PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Dwarf Umbrella Sedge (Fuirena pumila)

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Photo by USDA-NRCS

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Dwarf Umbrella Sedge (Fuirena pumila), a Wisconsin Endangered plant, is found in peaty-mucky and wet, sandy flats of fluctuating inland lakes. Blooming occurs early-July through late-August, fruiting early-August through late-September. The optimal identification period for this species is late-July through early-September.

Fuirena squarrosa var. pumila

 
 
 

Dwarf umbrella sedge is a graminoid, 1-6dm tall, with an inflorescence in one to many terminal clusters, the spikelets are 6-15mm long, scales have awns, its anthers are 0.5-0.7mm. Its brown to red-brown achenes are 3-angled, 1mm. Leaves are flat with hairy margins and up to 10cm long.

Rhizomatous. Blooming occurs early-July through late-August, fruiting early-August through late-September.

Annual. The optimal identification period for this species is late-July through early-September.

Associated species include Rhexia virginica, Hemicarpha micrantha, Psilocarya scirpoides, Fimbristylis autumnalis, Dulichium arundinaceum, Scirpus smithii, and Hypericum majus.

Dwarf umbrella sedge is found in peaty-mucky and wet, sandy flats of fluctuating inland lakes.

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.

Avoid disturbance to shorelines and the forest-beach interface.

Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.

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.