The Montana Natural Heritage Program (MTNHP) serves as the state’s clearinghouse and principle information source for Species of Concern — plants and animals that are at risk or potentially at risk in Montana. This report, which updates and replaces the 2003 publication, identifies 358 vascular plant Species of Concern (SOC) and another 133 Potential Species of Concern (PSOC), based on information gathered from field inventories, publications, reports, herbarium specimens, and the knowledge of Montana botanists. This report includes 35 additions to the SOC list compared with the 2003 publication; many of these are globally rare species with a rank of G3/S3 showing that Montana contains all or a large part of their entire distribution. Seven species have been removed from the SOC list for various reasons which are noted below. Taxa in the SOC category include all species, subspecies or varieties that are currently ranked S1, S1S2, S2, S2S3, SH or G3.

The Natural Heritage Program is Montana's source for information on Montana's native species and habitats, emphasizing those of conservation concern.  We collect, validate, and distribute this information, and assist natural resource managers and others in applying it effectively.  Established by the Montana State Legislature in 1983, the program is located in the Montana State Library, where it is part of the Natural Resource Information System. Read about our current activities and projects.

The Montana Natural Heritage Program is also part of the Natural Heritage Network, and our data are linked to similar programs in all 50 states, most Canadian provinces, and many Latin American countries.  You can access species and ecological data assembled from across this network on NatureServe Explorer.