PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Heart-leaved Plantain (Plantago cordata)

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Photo by WDNR Staff

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Heart-leaved Plantain (Plantago cordata), a Wisconsin Endangered plant, is found on cold, calcareous streambanks shaded by mesic hardwood forests. Blooming occurs early-May through late-June, fruiting early-June through early-July. The optimal identification period for this species is late-May through early-July.

 
 
 

Heart-leaved plantain is an emergent aquatic forb with flower spikes to 3dm, interrupted, with an exposed axis. Sepals about equal with the bracts, broadly round-ovate, nearly flat, and obtuse or rounded at the tip. Fruits are ovoid, 5-10mm, and split at or just below the middle. Each fruit has 2-4 seeds 3-4mm. The principal leaves are cordate-ovate, mostly 12-25cm long by 8-20cm wide, the main lateral veins are not parallel to the margins, and tend to arise from the proximal part of the midvein within the blade. Scapes are up to 3dm, stout and hollow. It has several long, fleshy roots that are 0.5-1.3cm thick.

Distinguishing characteristics include its leaves with broadly rounded or cordate bases and lateral nerves that tend to arise from the midnerve within the blade of the leaf.

Blooming occurs early-May through late-June, fruiting early-June through early-July.

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

Associated species include Acer saccharum, Tilia americana, Fraxinus americana, and Quercus rubra.

Heart-leaved plantain prefers wet, calcareous soils and is found on cold, calcareous stream banks shaded by mesic hardwood forests.

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 direct disturbance to sensitive microsites such as seeps, cliffs, and moss-covered boulders.

Buffer management around unique microhabitats such as ephemeral ponds, seeps, etc.

Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.

Avoid rapid and dramatic reductions in canopy cover and, basal area, in wet areas to reduce risk of swamping.

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.