PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

Rhizomatous. Fruiting occurs June through August.

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

Associated species include Thuja occidentalis, Acer spicatum, Draba arabisans, Zigadenus glaucus, Cystopteris bulbifera, Adiantum pedatum, Athyrium felix-femina, and Cornus canadensis.

Limestone oak fern prefers moist, calcareous, roacky soils and is found on moist shaded dolomite or, less commonly, sandstone cliffs. Elsewhere in the region, it is found in dense, mature northern white-cedar swamps.

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 direct disturbance to sensitive microsites such as seeps, cliffs, and moss-covered boulders.

Follow BMPs, especially around streams and use care near ravines, steep slopes, cliffs, rock outcrops, etc.

Buffer management around unique microhabitats such as ephemeral ponds, seeps, etc.

This species requires shaded habitat conditions, maintain high forest canopy cover.

Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.

Avoid rapid and dramatic reductions in canopy cover and, basal area, in wet areas to reduce risk of swamping.

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.