PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Dotted Blazing Star (Liatris punctata var. nebraskana)

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Photo by Robert H. Read

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Dotted Blazing Star (Liatris punctata var. nebraskana), a Wisconsin Endangered plant, is found in sandy and gravelly prairies, often on roadsides. Blooming occurs early-July through late-August, fruiting early-August through early-September. The optimal identification period for this species is late-July through late-August.

Liatris punctata var. punctata

 
 
 

Dotted blazing star is an erect forb, 80cm tall, with several heads in an inflorescence resembling a spike in form, sessile or nearly so, usually with 4-6 flowers per head. The corolla lobes are smooth and the tube is hairy toward the base. Fruits are cypselae on pappus. Leaves are linear or linear-oblanceolate and have a marginal fringe of hair. Most are 2-3mm wide and smooth except for the margins. The lowest leaves are smaller than those just above and often deciduous. Its rootstock may be elongate and pointed at the base, like a short, fleshy-thickened taproot, or seldom horizontal, resembling a thickened rhizome, producing scattered aerial stems.

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

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

Associated species include Juniperus virginiana, Quercus velutina, Dalea villosa, Talinum rugospermum, Liatris aspera, Potentilla arguta, Solidago nemoralis, S rigida, and Poa compressa.

Dotted blazing star is found in sandy and gravelly dry and dry-prairies, often on roadsides. It is also found in oak barrens.

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.

Survey for and control invasive plants prior to conducting timber operations, as these can be spread by vehicles and often respond vigorously to increased light. See forestry BMPs for invasive 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.