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Cliff Toothwort - Cardamine rupicola
State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
DRAFT: Requesting feedback on the 2026 revised rank, factors, and State Rank Reason outlined below and in the Conservation Status Rank Report.
Cardamine rupicola is a Montana endemic, found only in the Mission Mountains, Swan Range and the mountains in the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. Its rarity and restricted geographic range make it vulnerable, though threats appear to be negligible or limited, except for potential negative impacts related to climate change and increased temperatures and decreased snowpacks. Collection of additional data is needed to further refine the species' conservatin status.
Monitoring of a subset of populations is needed to be able to determine potential population trends. Surveys of many occurrences are needed to document population sizes and extent, and surveys of potentially suitable habitat may locate additional occurrences.
General Description
Rhizomatous perennial. Stems prostrate to ascending, to 15 cm. Leaves thick; those born on rhizome and stem similar, palmately to pinnately divided into 3 to 7 oblanceolate lobes or leaflets 1–4 cm long. Petals 7–13 mm long. Fruits erect, 15–40 mm × 1–2 mm; the beak 4–6 mm long; pedicels 1–2 cm long (
Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).
Phenology
Flowering in June and July
Species Range
Montana Range
Range Descriptions
Native
Range Comments
Montana endemic.
Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 65
(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
Sparsely vegetated, stony soil or talus derived from limestone in the subalpine and alpine zones.
National Vegetation Classification System Groups Associated with this Species
Alpine
Alpine - Sparse and Barren
Alpine - Vegetated
Wetland and Riparian
Alpine Riparian and Wetland
Stewardship Responsibility
Threats or Limiting Factors
STATE THREAT SCORE REASON
Reported threats to Montana's populations of Cliff Toothwort are currently assigned as unknown (MTNHP Threat Assessment 2021). Potential threats due to recreation are indicated, but impacts to populations are estimated to be negligible in a timeframe exceeding 10 years.
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., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2022. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants, Second Edition. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 779 p.
- Rollins, R. C. 1993. The Cruciferae of Continental North America: systematics of the mustard family from the Arctic to Panama. Stanford University Press, Stanford, California. 976 pp.
- Web Search Engines for Articles on "Cliff Toothwort"
