PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

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

Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus)

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Photo by Lori Artiomow

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Pale Beardtongue (Penstemon pallidus), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in dry, often calcareous prairies, as well as hillside oak or jack pine woodlands. It is naturalized on roadsides and in pine plantations. Blooming occurs late-May through late-June, fruiting late-July through late-August. The optimal identification period for this species is late-May through June.

Penstemon brevisepalus

 
 
 

Pale beardtongue is an erect forb. Inflorescence is glandular, 10-25cm, calyx 2.5-5mm at anthesis, corolla 1.6 to 2.2 cm, white and marked with fine purple lines in the throat. Fruits are seeds 0.5-0.7mm. Leaves are opposite, narrowly lanceolate or lance-oblong, may or may not be slightly hairy.

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

Perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is late-May through late-June.

Associated species include Pinus banksiana, Ulmus species, Poa annua, Alyssum species, Vicia villosa, and Hieracium aurantiacum.

Pale beardtongue is found in dry, often calcareous prairies, as well as hillside oak or jack pine woodlands. It is naturalized on roadsides and in pine plantations.

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.

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.

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.