PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Missouri Rock-cress (Boechera missouriensis)

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Photo by Andy Clark

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Missouri Rock-cress (Boechera missouriensis), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in soil pockets on acidic cliffs, as well as in pine forests on sterile sand and gravel outwash plains. Blooming occurs late-May through late-June, fruiting late-June through late-July. The optimal identification period for this species is late-May through June.

Arabis laevigata var. missouriensis, Arabis missouriensis, Arabis missouriensis var. deamii, Arabis viridis, Arabis viridis var. deamii

 
 
 

Missouri rock-cress is an erect forb up to 1m tall with racemes of creamy-white flowers with petals 6-8mm in length, nearly twice as long as the sepals. The base of its stem is sparsely covered with hairs. Fruits are long slender pods 5-9cm x 2mm, reflexed or drooping and widely divergent from main stem. They bear a single row of oblong flat, winged seeds. Basal leaves are toothed along the edges, petiolate, and sparsely covered with hairs. It has numerous cauline leaves that are linear or lance shaped, sessile, and hairless.

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

Biennial. The optimal identification period for this species is late-May through June.

Associated species include Populus species, Polypodium vulgare, Aquilegia canadensis, Polygonum cilinode, Corydalis sempervirens, and Amelanchier species.

Missouri rock-cress is found in rocky or sandy soil pockets on acidic cliffs, as well as in pine forests on sterile sand and gravel outwash plains.

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.

Avoid direct disturbance to sensitive microsites such as seeps, cliffs, and moss-covered boulders.

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.