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Beartooth Large-flowered Goldenweed - Pyrrocoma carthamoides var. subsquarrosa
Other Names:  Haplopappus carthamoides var. subsquarrosus

Species of Concern
Native Species

Global Rank: G4G5T3
State Rank: S3
(see State Rank Reason below)
State Threat Score: No Known Threats
CCVI: Less Vulnerable
C-value:


Agency Status
USFWS:
USFS: Species of Conservation Concern in Forests (CG)
BLM: SENSITIVE


 

External Links






State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
The Beartooth large-flowered goldenweed is a local endemic to the eastern front of the Beartooth Mountains and the foothills of the Pryor Mountains and adjacent areas of Wyoming. Although several populations are large, it is vulnerable to increased shrub and tree cover due to fire suppression and to competition from invasive plants.
  • Details on Status Ranking and Review
    Beartooth Large-flowered Goldenweed (Pyrrocoma carthamoides var. subsquarrosa) Conservation Status Review
    Review Date = 06/10/2012
    View State Conservation Rank Criteria
    Population Size

    Score0-1 - Moderate to Large: Population size is imprecisely known but is believed to be >10,000 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

    Area of Occupancy

    Score2 - Low: Generally occurring in 4-10 Subwatersheds (6th Code HUC’s).

    Environmental Specificity

    Score1 - Moderate: Species is restricted to a specific habitat that is more widely distributed or to several restricted habitats and is typically dependent upon relatively unaltered, good-quality habitat (C Values of 5-7).

    Trends

    Score0-1 - Stable to Minor Declines:

    CommentTrends unknown, though populations are likely stable or experiencing only minor declines.

    Threats

    Score0-1 - Low to Medium.

    Intrinsic Vulnerability

    Score1 - Moderate Vulnerability: Specific biological attributes, unusual life history characteristics or limited reproductive potential makes the species susceptible to extirpation from stochastic events or other adverse impacts to its habitat and slow to recover.

    Raw Conservation Status Score

    Score 7 to 10 total points scored out of a possible 19.

 
General Description
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Phenology
Flowering occurs in late July - August.

Diagnostic Characteristics
Beartooth large-flowered goldenweed is distinguished from similar composites in south-central Montana by its spiny-margined leaves and involucral bracts, and large heads with inconspicuous yellow rays.

Species Range
Montana Range Range Descriptions

Native
 


Range Comments
Regional endemic of southwest Montana and the Absaroka Mountains of northwest Wyoming.


Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 48

(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
The Beartooth large-flowered goldenweed typically occurs in grassland and sagebrush habitats dominated by Festuca idahoensis/Agropyron spicatum, Artemisia tridentata/Festuca idahoensis, and Artemisia arbuscula/Agropyron spicatum (Lesica 1995). Shrub cover is typically low (1-5%), compared to that of graminoids (20-50%) and forbs (30-75%); bare ground ranges from 5-30%. Some sites support scattered Pinus flexilis.

This plant is found most frequently and abundantly on moderate to steep slopes (10-50%) with a cool aspect (NW, N, NE, E) (Lesica 1995); on warmer exposures, it tends to be sparser. Soils tend to be moderately deep, sandy, and high in coarse fragments. It occurs largely on soils derived, at least in part, from Madison limestone, though small satellite populations occur on soils derived from granitic materials (in the Rock Creek valley) and volcanics (in Wyoming).
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

Ecology
Fire plays an important role in structuring the vegetation in this species' habitat (Lesica 1995). Beartooth large-flowered goldenweed grows in areas with a very low cover of Artemisia tridentata, which dominates much of the adjacent lands. The relationship among Beartooth large-flowered goldenweed, A. tridentata and fire is not known, but it may be that the goldenweed does not tolerate the shade created by dense stands of A. tridentata or Pinus flexilis (Lesica 1995). If that is true, the goldenweed will occur only at sites where A. tridentata and/or P. flexilis will not grow, or where they are burned frequently enough to prevent dominance.

Bumblebees (Family Apidae, Bombus spp.) frequently visit the flowers of this goldenweed, and sulphur butterflies (Family Pieridae, Colias spp.) have also been observed visiting flowers (Lesica 1995). Seed production is probably not limited by pollinators, since this is one of relatively few plants blooming in August, when pollinating insects are common.

The achenes have numerous capillary bristles, and are likely dispersed by wind in late summer and fall when they are shed (Lesica 1995). Deer or elk may also disperse achenes that become attached to fur.

Management
There is evidence that fire is important for maintaining at least a portion of this species' habitat along the Beartooth Front, where it is most abundant in mesic grasslands on cool slopes. These are the habitats most prone to encroachment by Artemisia spp. or Pinus flexilis, however the goldenweed does not occur within dense or even moderate stands of sagebrush or pine. A significant increase in sagebrush and pine due to fire suppression could greatly reduce habitat for this plant in the foothills of the Beartooth Mountains, and burns may be important for maintaining viable populations over the long term.

Many populations are found on lands grazed by cattle, which is probably not detrimental to this species and may even favor it at moderate levels (Lesica 1995). While grazing can increase sagebrush cover, which is likely detrimental to Beartooth large-flowered goldenweed, it may also decrease the vigor and abundance of palatable grasses that compete with this forb, thus allowing it to increase. Therefore, cattle grazing, by itself, is likely to have a positive or nominal effect on Beartooth large-flowered goldenweed's abundance. However, many forbs that are unpalatable to cattle provide fair to good forage for domestic sheep, thus sheep grazing could negatively impact its abundance (Lesica 1995).

The widespread introduction of aggressive exotic plants could pose a pernicious threat to this species. Centaurea maculosa (spotted knapweed) occurs along roads as well as in native grasslands along the Beartooth Front, where semi-arid climate and gravelly soils contribute to its spread (Lesica 1995). Leafy spurge (Euphorbia esula), another aggressive exotic that has been observed in the area, could also pose a serious threat. It will be particularly important to minimize the introduction of aggressive weeds and to control infestations along roads, to prevent their spread into the native grasslands.

Stewardship Responsibility

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.
    • MTNHP Threat Assessment. 2021. State Threat Score Assignment and Assessment of Reported Threats from 2006 to 2021 for State-listed Vascular Plants. Botany Program, Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, Montana.
  • Additional ReferencesLegend:   View Online Publication
    Do you know of a citation we're missing?
    • Lesica, P. 1993. Vegetation and flora of the Line Creek Plateau area, Carbon County, Montana. Unpublished report to USDA Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, Montana. 30 pp.
    • Lesica, P. 1995. Conservation status of Haplopappus carthamoides var. Subsquarrosus in Montana. Unpublished report to the U.S. Forest Service and the U.S. Bureau of Land Management. Montana Natural Heritage Program. Helena, Montana. 22 pp. plus appendices.
    • 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.
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Citation for data on this website:
Beartooth Large-flowered Goldenweed — Pyrrocoma carthamoides var. subsquarrosa.  Montana Field Guide.  .  Retrieved on , from