PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Twinleaf (Jeffersonia diphylla)

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Photo by Armund Bartz

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Twinleaf (Jeffersonia diphylla), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in very rich hardwood forests, often with dolomite near the surface. Blooming occurs throughout May, fruiting early-July through early-September. The optimal identification period for this species is early-May through early-June.

Podophyllum diphyllum

 
 
 

Twinleaf is an erect forb, 10-20cm tall, with solitary, 1-3cm wide white flowers, with usually 8 petals arranged in 2 rows, on a leafless stalk, that fall soon after antithesis. Fruits are 2-3cm, capsular, opening in the distal half by a horizontal cleft extending halfway around it, the top forms a lid, pipe-like in appearance. It has few basal leaves deeply divided into 2 equal halves, joined in the middle, blades are immature at anthesis, eventually 8-15cm long. Scapes are 10-30cm. Petioles are shorter than the scapes at first and later elongate to 20-50cm.

Blooming occurs throughout May, fruiting June through early-September.

Perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is early-May through early-June.

Associated species include Acer saccharum, Tilia americana, Hydrastis canadensis, Dicentra canadensis, Carex jamesii, Isopyrum biternatum, Panax quinquefolius, Polymnia canadensis, and Fagus grandifolia.

Twinleaf is found in very rich hardwood forests, often with dolomite near the surface.

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

This species requires shaded habitat conditions, maintain high forest canopy cover.

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.