PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Yerba-de-tajo (Eclipta prostrata)

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Photo by Kitty Kohout

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Yerba-de-tajo (Eclipta prostrata), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found primarily on muddy flats along the lower Wisconsin River. Blooming occurs early-July through early-October, fruiting early-August through early-October. The optimal identification period for this species is early-August through late-September.

Eclipta alba, Verbesina prostrata

 
 
 

Yerba-de-tajo is an erect forb, 20-90cm tall, with 1-3 heads of white flowers in terminal or axillary clusters on its many branches. Disks are 4-6mm wide, its minute ray flowers are white. Fruit are 2-2.5mm achenes that are rugose or warty and slightly hairy above. Leaves are opposite, lanceolate or lance-elliptic to lance-linear, acute, narrowed to a sessile or shortly petiolar base, remotely serrulate, and 2-10cm long by 4-25mm wide. It has a weak or spreading habit and often roots at the nodes. Its stem is pubescent.

Blooming occurs early-July through early-October, fruiting early-August through October.

Annual/perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is early-August through September.

Associated species include Eragrostis hypnoides, Leersia oryzoides, Lycopus americanus, Ludwigia polycarpa, Alisma species, and Echinochloa crus-galli.

Yerba-de-tajo is found in areas with wet soils, primarily on muddy flats along the lower Wisconsin River, but also in southern wet forest.

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.

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.