between the

years 1933 and 1940.

The Fort Peck Dam was a major project of the Public Works Administration, part of the depression

era New Deal. It was the first dam built in the upper Missouri River basin. When President

Franklin D. Roosevelt authorized the project in 1933, thousands of Depression-bled people from

all over the country migrated to Montana in hopes of earning a living. More than 7,000 men and

women signed on to work on the dam in 1934 and 1935. At its peak in July 1936 employed

reached 10,546 workers.

The dam, named for a 19th-century

trading post, was completed in 1940,

and began generating electricity in July

1943. The town of Fort Peck, Montana,

"the government town," was built for

Army Corps of Engineers personnel for

men in "positions of responsibility" and

their families during the dam's

construction. Many of the facilities that

supported the dam's workers are still

utilized today, such as the recreation

center and the theater. In addition to Fort

Peck, other towns sprang up to house the

workers.

During our brief stay Power Botanist Carlson noted a few plants near the spillway.

Inventory 11 - Fort Peck Spillway


Artemisia tridenta Nutt. big sagebrush Shrub Native



Astragalus bisulcatus (Hook.) A. Gray twogrooved milkvetch Legume Native


Hesperostipa comata (Trin. & Rupr.) Barkworth

needle and thread Graminoid Native


A part of the power generating complex.

25





The Fort Peck Dam spillway is a marvel in its own right. It has 16 gates, located three miles east of the dam,

which shoots any overflow water down a 800-feet by mile long concrete channel. It was activated June 3,

2011 for the first time since 1997, as the reservoir continues to swell from record amounts of moisture that fell in Montana this year. It also was activated in 1975, 1976 and 1979.

Inventory 12 - Bowdoin National Wildlife Reserve, US Fish & Wildlife Service,

Malta, MT.

We reached the Wildlife Reserve

shortly after lunch. Bowdoin

National Wildlife Refuge was

established in 1936 as a migratory

bird refuge. It is located in the short

and mixed grass prairie region of

North-central Montana and

encompasses 15,551 acres. The

refuge lies about 7 miles northeast of

Malta in the Milk River Valley of

Phillips County.

Bowdoin's 8,325 acres of uplands

are comprised of five major habitat

types. The refuge's high percentage

of native mixed-grass prairie (6,689

acres) is a unique feature of the station. Other upland types include inland saline flats; shelterbelts,

shrub areas, and dense nesting cover (DNC). DNC is primarily made up of tame grasses and forbs

such as wheat grass, sweet clover and alfalfa and is planted on areas that were once farmed.

The size of the spillway gives some sense of the project size. On the left the water is entering the spillway,

on the right it is leaving.

26

Mixed-grass prairie has representatives of both tall-grass prairies and short-grass prairies. Here,

needle-and-thread grass, western wheatgrass and blue grama are dominant.

The Refuge's primary purpose is to

preserve and enhance resting, feeding, and

breeding habitat for migratory birds and

other wildlife. The refuge attracts

migrating waterfowl and shorebirds by the

thousands and provides breeding and

nesting habitat for ducks, geese, grassland

songbirds, and colonial nesting water

birds. The area is equally important to a

variety of resident wildlife, including

raptors, white-tailed deer, pronghorn

antelope, sharp-tailed grouse, and coyotes.

Many species of state and federal concern

can be seen at the refuge including bald

eagles, piping plovers and on occasion

peregrine falcons.





Androsace occidentalis Pursh western rockjasmine Forb Native





Asclepias syriaca L. common milkweed Forb Introduced

Atriplex gardneri (Moq.) D. Dietr. Gardner's saltbush Shrub Native





Cerastium arvense L. field chickweed Forb Weed

Cirsium undulatum (Nutt.) Spreng. wavyleaf thistle Forb Native


Conyza canadensis (L.) Conquest Canadian horseweed Forb Weed


Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene saltgrass Graminoid Native

Elaeaganus angustifolia L. Russian olive Tree Weed

Elymus elymoides (raf.) Swezey squirreltail Graminoid Native

Erigeron pumilus Nutt. shaggy fleabane Forb Native

Escobaria vivipara (Nutt.) Buxbaum var. vivipara spinystar Forb Native

27







Iva axillaris Pursh povertyweed Forb Native



winterfat Shrub Native


Lomatium foeniculaceum (Nutt.) J.M. Coult. & Rose

desert biscuitroot Forb Native

Muhlenbergia montana (Nutt.) Hitchc. mountain muhly Graminoid Native

Onosmodium behariense Nutt. western marbleseed Forb Native


Orobanche fasciculata Nutt. clustered broomrape Forb Native










Sarcobatus vermiculatus (Hook.) Torr. greasewood Shrub Native

Selaginella densa Rydb. lesser spikemoss Bryophyte Native

Sisymbrium altissimum L. tumble mustard Forb Weed

28

They tell us that plants are not like man immortal, but are perishable—soul-less. I think that is something that we know exactly nothing about. -John Muir (1838-1914), Journal, Autumn 1867

Sonchus oleraceus L. common sowthistle Forb Introduced





Vulpia octoflora (Walter) Rydb. six-weeks fescue Graminoid Introduced

Leaving the Wildlife Refuge, we headed southwest about 60 miles to one section of the Charles M.

Russell National Wildlife Refuge, which straddles the Missouri River.

Inventory 13 - Charles M. Russell National Wildlife Refuge, US Fish & Wildlife

Service, Lewistown, MT.

This National Wildlife Refuge extends 125 miles along both sides of the Missouri River. Our

location was on the western end a few miles to the east of US Highway191, along the southern

border of Phillips County, and close to

where the Highway crosses the Missouri.

The upland site

we inventoried may be typical of MLRA

58A, i.e. the rolling high plains.

The Refuge includes native prairies,

forested coulees, river bottoms, and

badlands so often portrayed in the

29

paintings of Charlie Russell, the colorful western artist for whom the refuge is named. Since the

establishment of the refuge in 1936, livestock grazing has occurred on the Refuge. In 1986 the

Refuge reduced cattle grazing 33% from 66,000 Animal Unit Months (AUMs) to 40,000 AUMs.

In 2007, approximately 18,000 AUMs were grazed on the refuge.


Achnatherum hymenoides (Roem. & Schult.) Barkworth






Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. Wyomingensis Beetle & Young

Wyoming big sagebrush

Shrub Native

Artemisia tridentata Nutt. ssp. Wyomingensis Beetle & Young

Wyoming big sagebrush

Shrub Native

Atriplex gardneri (Moq.) D. Dietr. Gardner's saltbush Shrub Native


Bassia scoparia (L.) A.J. Scott burning bush Forb Weed








Elymus elymoides (raf.) Swezey squirreltail Graminoid Native

30

Eriogonum pauciflorum Pursh fewflowered buckwheat Forb Native

Escobaria vivipara (Nutt.) Buxbaum var. vivipara spinystar Forb Native



Helianthus annuus L. common sunflower Forb Native

Juniperus horizontalis Moench creeping juniper Shrub Native





Lomatium foeniculaceum (Nutt.) J.M. Coult. & Rose

desert biscuitroot Forb Native





Orobanche fasciculata Nutt. clustered broomrape Forb Native







Polygonum aviculare L. prostrate knotweed Forb Introduced

31






Senecio L. rag wort Forb Unknown



Symphoricarpos albus (L.) S.F. Blake common snowberry Shrub Native

Symphyotrichum ascendens (Lindl.) G.L. Nesom western aster Forb Native

laspi arvense L. field pennycress Forb Weed



Viola nuttallii Pursh Nuttall's violet Forb Native

32

As we departed the site our driver

dropped down to the Missouri River

(right) and headed up stream to

Route 191. A most interesting site

appeared high in a poplar tree off to

our left. It was two large birds,

believed to be buzzards, facing us

into the breeze, with wings fully

extended, which they held for many

seconds. Given their location, their

background and the time of day - it

was a most amazing site.

Once onto the highway we swiftly

covered the 75 miles to Lewistown

for a late dinner and nights rest. It

was not to be; young folk's baseball tournament in town consumed all available lodging. Swift

calls were made to the next town, Great Fall, only 105 miles away. After a pleasant dinner in

Lewistown, we were off.

33

Day 5 – Saturday June 25

Inventory 14 Lewis and Clark Interpretive Trail, Great Falls, MT.

Any sojourn to Great Falls requires some allotment of time to be consumed in exploring the Lewis

and Clark expedition through the area. This included the Great Falls, then the Interpretive Center,

both outstanding Points of Interest.

The falls have changed, for better or worse, since The Corp of Discovery went this

way over a centure ago.

34

As fascinating as the Interpretive Trail was, its path down to the river served as a very good site for

Inventory 14. No doubt it received extra water and, although small, was well diversified with plant

life. A short walk along the river added a few more.





Arctium lappa L. greater burdock Forb Weed




Asclepias speciosa Torr. showy milkweed Forb Native

Asclepias syriaca L. common milkweed Forb Introduced


Astragalus cicer L. chickpea milkvetch Legume Introduced

Brassica nigra (L.) W.D.J. Koch black mustard Forb Introduced




Centaurea stoebe L. ssp. micranthos (Gugler) Hayek


Cirsium arvense (L.) Scop. Canada thistle Forb Weed

Cirsium flodmanii (Rydb.) Arthur Flodman's thistle Forb Native

Salix exigua, coyote willow

35

Clematis ligusticifolia Nutt. Western white clematis Vine Native

Cornus sericea L. ssp. occidentalis (Torr. & A. Gray) Fosberg

western redosier dogwood Shrub Native

Crataegus douglasii Lindl. black hawthorn Shrub Native

Cynoglossum officinale L. gypsyflower Forb Weed




Ericameria nauseosa (Pall. ex Pursh) G.L. Nesom & Baird ssp. nauseosa


Euphorbia esula L. leafy spurge Forb Weed





Juniperus xfassettii B. Boivin [horizontalis × scopulorum]

Fassett juniper Shrub Native

36



Leymus cinereus (Scribn. & Merr.) A. Löve basin wildrye Graminoid Native



Maianthemum racemosum (L.) Link ssp. racemosum

feathery false lily of the valley

Forb Native

Mertensia ciliata (James ex Torr.) G. Don Tall fringed bluebells Forb Native





Phalaris arundinacea L. reed canarygrass Graminoid Introduced


Populus balsamifera L. ssp. trichocarpa (Torr. & A. Gray ex Hook.) Brayshaw

black cottonwood Tree Native


Psathyrostachys juncea (Fisch.) Nevski Russian wildrye Graminoid Introduced




Rudbeckia hirta L. black-eyed susan Forb Native

Rumex crispus L. curly dock Forb Weed

Salix amygdaloides Andersson peachleaf willow Tree Native

Salix exigua Nutt. coyote willow Shrub Native

Shepherdia argentea (Pursh) Nutt. silver buffaloberry Shrub Native

Solanum dulcamara L. climbing nightshade Forb Introduced


Sonchus asper L.) Hill spiny sowthistle Forb Weed


Toxicodendron rydbergii Small ex Rydb.) Greene western poison-ivy Vine Native

Verbascum thapsus L. common mullein Forb Weed

Wyethia helianthoides Nutt. sunflower mule-ears Forb Native

Yucca glauca Nutt. soapweed yucca Shrub Native

37

Grass is the forgiveness of nature - her constant benediction. Forests decay, harvests perish, flowers vanish, but grass is immortal. -Brian Ingalls

By late morning this was completed and we headed for another one of Larry's Points of Interest;

the Charles M. Russell Museum. Fred seemed to have a desire to take on the grizzly.

After lunch we were off to our next inventory 35 miles to the northwest.

Inventory 15 - Freezeout Lake, Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

Freezeout Lake Wildlife Management Area

(WMA) has become one of the most

spectacular waterfowl viewing areas in

Montana, if not the entire northern Great

Plains. Snow geese, tundra swans, and other

migratory birds come to Freezeout Lake to

feed in the harvest fields of malting barley

that surround the WMA and to rest in the

ideal surroundings. The picture to the right

shows an example (copied from web page)

Freezeout Lake provides seasonal birding

opportunities that are typical of a shortgrass prairie marsh habitat. In early spring the WMA is

getting crowded with wildlife viewers and photographers coming too see the thousands of birds on

the many ponds. Snow geese numbers reach nearly 100,000 in late March or early April. The

objectives of the WMA are to provide, sustain and enhance habitat for waterfowl and upland game

bird production, and provide public hunting and viewing opportunities.

Freezeout Lake receives irrigation drainage water from the Sun River Project, west of the city of

Great Falls. The Sun River Project includes the Gibson and Willow Creek Dam and Reservoir,

Pishkun Dikes and Reservoir, Sun River Diversion Dam, Fort Shaw Diversion Dam, and nine

canal systems.

The project started in 1884, when a group of Helena

businessmen tried to dig the first canal from the North Fork of

38

the Sun River north toward the Freezeout bench. In 1907 the U.S. Reclamation Service (USRS)

met at Great Falls to open bids on the Sun River Project's first structure, the Willow Creek Dam. In

an embarrassing turn of events, no firm submitted a bid. However, during the next 23 years the

project was completed. Gibson's completion coincided with the arrival of the Depression, adding

another burden to irrigators. Ironically, Sun River was about to know its first successes.




Alopecurus pratensis L. meadow foxtail Graminoid Introduced


Ambrosia artemisiifolia L. annual ragweed Forb Introduced


Atriplex ×odontoptera Rydb. (pro sp.) [canescens × gardneri]

fourwing Gardner hybrid saltbush

Shrub Native





Cardaria draba (L.) Desv. whitetop Forb Native


Distichlis spicata (L.) Greene saltgrass Graminoid Native





Iva axillaris Pursh povertyweed Forb Native

39

Lactuca serriola L. prickly lettuce Forb Weed Lepidium densiflorum Schard. common pepperweed Forb Native Lepidium perfoliatum L. clasping pepperweed Forb Native Lomatium cous (S. Watson) J.M. Coult. & Rose cous biscuitroot Forb Native Medicago lupulina L. black medic Legume Introduced Medicago sativa L. alfalfa Legume Introduced



Polygonum aviculare L. prostrate knotweed Forb Introduced

Puccinellia distans distans (Jacq.) Parl. weeping alkaligrass Graminoid Native

Rumex crispus L. curly dock Forb Weed

Salicornia rubra A. Nelson red swampfire Forb Native


Schedonorus pratensis (Huds.) P. Beauv. meadow fescue Graminoid Introduced

Schoenoplectus tabernaemontani (C.C. Gmel.) Palla

softstem bulrush Graminoid Native


Sonchus arvensis L. field sowthistle Forb Introduced


Suaeda calceoliformis (Hook.) Moq. Pursh seepweed Forb Native


Thinopyrum ponticum (Podp.) Z.-W. Liu & R.-C. Wang

tall wheatgrass Graminoid Native


40

ragopogon dubius Scop. yellow salsify Forb Weed Typha latifolia L. broadleaf cattail Forb Native Vicia americana Muhl. ex Willd. American vetch Legume Native

Thus completed, we returned to Great Falls for the night. Larry observed during dinner that the

highlight of the week had just occurred.

For years Curtis had resisted the notion that such a thing as Rocky Mountain Oysters even existed,

let alone the concept of eating one. It wasn't that they were any stranger to him, growing up on a

West Virginia farm where one learned early how to neuter boy calves and lambs. But the idea of

eating the product was just too gross. But there they were an appetizer on one of Great Falls

leading restaurants. Of course they were instantly ordered. Curtis' plan was to pretend to eat them

but drop them to the floor. Bad plan, Larry watched him like a hawk. Fortunately for Curtis they

were not served on the half shell, but thinly sliced, thickly breaded and deep fried; no visual

resemblance to the real thing and tasting like a French fry. But for Larry, victory was so sweet.

41

Give fools their gold, and knaves their power; Let fortune’s bubbles rise and fall; Who sows a field, or trains a flower, Or plants a tree, is more than all. John Greenleaf Whittier (1807-1892), A Song of Harvest

Day 6 – Sunday, June 26

Inventory 16 - Sun River, Gibson Dam, U.S. Bureau of Reclamation

Early on June 26 we headed west for Gibson Dam. Our driver earned his pay this day. All modes

of roads were utilized to reach our destination, which we did mid morning safe and sound. It was

our most western point, which was slightly to the east of the Great Wall.

Gibson Dam, the principal structure of the Sun River Project, is on the Sun River, 70 miles west of

Great Falls, Montana. It has a total capacity of 99,100 acre-feet. Outlet structures to the irrigation

project are two 72-inch diameter semi-steel-lined

conduits through the base of the dam. The

maximum capacity of the outlets is 3,050 feet per

second.

The reservoir releases water into the Sun River

for diversion downstream into the Pishkun Supply

Canal, or the Fort Shaw Canal. Nine canal systems cross the Project, totaling131 miles, with 562

miles of laterals, and 265 miles of drainage ditches.

Our inventory was on an undisturbed site just east of the canyon where Gibson Dam is located.

42


Achnatherum hymenoides (Roem. & Schult.)

Barkworth








Astragalus drummondii Douglas ex Hook. Drummond's milkvetch Legume Native





Centaurea stoebe L. ssp. micranthos (Gugler)

Hayek





Corallorhiza striata Lindl. hooded coralroot Forb Native

Dalea purpurea Vent. purple prairieclover Legume Native

Daucus carota L. Queen Anne's Lace Forb Native

43

Echinacea angustifolia DC. purple coneflower Forb Native


Eriogonum ovalifolium Nutt. cushion buckwheat Forb Native

Festuca campestris Rydb. rough fescue Graminoid Native






Hymenoxys richardsonii (Hook.) Cockerell pinque rubberweed Forb Native

Iris missouriensis Nutt. Rocky Mountain iris Forb Native

Juniperus horizontalis Moench creeping juniper Shrub Native





Lithospermum incisum Lehm. narrowleaf stoneseed Forb Native



Machaeranthera grindelioides (Nutt.) Shinners rayless tansyaster Forb Native

44





Oxytropis sericea Nutt. white locoweed Forb Native



Phalaris arundinacea L. reed canarygrass Graminoid Introduced


Pinus flexilis James limber pine Tree Native

Poa compressa L. Canada bluegrass Graminoid Native



Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco Douglas-fir Tree Native



Ribes aureum Pursh golden current Shrub Native


Senecio L. rag wort Forb Introduced



Symphyotrichon Nees aster Forb Native



Zigadenus venenosus S. Watson meadow deathcamas Forb Native

45

Following our inventory we traveled to Augusta, MT, which was in

the throws of a rodeo. Fortunately, we had lunch and got out of town

before they closed the road.

Inventory 17 - Beartooth Wildlife Management Area, Montana Fish Wildlife

and Parks, at Holter Dam, PPL Montana Power, MT

Holter Dam is a hydroelectric plant along the Missouri operated by PPL Montana, and surrounded

by the WMA. It is a popular site for recreational activities such as boating, fishing, hiking and

camping, including the Beartooth Landing Campground, a boat-in-only site. Numerous

campgrounds dot the river above and below the dam.

This site is in Lewis and Clark County, on the border between MLRA 43 and 44, i.e. on a line

between the Northern Rocky Mountains and the Northern Rocky Mountain Valleys. Our location

was to the south end of the lake, and high above it: A most beautiful site for our final inventory.



Achnatherum hymenoides (Roem. & Schult.)

Barkworth



Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence. -Hal Borland (1900-1978

46




Arnica sororia Greene twin arnica Forb Native




Asclepias verticillata L. whorled milkweed Forb Native

Astragalus australis (L.) Lam. Indian milkvetch Legume Native



Bouteloua gracilis (Willd. ex Kunth) Lag. ex

Griffiths


47

Brassica L. mustard Forb Introduced




Chaenactis douglasii (Hook.) Hook. & Arn. Douglas' dustymaiden Forb Native



Crataegus douglasii Lindl. black hawthorn Shrub Native

Crepis acuminata Nutt. tapertip hawksbeard Forb Native

Cryptantha celosioides (Eastw.) Payson butte candle Forb Native

Dalea purpurea Vent. purple prairieclover Legume Native

Daucus carota L. Queen Anne's Lace Forb Native



Ericameria nauseosa (Pall. ex Pursh) G.L. Nesom

& Baird ssp. nauseosa


Eriogonum ovalifolium Nutt. cushion buckwheat Forb Native

Eriogonum pauciflorum Pursh fewflowered

buckwheat

Forb Native

Festuca campestris Rydb. rough fescue Graminoid Native




48




Heterotheca villosa (Pursh) Shinners hairy false goldenaster Forb Native

Hymenoxys richardsonii (Hook.) Cockerell pinque rubberweed Forb Native

Juniperus communis L. common juniper Shrub Native

Juniperus xfassettii B. Boivin [horizontalis ×

scopulorum]

Fassett juniper Shrub Native


Lepidium campestre (L.) W.T. Aiton field pepperweed Forb Introduced

Lesquerella ludoviciana (Nutt.) S. Watson foothill bladderpod Forb Native



Lomatium dissectum (Nutt.) Mathias & Constance fernleaf biscuitroot Forb Native





Oenothera caespitosa Nutt. tufted evening

primrose

Forb Native


Oxytropis sericea Nutt. white locoweed Forb Native

Packera cana (Hook.) W.A. Weber & A. Löve wooly groundsel Forb Native


Pediomelum argophyllum (Pursh) J. Grimes silverleaf Indian

breadroot

Legume Native


Eriogonum ovalifolium, cushion buckwheat Oenothera caespitosa, tufted evening primrose

49










Potentilla glandulosa Lindl. sticky cinquefoil Forb Native

Potentilla pensylvanica L. Pennsylvania cinquefoil Shrub Native




Pseudotsuga menziesii (Mirb.) Franco Douglas-fir Tree Native



Ribes aureum Pursh golden current Shrub Native






50

The End

From the Beartooth WMA site we headed for Bozeman, our

starting point. Larry, always the most gracious host, invited us to

his home for a farewell pizza dinner. Following a discussion on

report preparation and next year's location, we departed, already

anxious for the 2012 spring visit to the Sonoran and Chihuahuan deserts of the Southwest.

Knowing trees, I understand the meaning of patience. Knowing grass, I can appreciate persistence. -Hal Borland (1900-1978

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