PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

 
 
   
 
Scientific Name Common Name Global Rank State Rank Federal Status WI Status

Great Plains Lady's-tresses (Spiranthes magnicamporum)

Spir_magn_001.jpg

 

 

 

 

11553.jpg

Photo by Aaron Carlson

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Great Plains Lady's-tresses (Spiranthes magnicamporum), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in moist, open prairies. Blooming occurs from September through October, fruiting throughout October. The optimal identification period for this species is September through October.

Spiranthes cernua

 
 
 

Great plains lady's-tresses is a forb/herb, 15-30cm tall, with an almond- or vanilla-like odor. Its white, 6-parted flowers are on tight, spiral racemes of 3-4 stalks up to 5cm wide. The flower's lip is smooth, 1cm long, and has a yellowish center. It has two or three basal leaves 1cm wide and up to 14cm long that wither when the plant is in bloom, and 3-4 scale-like cauline leaves with often overlapping blades.

It is most likely to be confused with nodding lady's-tresses (Spiranthes cernua), which prefers more acidic soils and does not lose its basal leaves when flowering.

Blooming occurs from September through mid-October, fruiting throughout October.

Perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is September and October

Great plains lady's-tresses prefers dry to wet, less acidic soils and is found in moist, open prairies.

Avoid known individual plant locations and conduct operations elsewhere when they are least likely to cause damage. Ideally, this would involve frozen, snow-covered ground. However, in areas of the state where frozen conditions are unreliable, very dry soils late in the growing season might be the best available alternative. Consult with a biologist, if needed.

Avoid locating landings, staging areas, or access routes on or near known populations.

Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides and use care with spot spraying.

Avoid site preparation that heavily disturbs herbaceous ground layer and soil, including bulldozing and furrowing, as well as grubbing and stump removal.

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are associated with habitats (or natural communities) and places on the landscape. Understanding relationships among SGCN, natural communities and ecological landscapes help us make decisions about issues affecting SGCN and their habitat and how to respond. Download the Wildlife Action Plan association score spreadsheet to explore rare species, natural communities and ecological landscape associations

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.