Fassett's locoweed (Oxytropis campestris var. chartacea), photo by Thomas Meyer, Wisconsin DNR.
The vascular plants on Wisconsin's Natural Heritage Working List, are species known or suspected to be rare in the state. It includes species legally designated as "endangered" or "threatened," as well as species in the advisory "special concern" category. Species become rare for a number of reasons, including habitat loss, habitat degradation, highly specialized habitat needs, disturbance sensitivity, genetic problems, exploitation, predation, competition and parasitism. Rare plant habitats can vary greatly in size and quality as species occur in both large blocks of high-quality undisturbed habitats as well as small, remnant, isolated sites.
Plant species pages contain information about Wisconsin's rare plants, including where they are found in the state and their level of legal protection. Life history and management considerations are available for many species and new information is continually being added. See the Working List for rank and status definitions.
