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- For information on Wisconsin's rare plants, contact:
- Kevin Doyle
Silver Bladderpod (Lesquerella ludoviciana)
Silver Bladderpod (Lesquerella ludoviciana), a Wisconsin Threatened plant, is found on a dry dolomitic prairie bluff edge along the Mississippi River. Blooming occurs early May through early June; fruiting occurs late June through early September. The optimal identification period for this species is late June through early September.
- Distinguishing characteristics: Fruit 3 to 6 mm, on recurved pedicels.
- Flower characteristics: Racemes elongating to as much as 1.5 dm; petals yellow, 6 to 10 mm; style 3 to 5 mm.
- Fruit characteristics: Obovoid or almost round, 3 to 6 mm, on recurved pedicels.
- Leaf characteristics: Basal leaves narrow, to 10 cm long by 1 cm wide, entire or shallowly toothed; cauline leaves progressively smaller and not very numerous.
- Blooming phenology: early May through early June
- Fruiting phenology: late June through early September
- Optimum time to identify: late June through early September
- Growth form: Forb-erect
- Vegetative reproduction:
- Life cycle: Perennial
- Comments: Associated Species: Campanula rotundifolia, Pellaea glabella, Helianthus petiolaris, Poinsettia heterophylla, Parietaria pensylvanica, Artemisia campestris, Muhlenbergia cuspidata.
Status and Natural Heritage Inventory documented occurrences in Wisconsin
The table below provides information about the protected status - state and federal - and the rank (S and G Ranks) for Silver Bladderpod (Lesquerella ludoviciana). See the Working List Key for more information about abbreviations. Counties shaded blue have documented occurrences for this species in the Wisconsin Natural Heritage Inventory database. The map is provided as a general reference of where this species has been found to date and is not meant as a range map.
|Federal Status in Wisconsin||none|
|Tracked by NHI||Y|
Habitats and landscapes
The Natural Heritage Inventory has developed scores indicating the degree to which each of Wisconsin's rare plant species is associated with a particular natural community or ecological landscape. This information is similar to that found in the Wildlife Action Plan for animals. As this is a work in progress, we welcome your suggestions and feedback.
General habitat information
- Habitat description: Found on a dry dolomitic prairie bluff edge along the Mississippi River.
- Soils: Dry, calcareous soils.
This table lists the natural communities that are associated with Silver Bladderpod. Scores for natural community associations are: "significant" association (score=3), "moderate association" (score=2) or the species can be present but is only weakly associated with the community (score=1).
This table lists the ecological landscape association scores for Silver Bladderpod. The scores (3=High, 2=Moderate, 1=Low, 0=None) also correspond to the map.
The Endangered Resources Program has developed avoidance measures and management guidelines for plants on the Natural Heritage Working List. These are a work in progress, and we welcome your suggestions and feedback. Sources used in developing this information can be found here.
Silver Bladderpod (Lesquerella ludoviciana) has very few known occurrences in the state and is of the highest priority for conservation; we encourage you to consult with your District Ecologist or NHI Botanist for specific recommendations for your site.
These are specific actions designed to avoid "take" (mortality) of this species.
- Avoid locating landings, staging areas, or access routes in open sandy areas dominated by native grasses.
- Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides; use care with spot spraying.
- 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.
Management guidelines are additional considerations that may help maintain or enhance habitat for this species
- Maintain and restore open habitat through selective clearing and brushing.
- Prescribed burns and/or brushing may be beneficial (dependent on local site conditions).
Links to additional Silver Bladderpod information
Other links related to vascular plants (all exit the DNR website)
- Wisconsin Flora
- NatureServe Explorer
- Atlas of Wisconsin Prairie and Savanna Flora - Wisconsin State Herbarium
- USDA - NRCS Plants Database
- USGS Midwestern Wetland Flora - field office guide to plant species
- Cofrin Center for Biodiversity Herbarium
- Intermountain Herbarium Grasses of North America
- Orchids of Wisconsin
Support for Wisconsin's rare plant information has been provided by the Division of Forestry, the Endangered Resources Fund and the Wisconsin Rare Plant Preservation Fund. To donate, visit the Natural Resources Foundation of Wisconsin.