PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Canada Mountain Ricegrass (Piptatheropsis canadensis)

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Photo by Robert H. Read

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Canada Mountain Ricegrass (Piptatheropsis canadensis), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in pine and oak barrens and open oak woodlands. Blooming occurs late-June through early-July, fruiting early-July through early-August. The optimal identification period for this species is early-July through early-August.

Piptatherum canadense

 
 
 

Canada mountain ricegrass is a graminoid with slender, tufted, erect culms that are 30-70cm tall. It has an open panicle, 5-10cm long with slender flexuous branches that are ascending or spreading, naked below, and few-flowered above. Spikelets are long-pediceled. Glumes are 4-5mm long and abruptly acute. Lemmas are ~3mm long, rather sparsely appressed-pilose, the awn is 1-2cm long and weakly twice geniculate. Ligule about 2mm long, blades are flat to involute and scabrous.

Can be distinguished from Oryzopsis species in Wisconsin by its leaf blades, which have in-rolled margins and its awns, which are greater than 2mm and twisted.

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

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

Associated species include Pinus banksiana, P resinosa, Quercus ellipsoidalis, Q velutina, and Populus tremuloides.

Canada mountain ricegrass prefers dry, sandy or rocky soils and is found in pine and oak barrens and open oak woodlands.

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 site preparation that heavily disturbs herbaceous ground layer and soil, including bulldozing and furrowing, as well as grubbing and stump removal.

Avoid locating landings, staging areas, or access routes in open sandy areas dominated by native grasses.

Prescribed burns and/or brushing may be beneficial, dependent on local site conditions and burn frequency. Rotational burns with annual unburned refugia may be preferred.

Maintain low canopy cover areas for savanna and barrens plant species.

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.