VASCULAR FLORA OF THE TENDERFOOT CREEK EXPERIMENTAL FOREST, LITTLE BELT MOUNTAINS, MONTANA

ABSTRACT Tenderfoot Creek Experimental Forest (TCEF) is situated in the Little Belt Mountains of Montana, 120 km east of the Continental Divide. TCEF is composed of 3693 ha at elevations between 1840 and 2420 m and is dominated by lodgepole pine forest, which covers about 3366 ha, with interspersed floristically rich meadows. Our floristic inventory is based on collections and field observations made by Scott Mincemoyer during 1996–1999 and collections by Jennifer Birdsall during 2003–2005. We also include collections made by Earle Layser in 1992 and Jessica Fultz in 2002–2003. The vascular flora of TCEF consists of 312 species, representing 162 genera and 44 families. Twenty-seven exotic species occur in TCEF including Centaurea maculosa, Chrysanthemum leucanthemum, Cirsium arvense, and Tanacetum vulgare which are listed as noxious weeds in Montana. Phlox kelseyi var. missoulensis is found in the experimental forest and is listed as sensitive by the USDA Forest Service Northern Region.