PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Downy Willow-herb (Epilobium densum)

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Photo by Ryan O'Connor

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Downy Willow-herb (Epilobium strictum), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in fens, marshes, and sedge meadows. Blooming occurs late-July through early-September, fruiting late-July through early-October. The optimal identification period for this species is late-July through September.

Epilobium densum, Epilobium molle

 
 
 

Downy willow-herb is an erect forb, 3-6dm tall, with flowers that have pink, notched petals 5-8mm long. Its fruits are soft and usually covered with dense hair, composed of straight, spreading, or somewhat ascending hairs. The uppermost or all but the lowermost leaves are alternate, simple, lanceolate or lance-linear, entire or nearly so, revolute, 2-4cm long and 3-8mm wide.

According to the University of Michigan Herbarium, this species is "easily mistaken at a glance for other species until one notices the distinctive glistening horizontal pubescence (on stems, leaves, and capsules), which is shorter than in the larger-leaved E parviflorum and E hirsutum. The entire leaves will distinguish it not only from these species but also from E ciliatum and E coloratum with enough spreading pubescence that they might otherwise key here."

Rhizomatous. Blooming occurs late-July through early-September, fruiting late-July through early-October.

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

Associated species include Carex stricta, Typha latifolia, Thelypteris palustris, Sagittaria species, and Epilobium leptophyllum.

Downy willow-herb prefers wet soils and is found in fens, marshes, and sedge meadows.

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.

Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.

Maintain and restore open habitat through selective clearing and brushing.

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.