PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Smooth Forked Nail-wort (Paronychia canadensis)

Paronychia_canadensis.jpg

 

 

 

 

11587.jpg

Photo by Kitty Kohout

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Smooth Forked Nail-wort (Paronychia canadensis), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in open savannas or upland prairies. Blooming occurs June through September, fruiting occurs late-August through September. The optimal identification period for this species is June through September.

Anychia canadensis, Paronychia dichotoma

 
 
 

Smooth forked nail-wort is an herbaceous plant, 3-40cm tall, with green, 5-parted flowers in a dense cyme. Flowers are up to 1.5mm and without petals. Fruits are bladder-like capsules with single smooth, dark red seeds. Leaves are often white- or dark-punctuate, and are opposite with margin entire, 5-30mm long by 2-8mm wide, on a petiole that is usually 1mm long.

Paronychia fastigitata, the other annual Paronychia in Wisconsin has a larger calyx, 2-3mm long, and minutely pubescent stems.

Blooming occurs June through September, fruiting late-August through September.

Annual. The optimal identification period for this species is June through September.

Associated species include Quercus velutina, Q macrocarpa, and Pinus banksiana.

Smooth forked nail-wort prefers dry, sandy soil and is found in open savannas or upland prairies. It often grows in areas with periodic disturbance.

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.

Because this plant is an annual, work may safely be conducted before the plants emerge or after they have developed mature seeds.

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.