Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A • S P R I N G 2 0 1 6 52 M O N TA N A i n 3 ARE WILDFLOWERS IMPORTANT IN SOME WAY BESIDES THEIR OBVIOUS AESTHETIC APPEAL? e flower represents a critical step in the life cycle of a flowering plant. It is in the flower that the egg and the pollen are produced, fertilization occurs, and the next generation is formed as one or more seeds. Many plants require pollen from other plants of the same species. e colorful flowers that we enjoy in the field are also attracting the attention of animal pollinators, such as birds and bees. Many pollinators are keyed into specific aspects of flowers (hum- mingbirds like red flowers with a tubular shape), and a plant species usually produces only one very consistent flower type. A pollinator that prefers this flower type can be very efficient at transferring pollen from one plant to another. Color and shape are not the only characters a plant uses to attract pollinators. Food (pollen or nectar- ies) or the promise of food (fragrance or mimicry) is often used as an enticement. Indeed, very little of what we appreciate about wildflowers is there by accident. WE'VE BEEN READING THAT THE WILDFLOWER BLOOM IN THE MOUNTAINS LASTS MUCH LONGER THAN IN THE PAST. ISN'T THAT A GOOD THING? It depends what you mean by "good". e main reason for a plant to flower is to produce seed. A native species of plant is very good at producing seed in that environment, probably better than many similar species that could be competitors. Now, if the environ- ment changes, say by a slight warming that extends the flowering season in the mountains, some of the plant species present may not be able to take advantage of the longer season and, thus, may be re- placed by species from the lower elevations or to the south that are already adapted to the longer season. If you like seeing green plants and perhaps flowers for a longer period, then the longer season is good, but it you prefer finding those species that thrive in the short season characteristic of the higher elevations or latitudes, then a warming trend is not good. WHEN IT COMES TO CLIMATE CHANGE WHAT IS THE GREATER THREAT TO WILDFLOWER POPULATIONS — MOISTURE OR TEMPERATURE? Plants tend to be much more responsive to changes in moisture than in temperature. Perhaps this generalization stems from the fact that in most terrestrial habitats a plant is always watching its water loss and working to conserve water. is same plant can function reasonably well over a wide range of temperatures. In most habitats in Montana, the availability of water is a significant factor for de- termining what plants will grow. For example, the monthly average temperatures for ompson Falls and Great Falls are very similar, whereas the average precipitation is 20.2" and 14.7", respectively. e native vegetation of the two locations is very different, being coniferous forest around ompson Falls and prairie around Great Falls. Whatever the reason, in Montana a change in the average precipitation of an area by an inch or so will cause a much greater shift in the vegetation than changing the average annual tempera- ture by a degree or two. yea rs WILDFLOWERS

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