Search Field Guide
Advanced Search
MT Gov Logo
Montana Field Guide

Montana Field Guides

Small Tofieldia - Tofieldia pusilla

Image Copyright and Usage Information
Species of Concern
Native Species

Global Rank: G5
State Rank: S2
(see State Rank Reason below)
State Threat Score: No Known Threats
C-value: 9


Agency Status
USFWS:
USFS:
BLM:


 

External Links

State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
Very rare in Montana, where it is known from only a very small area in Glacier National Park.
 
General Description
Stems glabrous, 3–12 cm. Leaves 15–25 × 1–2 mm. Flowers: tepals 1–1.5 mm long. Capsule 2–3 mm long (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Phenology
Flowering in July-early August.

Diagnostic Characteristics
Distinguished from other members of the lily family by having a rootstock or short rhizome rather than a bulb or corm, all basal, linear leaves, and relatively small flowers with 6 similar perianth parts and a pistil with three styles. The more common Triantha occidentalis (syn. Tofieldia gluntinosa) is generally a larger plant with longer leaves and is strongly glandular hairy.

Species Range
Montana Range Range Descriptions

Native
 


Range Comments
Circumpolar south to BC and Glacier County in MT (Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 21

(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version) Map Help and Descriptions
Relative Density

Recency

 

(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)



Habitat
Moist tundra in the alpine zone.
Predicted Suitable Habitat Model

This species has a Predicted Suitable Habitat Model available.

To learn how these Models were created see mtnhp.org/models

Ecological Systems Associated with this Species

Threats or Limiting Factors
STATE THREAT SCORE REASON
Threat impact not assigned because threats are not known (MTNHP Threat Assessment 2021).

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?
    • Bradshaw, M. E. 1981. Monitoring grassland plants in Upper Teesdale, England. Pp 241-251 in: The biological aspects of rare plant conservation. H. Synge, (ed.) John Wiley & Sons Ltd.
    • Lesica, P. and B. McCune. 1992. Monitoring the effects of global warming using peripheral rare plants in wet alpine tundra in Glacier National Park, Montana. Unpublished report to Glacier National Park, Research Division, West Glacier, Montana 59936. 55pp.
    • 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.
  • Web Search Engines for Articles on "Small Tofieldia"
Login Logout

Take us with you! PDF icon

Look for this PDF icon as you search and browse.  Click it to build a custom PDF with species shown on that page or for all the species within that taxonomic level.  To create your own list of species, use the PDF Creator tool at the bottom of the Advanced Search page.

Here's some links if you want to download a whole group.

Mammals
Birds
Reptiles
Amphibians
Fish
Invertebrates
Butterflies / Moths
Dragonflies / Damselflies
Ferns and allies
Conifers
Flowering Plants (Dicots)
Flowering Plants (Monocots)
Bryophytes
Lichens
Ecological Systems
Noxious Weeds
Citation for data on this website:
Small Tofieldia — Tofieldia pusilla.  Montana Field Guide.  .  Retrieved on , from