PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Sand Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata)

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Photo by Robert H. Read

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Sand Coreopsis (Coreopsis lanceolata), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found on sand dunes and old beach ridges near Lake Michigan. Blooming occurs from April to June. The optimal identification period for this species is April to June.

Coreopsis lanceolata var. lanceolata

 
 
 

Sand coreopsis is an erect forb, 2-8dm tall, with an inflorescence of up to a few heads on long and naked peduncles. Disks are yellow, 1-2cm wide, inner bracts are longer and broader than outer, it has 6-10 yellow ray flowers, 1-3cm long and notched. Its fruit are achenes, 2-3mm long, winged, and orbicular, pappus has 2 short barbs. Leaves are alternate, mostly around base, linear to lance-linear, and are simple or, rarely, with up to 2 lateral lobes. Lower leaves have petioles, upper leaves are sessile.

It is distinguished from Coreopsis lanceolata var villosa by its mostly glabrous stem and leaves.

Blooming occurs from April to June, fruiting June to July.

Perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is April to June.

Associated species include Pinus banksiana, P resinosa, P strobus, Picea glauca, Juniperus communis var depressa, J horizontalis, Shepherdia canadensis, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Ammophila breviligulata, Smilacina stellata, Arabis lyrata, and Lilium philadelphicum.

Sand coreopsis is found on sand dunes and old beach ridges near Lake Michigan.

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 disturbance to shorelines and the forest-beach interface.

Avoid any activities that destabilize the dune, including the use of off-road vehicles, removal of native vegetation, and pedestrian recreational overuse.

Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.

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.