Wisconsin's rare plants

Wolf spike-rush is a graminoid with narrowly ovate spikelets that are 4-10mm long and 2-3mm wide, and wider than stem, bristles are absent, style is 3-parted. Its gray achenes are roughly round in section, and ~1mm long, tubercles are cone-shaped and constricted at base where joins achene. Stems are flattened, 2-edged, often twisted, 1-3dm long and 1-2mm wide. The sheaths are often purple at base and membranous at tip.

Rhizomatous. Blooming occurs late-June through late-July, fruiting late-July through late-August.

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

Associated species include Aletris farinosa, Xyris species, Viola lanceolata, Spiraea tomentosa, Rhynchospora capitellata, and Juncus species.

Wolf spike-rush is found on muddy drying bottoms of fluctuating lakes, as well as marshes, and places with wet open sandy acidic soils.

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 disturbance to shorelines and the forest-beach interface.

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.