PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Small Skullcap (Scutellaria parvula var. parvula)

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Photo by Joshua Mayer

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Small Skullcap (Scutellaria parvula var. parvula), a Wisconsin Endangered plant, is found on dry, often dolomitic, cliffs and prairies. Blooming occurs throughout June, fruiting early-July through late-August. The optimal identification period for this species is late-June through early-August.

 
 
 

Small skullcap is an erect forb, 1-2dm tall, with axillary, 5-parted, blue to purple, flowers that are 7-9mm. The pedicels are short with curved-ascending hairs. The stems and calyx are glandular and hairy, the main leaves have 3-5 pairs of lateral veins. The principal leaves are sessile, ovate to rotund, 10-15 mm long, 0.5-0.75 times as wide, and are covered with fine hair on the surface.

Blooming occurs throughout June, fruiting early-July through late-August.

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

Associated species include Juniperus virginiana, Andropogon scoparius, Dalea villosa, Amorpha canescens, Aster sericeus, and Calylophus serrulatus.

Small skullcap is found on dry, often dolomitic, cliffs and prairies with gravelly, calcareous soils.

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.

Follow BMPs, especially around streams and use care near ravines, steep slopes, cliffs, rock outcrops, etc.

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.