PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Rough Rattlesnake-root (Prenanthes aspera)

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Photo by Aaron Carlson

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Rough Rattlesnake-root (Prenanthes aspera), a Wisconsin Endangered plant, is found in dry prairies, usually on the lower slopes of hills. Blooming occurs late-August through early-October, fruiting September and October. The optimal identification period for this species is late-August through early-October.

 
 
 

Rough rattlesnake-root is an erect forb, 5-17dm tall, with a narrow and elongate inflorescence with a raceme-like or a dense panicle. Heads are crowded, loosely ascending to suberect, with 8-19 (usually 11-14) ochre-colored flowers, and a straw-like pappus. It has a strict stem that is rough-hairy. Its fruit are elongate, smooth, mostly reddish-brown achenes. Leaves are alternate, rough or coarsely covered with short, stiff hairs beneath and often also on the upper side, they are toothed or entire. Lower leaves are well developed and somewhat obovate, and taper to the petiole, and soon deciduous. Upper leaves are sessile or nearly so and often clasping, oblong to elliptic or lanceolate, gradually reduced upward, the larger ones are 4-11cm long by 1-5cm wide.

Blooming occurs late-August through early-October, fruiting September through October.

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

Associated species include Cirsium hillii, Petalostemum purpureum, Psoralea esculenta, Talinum rugospermum, Parthenium integrifolium, Opuntia species, Bouteloua curtipendula, and Andropogon scoparius.

Rough rattlesnake-root is found in dry prairies, usually on the lower slopes of hills.

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 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 and restore open habitat through selective clearing and brushing.

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.