PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Large-leaved Avens (Geum macrophyllum var. macrophyllum)

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Photo by Steven Spickerman

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Large-leaved Avens (Geum macrophyllum var. macrophyllum), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in moist woods, thickets, and rocky ledges and openings, sometimes weedy. Blooming occurs early-May through mid-August, fruiting early-June through mid-September. The optimal identification period for this species is early-June through mid-August.

 
 
 
Identification

Large-leaved avens is an erect forb, up to 1m tall, with stiff, coarse hairs on its stem. Flower petals are yellow, 4-7mm, somewhat exceeding the sepals, style with basal segment slightly glandular, the terminal segment minutely hairy. Achenes minutely hairy throughout, with coarse, stiff hairs about the summit, beak with short-stalked glands, the receptacle is glabrous. Basal leaves are large and have long petioles, the terminal segment is rotund to kidney-shaped, 5-12cm wide, often with 3 lobes. Lateral leaves are few and much smaller, interspersed with several to many minute leaflets, upper leaves are short-petioled to sessile, deeply 3-lobed or 3-foliolate.

Distinguished from Geum laciniatum by having pedicels closely puberelent rather than spreading pubescence and by having beak of achene with short-stalked glands. Distinguished from Geum macrophyllum var perincisum by having less dissected leaves with the terminal leaflet of the middle stem leaves 3-cleft to about the middle and with the lobes merely toothed.

Phenology and Reproduction

Blooming occurs early-May through mid-August, fruiting early-June through mid-September.

Perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is early-June through mid-August.

Ecology and Associated Species

Associated species include Agropyron repens, Calamagrostis canadensis, Carex species, Eupatorium maculatum, Galium species, Impatiens species, Leersia oryzoides, Lycopus americanus, Onoclea sensibilis, Phalaris arundinacea, Polygonum sagittatum, and Scirpus species,

Habitat

Large-leaved avens is found in moist woods, thickets, and rocky ledges and openings, sometimes weedy.

Avoidance Measures and Management Guidance

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.

Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.

Maintain and restore open habitat through selective clearing and brushing.

Wildlife Action Plan

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.

For more information, contact

Kevin Doyle
Conservation Biologist
tel:+1-608-416-3377