PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Pink Milkwort (Polygala incarnata)

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Photo by WDNR Staff

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Pink Milkwort (Polygala incarnata), a Wisconsin Endangered plant, is found in wet-mesic to dry-mesic prairies. Blooming occurs early-July through early-August, fruiting early-August through early-November. The optimal identification period for this species is early-August through early-November.

Galypola incarnata

 
 
 

Pink milkwort is an erect forb with dense racemes, 1-4cm long by 10-15mm wide, pale rose-purple flowers pale rose-purple, 7-10mm, promptly deciduous after peak flowering, and corolla more than twice as long as the wings. It has hairy seeds that are 2mm. Leaves are alternate, erect or ascending, linear, and 5-12mm.

Blooming occurs early-July through early-August, fruiting early-August through early-November.

Annual. The optimal identification period for this species is early-August through early-November.

Associated species include Amorpha canescens, Eryngium yuccifolium, Stipa spartea, Baptisia leucophaea, and Coreopsis palmata.

Pink milkwort is found in wet-mesic to dry-mesic prairies.

Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides and use care with spot spraying.

Because this plant is an annual, work may safely be conducted before the plants emerge or after they have developed mature seeds.

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.