PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Fassett's Locoweed (Oxytropis campestris var. chartacea)

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Photo by Thomas Meyer

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Fassett's Locoweed (Oxytropis campestris var. chartacea), a Wisconsin Endangered and Federally Threatened plant, is found in sandy, fluctuating lakeshores. Its appearance is sporadic depending on water level. 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.

 
 
 

Fassett's locoweed is an erect forb with dense 2-4cm spikes, much longer in fruit, and 1.5-2cm purple flowers. Fruits are lance-ovoid, with a rather papery texture, not rigid, sparsely hairy with loose hairs, and 1.5-2.5cm including the beak. Leaves are densely hairy at first with long, lax but not strongly spreading hairs, later more thinly hairy or partly smooth with 15-31 lance-linear to lance-ovate leaflets, 5-25 mm.

Its herbage, calyx that isn't sticky, bracts that are densely hairy on the back with hairs slightly looser and more persistent, and smaller pods, only 8-15mm are distinguishing characteristics.

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 July.

Associated species include Astragalus alpinus, Juncus alpinus, J balticus, Panicum lindheimeri, Eupatorium perfoliatum, Lycopus americanus, Carex viridula, Potentilla anserina, P norvegica, and Sisyrinchium species.

Fassett's locoweed prefers sandy, rocky, and gravelly soils and is found in sandy, fluctuating lakeshores. Its appearance is sporadic depending on water level.

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 disturbance to shorelines and the forest-beach interface.

Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.

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.