PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Fire Pink (Silene virginica)

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Photo by Thomas Meyer

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Fire Pink (Silene virginica), a Wisconsin Endangered plant, is found in dry to mesic, oak woodlands, preferring partial shade. Blooming occurs late-May through early-July, fruiting late-June through late-July. The optimal identification period for this species is late-May through early-July.

Silene virginica var. virginica

 
 
 

Fire pink is an erect form, 2-8dm tall, with glandular stems with fine, short hairs. It has an open, 7-10 flowered inflorescence, a broadly tubular calyx, 18-22 mm, crimson petals with 3mm tubular appendages, linear-oblong limbs, 15-22mm, 2-lobed, and 3 styles. Its fruits are capsules dehiscent by 6 teeth, seeds are roughened. Leaves are opposite and entire. Basal leaves are oblanceolate or spatulate, petiolate, 4-10cm long by 8-18mm wide, cauline leaves are in 2-4 pairs, sessile or nearly so, to 30cm long and 3cm wide.

It can be distinguished by its bright red petals that are notched at the tips.

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

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

Associated species include Acer saccharum, Carya cordiformis, Fraxinus americana, Quercus alba, Tilia americana, Juglans cinerea, Lithospermum latifolium, Aster shortii, Osmorhiza longistylis, Scutellaria ovata, and Sanicula marilandica.

Fire pink prefers rich, rocky soils and is found in dry to mesic, oak woodlands, preferring partial shade.

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.

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 partial canopy to encourage woodland species, avoid closed-canopy conditions.

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.