PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Dragon Wormwood (Artemisia dracunculus)

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Photo by Richard Old

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Dragon Wormwood (Artemisia dracunculus), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in dry bluff prairies and on roadsides. Blooming occurs throughout July, fruiting throughout August. The optimal identification period for this species is early-July through late-August.

Artemisia dracunculina, Artemisia dracunculoides, Artemisia glauca

 
 
 

Dragon wormwood is an erect forb, 50cm-1.5m tall, with tiny yellow flowers borne in a raceme. Its stems may be hairless or have some long hairs and its branches appear to be flattened. Its fruit are ellipsoid achenes without nerves. Leaves are narrowly linear or lance-linear in shape, 3-8cm x 1-6mm in size, may also be hairless or with some long hairs.

It is distinguished by its combination of sterile disk flowers and glabrous, mostly entire leaves.

Rhizomatous. Blooming occurs throughout July, fruiting throughout August.

Perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is early-July through August.

Associated species include Schizachyrium scoparium and Bouteloua hirsuta.

Dragon wormwood is found in dry bluff prairies and on roadsides.

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.

Avoid locating landings, staging areas, or access routes in open sandy areas dominated by native grasses.

Prescribed burns and/or brushing may be beneficial, dependent on local site conditions and burn frequency. Rotational burns with annual unburned refugia may be preferred.

Maintain and restore open habitat through selective clearing and brushing.

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.