PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Virginia Meadow-beauty (Rhexia virginica)

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Photo by Thomas Meyer

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Virginia Meadow-beauty (Rhexia virginica), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in wet, acid ditches, as well as in ponds and lakes with fluctuating water levels in the bed of Glacial Lake Wisconsin. Blooming occurs early-July through late-August, fruiting late-July through early-September. The optimal identification period for this species is late-June through September.

Rhexia virginica var. purshii, Rhexia virginica var. septemnervia

 
 
 

Virginia meadow-beauty is an erect forb with terminal cymes that appear in late summer. Petals are rose-lavender, 15-20mm, often bristly on the back. Stamens are bright yellow, sepals are narrow, acute or gradually tapering to a sharp point, the margins concave at the tip, anthers are 5-7mm. Its fruits are capsules with coiled seeds. Leaves are opposite, ovate to lance-ovate, 2-7cm, usually a third to half as wide, sometimes bristly on one or both sides.

Blooming occurs early-July through late-August, fruiting late-July through early-September.

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

Associated species include Pinus banksiana, Quercus ellipsoidalis, Polygala cruciata, Rhynchospora capitellata, Muhlenbergia uniflora, Viola lanceolata, Bartonia virginica, Euthamia graminifolia, and Solidago canadensis.

Virginia meadow-beauty is found in wet, acid ditches, as well as in ponds and lakes with fluctuating water levels in the bed of Glacial Lake Wisconsin.

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.

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.