species of alien plants were also missing from the
In terms of protection for Alaska's plant species
flora on Fort Greely in part because of the exclusion
biodiversity, we did not find any species on Fort Greely
of the cantonment area on Fort Greely from the study,
with Global G1 (critically imperiled globally) or G2
which, for example, excluded the observed species
(imperiled globally) status in the Biological Conserva-
Crepis tectorum and Potentilla gracilis. However,
tion Database of the Alaska Natural Heritage Program.
casual observation of the Greely cantonment revealed
However, there are about 16 species with State S1 (criti-
far fewer alien species than were found at either Fort
cally imperiled in state) or S2 (imperiled in state) sta-
Richardson or Fort Wainwright.
tus. Land managers should be concerned about their
Xeric-steppe habitats. Although there are dry, south-
conservation because land use on military installations
facing slopes on Fort Greely, these are much younger
is basically unrestricted (Duffy et al. 1999). Both the
because of glaciation than the very old unglaciated
Buffalo Drop Zone and Mark Lake sites are heavily
dry slopes and bluffs, such as the Wood River Buttes
used for either training maneuvers or recreation, and
on Fort Wainwright. Therefore, only a few sites at
though neither of the rare species at these sites appears
Fort Greely contained steppe-like elements such as
to be adversely impacted, land managers should be
Artemisia laciniata. Steppe species on Fort Wainwright
aware of their significance.
not found on Fort Greely include Rosa woodsii.
LITERATURE CITED
CONCLUSIONS
Aiken, S.G., and S.J. Darbyshire (1990) Fescue
The floristic inventory of Fort Greely produced a
grasses of Canada. Agriculture Canada Research
fairly comprehensive species list, typical for interior
Branch, publication 1844/E.
Alaska, but which also includes a significant number
Aiken, S.G., M.J. Dallwitz, C.L. McJannet, and L.L.
of alpine and floodplain species not found on Fort Wain-
Consaul (1996) Festuca of North America: Descrip-
wright. While the flora of the two bases together con-
tions, illustrations, identification, and information re-
tains over 650 species and represent a significant pro-
trieval (http://biodiversity.uno.edu/delta/), 2 April 1998.
portion of the species of interior Alaska, there are
Alaska Natural Heritage Program (1998) AKNHP
important floristic differences between the two bases,
vascular plant tracking list. (http://www.uaa.alaska.edu/
reflecting strong environmental and landscape differ-
enri/aknhp_web/index.htm), February 1998.
Argus, G. (1973) The genus Salix in Alaska and the
ences related to geological history, location relative to
Yukon. Publications in Botany, No. 2, National Muse-
the Alaska Range, elevation, and permafrost.
Species found on Fort Greely with the largest range
ums of Canada, Ottawa, Ontario.
extensions include Sisyrinchium montanum, found at
Brayshaw, T.C. (1985) Pondweeds and bur-reeds and
Buffalo Drop Zone and known from only one other site
their relatives: Aquatic families of monocotyledons in
in Alaska, and Potamogeton obtusifolius, an aquatic
British Columbia. Occasional Paper No. 26 of the Brit-
species collected from Mark Lake, which is known from
ish Columbia Provincial Museum, Victoria, British
only two other locations in the state. Of the other plants
Columbia, Canada.
collected during this survey, 20 are regarded as rare
Batten, A.R. (1997) Taxa documented by specimens
and tracked by the Alaska Natural Heritage Program.
for Mt. Hayes and Big Delta Quads. Northern Plant
In addition there are several significant habitats that
Documentation Center, Miscellaneous Report. Her-
are species-rich or unique where many of the rare plants
barium, University of Alaska Museum, Fairbanks, Alaska.
were found. Molybdenum Ridge, Donnelly Dome,
Benson, C.S. (1972) Physical properties of the snow
Buffalo Drop Zone, and Mark Lake account for most
cover in the Fort Greely area, Alaska. U.S. Army Cold
of the rare species occurrences. Other habitats that de-
Regions Research and Engineering Laboratory, Spe-
serve special attention are xeric slopes containing low
cial Report 178.
shrub and grassland communities, such as Artemesia
Church, R.E., T.L. Pw, and M.J. Andresen (1965)
frigida and Calamagrostis purpurascens, and high al-
Origin and environmental significance of large-scale
pine ridges containing Dryasdwarf Salix communi-
patterned ground, Donnelly Dome area, Alaska. U.S.
ties, scree slopes, and fell fields. Sites not well under-
Army Cold Regions Research and Engineering Labo-
stood, which merit closer attention, include the dry
ratory, Research Report 159.
Cody, W.J. (1996) Flora of the Yukon Territory. Ot-
morainal slopes where "krumholz" aspen communities
occur, large bluffs of the west side of the Delta River
tawa, Ontario: NRC Research Press.
(located within the impact area), and the Hayes High-
Duffy, D.C., K. Boggs, R.H. Hagenstein, R.Lipkin,
land plateaus.
and J.A. Michaelson (1999) Landscape assessment of
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