PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Prairie Sagebrush (Artemisia frigida)

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Photo by Emmet Judziewicz

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Prairie Sagebrush (Artemisia frigida), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in very dry dolomite bluff prairies and sand terraces along the upper Mississippi River, elsewhere it is adventive. Blooming occurs early-August through late-September, fruiting throughout September. The optimal identification period for this species is early-August through late-September.

 
 
 

Prairie sagebrush is an erect forb, 10-40cm tall, with an inflorescence of numerous small heads, pale disk flowers borne in a raceme. Rays are absent, the receptacle beneath flower head has numerous long hairs. Fruits are achenes with up to a few nerves, narrow at base and truncated at apex. Leaves are small and thread-like, less than 1mm wide and 5-12mm long, arranged in 2 or 3 groups of 3 linear divisions.

It is distinguished from many Artemisia species by its hairy receptacle.

Blooming occurs early-August through late-September, fruiting throughout September.

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

Associated species include Besseya bullii, Castilleja sessiliflora, Psoralea esculenta, Anemone patens, Liatris cylindracea, Bouteloua hirsuta, B curtipendula, Artemisia caudata, and Aster oblongifolius.

Prairie sagebrush is found in very dry dolomite bluff prairies and sand terraces along the upper Mississippi River. It is adventive elsewhere.

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 low canopy cover areas for savanna and barrens plant species.

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.