PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Bird's-eye Primrose (Primula mistassinica)

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Photo by Drew Feldkirchner

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Bird's-eye Primrose (Primula mistassinica), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in neutral to calcareous rock splash pools and on stabilized dunes near the Great Lakes. It also occurs inland on moist sandstone cliffs. Blooming occurs early-May through late-June, fruiting early-June through late-July. The optimal identification period for this species is late-May through early-June.

Primula intercedens, Primula mistassinica var. intercedens, Primula mistassinica var. noveboracensis

 
 
 

Bird's-eye primrose is an erect forb, up to 2.5dm tall, with 1-10 flowers, 3-6mm calyx, lobed to about the middle, yellow corolla tube, the limb containing water-soluble pigments (blue, purple, or red) but generally pale, seldom white, 1-2cm wide. Its fruits are capsules 5-valved at the tip. Leaves are oblanceolate or spatulate, 2-7cm, with very small, outward-directed teeth along the margins, long-tapering to the base, smooth, but the lower side often densely covered with a white or yellow powder.

It can be distinguished from similar species by its pale blue or white petals and glabrous scape and stem, bracts of the umbrella-shaped inflorescence 3-6 mm, calyx 3-6mm.

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

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

Associated species include Thuja occidentalis, Potentilla fruticosa, P tridentata, Ledum groenlandicum, Pinguicula vulgaris, Parnassia glauca, Gentianopsis procera, Castilleja coccinea, Deschampsia cespitosa, Lobelia kalmii, and Solidago canadensis.

Bird's-eye primrose prefers gravelly soils and is found in neutral to calcareous rock splash pools and on stabilized dunes near the Great Lakes. It also occurs inland on moist sandstone cliffs.

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.

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

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

Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.

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.