PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Slender Pondweed (Stuckenia filiformis ssp. occidentalis)

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Photo by Wisconsin Herbarium

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Slender Pondweed (Stuckenia filiformis ssp. occidentalis), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in cold streams and rivers, more rarely in standing waters. Blooming occurs from June through early-July, fruiting July through early-September. The optimal identification period for this species is spring to early-fall.

Potamogeton interior, Stuckenia filiformis var. occidentalis

 
 
 

Slender pondweed is an aquatic herb with 4-parted flowers in spikes. Flowers and/or fruits are 2cm or less apart from each other. It produces drupes, but mature fruits are rare. Its alternate leaves are very narrow (0.2-5mm), have a prominent midvein, and blunt, notched apexes. Stipular sheaths on the lower stems are loosely clasping and often inflated, but disintegrate with age.

This subspecies of Stuckenia filiformis rarely produces mature fruit. Of other Stuckenia species found in Wisconsin, S vaginata has midstem stipular sheaths that are distinctly inflated, S pectinata has acute leaf apexes, and S filiformis ssp alpina has tightly clasping stipules.

Rhizomatous. Blooming occurs from June through early-July, fruiting July through early-September.

Perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is spring to early-fall.

Slender pondweed is found in cold streams and rivers, more rarely in standing waters.

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 broadcast spraying of herbicides and use care with spot spraying.

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.