PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Ground-plum (Astragalus crassicarpus)

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Photo by Armund Bartz

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Ground-plum (Astragalus crassicarpus), a Wisconsin Endangered plant, is found in bluff prairies near the Mississippi and lower St Croix Rivers. Blooming occurs late-April through late-May, fruiting early-June through late-August. The optimal identification period for this species is early-May through late-August.

 
 
 

Ground-plum is an erect forb, 10-60cm tall, with stems that have straight, stiff, sharp hairs that are pressed flat along the stems, which spread along the ground. Its has an inflorescence of 17-25mm long purple flowers with green tubes at the base that are 6-8mm long and covered with small black hairs. Its fruit pods are smooth, 1.5-2.5cm long, rounded, abruptly pointed and divided into two parts on the inside, spreading to moderately ascending, and not stiffly erect. Each leaf contains 15-29 leaflets that are 8-15mm long and elliptic or narrow towards the base, widening into a rounded tip. The leaves are hairy on both sides, or smooth above with any hairs pressed against the leaf. Stipules subtending the leaves are free.

Its leaves are smooth above with hairs pressed against the leaf, stipules subtending the leaves are free rather than being joined to each other encirling the stem as in Astragalus canadensis, etc.

Blooming occurs late-April through late-May, fruiting early-June through late-August.

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

Associated species include Psoralea esculenta, Cirsium hillii, Artemisia frigida, and Delphinium virescens.

Ground-plum is found in bluff prairies with sandy or loamy soils near the Mississippi and lower St Croix Rivers.

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 and restore open habitat through selective clearing and brushing.

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.