PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Seaside Crowfoot (Ranunculus cymbalaria)

Ranu_cymb3.jpg

 

 

 

 

8843.jpg

Photo by Kitty Kohout

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Seaside Crowfoot (Ranunculus cymbalaria), a Wisconsin Threatened plant, is found in sandy or muddy shores and marshes, ditches and harbors along Lake Michigan, and salted roadsides near the City of Superior. Blooming occurs early-June through late-August, fruiting late-July through late-August. The optimal identification period for this species is early-June through late-August.

Halerpestes cymbalaria

 
 
 

Seaside crowfoot is a prostrate forb, 5-15cm tall, with a smooth stem. It has few flowers with 3-5mm petals, that scarcely surpass the sepals, of which there are usually 5, rarely more. Achenes are longitudinally nerved, 1.5-2mm, numerous in a short-cylindric head to 12mm. Mostly basal, blades cordate-ovate to ovate or kidney-shaped, 5-25mm, rounded above, usually cordate below, petioles 2-5cm.

Its cordate-ovate to ovate or kidney-shaped principal leaves differentiate it from similar species.

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

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

Associated species include Poa pratensis and many other exotics at the naturalized sites, at possible native sites, some calciphiles such as Lobelia kalmii.

Seaside crowfoot prefers wet, sometimes sandy, sometimes calcareous soils and is found in sandy or muddy shores and marshes, ditches, and harbors along Lake Michigan, and salted roadsides near the city of Superior.

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.

This species is likely sensitive to water quality. Following BMPs around streams and buffering associated drainages will reduce eutrophication and prevent water quality degradation.

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.