PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Prairie Indian-plantain (Arnoglossum plantagineum)

KMSF_SU_Scuppernong_Prairie_009.jpg

 

 

 

 

8717.jpg

Photo by Christina Isenring

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Prairie Indian-plantain (Arnoglossum plantagineum), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in a variety of deep-soiled prairies. Blooming occurs early-May through late-June, fruiting late-June through late-July. The optimal identification period for this species is late-May through late-July.

Cacalia paniculata, Cacalia plantaginea, Cacalia pteranthes, Cacalia tuberosa, Mesadenia tuberosa

 
 
 

Prairie Indian-plantain is an erect forb, 0.6-1.8m tall, with an inflorescence made up of up to 100 disk-like heads in a wide, flat-topped cluster atop branched stems, each head is less than 2cm tall, and contains 5 small, tubular, white flowers with 5-lobed corollas. Its stem is smooth, angled, and erect with many lines running lenghtwise. Fruits are dark brown, oblong cypselae (achene surrounded by calyx sheath). Elliptic leaves are thick, firm, and have several prominent arcuate parallel veins. The lower leaves are 6-20cm x 2-10cm and have long petioles. Leaves become less numerous and lack petioles as they go up the stem. Basal leaves are smooth, thick, rubbery, and long-stalked.

Blooming occurs early-May through late-June, fruiting late-June through late-July.

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

Associated species include Parthenium integrifolium and Asclepias sullivantii.

Prairie Indian-plantain is found in a variety of deep-soiled prairies, including wet, wet-mesic, and dry prairies.

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 locating landings, staging areas, or access routes on or near known populations.

Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides and use care with spot spraying.

Avoid site preparation that heavily disturbs herbaceous ground layer and soil, including bulldozing and furrowing, as well as grubbing and stump removal.

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.