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State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
Nama occurs in Montana on the northeastern edge of its range. It has been found at a single location on the south side of the Pryor Mountains in 1991, occupying less than one acre of habitat. Additional survey data are needed.
- Details on Status Ranking and Review
Population Size
Score3 - Vey Small: Generally <2,000 individuals.
Range Extent
Score3 - Local Endemic or Very Small Montana Range: Generally restricted to an area <10,000 sq. miles (equivalent to the combined area of Phillips and Valley Counties) or <6 Sub-basins (4th code watersheds) Range-wide OR limited to one Sub-basin in Montana
CommentKnown from one sub-basin in Montana.
Area of Occupancy
Score3 - Very Low: Generally occurring in 3 or fewer Subwatersheds (6th Code HUC’s).
Environmental Specificity
Score1-2 - Moderate to High.
Trends
ScoreNA - Rank factor not assessed.
CommentTrends are unknown. Population levels probably fluctuate greatly from year to year.
Threats
Score0-1 - Low to Medium.
CommentThreats were listed as non-existent or minimal in MNPS threats analysis.
Intrinsic Vulnerability
Score1-2 - Moderate to High Vulnerability.
Raw Conservation Status Score
Score
11 to 14 total points scored out of a possible 16 (Rarity factors and threats only).
General Description
Nama is a small annual with several prostrate, branched stems that are up to 10 cm long and radiating from the central taproot. The alternate leaves are narrowly oblong and up to 4 cm long. The foliage is covered with short hair. Flowers are solitary in the axils of the crowded upper leaves. The white to pale, lavendar corollas have a 2-5 mm long tube and 5 rounded lobes. The 5 stamens are inside the tube. The 5-lobed calyx is covered with stiff, long hairs. Globose capsules contain numerous seeds.
Our plants are variety parviflorum (Greenm.) C.L. Hitchc.
Phenology
Flowers are produced in early June.
Diagnostic Characteristics
Species of Phlox have opposite leaves. Nemophila and Ellisia are also prostrate annuals, but they have divided leaves.
Species Range
Montana Range
Range Descriptions
Native
Range Comments
WA to MT south to CA, NV, UT, CO. Known from Carbon County (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).
Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 1
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Map Help and Descriptions
Relative Density
Recency
(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)
Habitat
Nama grows very locally along the southern base of the Pryor Mountains in sandy soil weathered from outcrops of calcareous sandstone and dominated by Artemisia tridentata and Stipa comata (Lesica and Achuff 1992). Other associates include Chrysothamnus viscidiflorus, Phacelia ivesiana, Gilia inconspicua, Gilia leptomeria, and Streptanthelia longirostris.
Ecological Systems Associated with this Species
Ecology
Nama is an annual, suggesting that population sizes may vary greatly between years and may respond positively to moderate levels of disturbance. No plants could be found at the site of its discovery two years later, however seeds of annual species may remain dormant in drought years.
Cronquist et al. (1984) consider N. densum as a small-flowered, autogamous close relative of the larger-flowered, presumably outcrossing, N. aretioides. This suggests that pollinators are not needed for seed set.
Management
The single known Montana population of Nama densum is subject to cattle grazing. However, this low annual is probably favored by moderate levels of disturbance that create open ground for seedling establishment and decrease competition from larger perennial species. This population also lies near primitive roads used for vehicular travel.
Threats or Limiting Factors
STATE THREAT SCORE REASON
Reported threats to Montana's populations of Nama are currently assigned as unknown (MTNHP Threat Assessment 2021). The only known population is located where it is potentially exposed to recreation activities, but severity of impacts is not known. Information on threats to the Nama population is needed.
References
- Literature Cited AboveLegend:
View Online Publication- Lesica, P., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 771 p.
- Additional ReferencesLegend: View Online Publication
Do you know of a citation we're missing?
Cronquist, A., A.H. Holmgren, N.H. Holmgren, J.L. Reveal, and P.K. Holmgren. 1984. Intermountain Flora: Vascular Plants of the Intermountain West, U.S.A. Vol. 4, Subclass Asteridae (except Asteraceae). Bronx, NY: New York Botanical Garden. 573 pp.- Lesica, P. and P. F. Stickney. 1994. Noteworthy collections: Montana. Madrono 41:228-231.
- Lesica, P. and P.L. Achuff. 1992. Distribution of vascular plant species of special concern and limited distribution in the Pryor Mountain desert, Carbon County, Montana. Unpublished report to the Bureau of Land Management. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 105 pp.
- Lesica, P., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2022. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants, Second Edition. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 779 p.
- Quire, R.L. 2013. The sagebrush steppe of Montana and southeastern Idaho shows evidence of high native plant diversity, stability, and resistance to the detrimental effects of nonnative plant species. M.Sc. Thesis. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 124 p.
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