Hairy Forked Nail-wort (Paronychia fastigiata)

Life history

Species overview

Hairy Forked Nail-wort (Paronychia fastigiata), a plant, is found in dry savannas or forests. Blooming occurs July through September; fruiting occurs August through early September. The optimal identification period for this species is July through September.

Synonyms: Anychia polygonoides, Paronychia fastigiata var. paleacea

Identification

• Distinguishing characteristics: Erect, forking stems that are sparsely pubescent. Most likely to be confused with tall forked chickweed (Paronychia canadensis), which has glabrous stems.
• Flower characteristics: Green, 5-parted flowers with no petals, 2 to 3 mm wide. Sepals are lance-like to linear, with the tip of the hooded apex ending in a small, sharp point or bristle. Inflorescence a forked cyme.
• Fruit characteristics: Fruit is a glabrous utricle about 0.8 mm long, dark red and smooth.
• Leaf characteristics: Opposite leaves; those on the main brances are narrowly lance-elliptic to oblanceolate and 5 to 20 mm long, often with white dots. The cymes have foliar bracts.

Phenology

• Blooming phenology: July through September
• Fruiting phenology: August through early September
• Optimum time to identify: The optimal identification period for this species is July through September

Other

• Growth form: Forb
• Vegetative reproduction:
• Life cycle: Annual
• Comments:

State status

Status and Natural Heritage Inventory documented occurrences in Wisconsin

Hairy Forked Nail-wort (Paronychia fastigiata) is on the "watch list." Watch list species have experienced, or are believed to have experienced, a statewide or range wide decline, but they are not currently tracked in the Natural Heritage Inventory (NHI) database. The watch list includes newly discovered species for which origin and rarity need to be determined, certain animals designated as Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan, and species that were tracked in the past but proved more abundant, widespread or less vulnerable than previously thought. Although watch list species are not actively tracked by NHI, occurrences documented during surveys are often stored by NHI, as these species could be tracked in the future if there is further evidence of their decline.

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 in dry savannas or forests.
• Soils: sandy soils

Natural communities

This table lists the natural communities that are associated with Hairy Forked Nail-wort. 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).

Ecological landscapes

This table lists the ecological landscape association scores for Hairy Forked Nail-wort. The scores (3=High, 2=Moderate, 1=Low, 0=None) also correspond to the map.

Species guidance

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.

Avoidance measures

These are specific actions designed to avoid "take" (mortality) of this species.

• No avoidance measures have been developed for this species.

Management guidance

Management guidelines are additional considerations that may help maintain or enhance habitat for this species

• No guidance has been developed for this species.

Other resources

Links to additional Hairy Forked Nail-wort 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
• eFloras
• Cofrin Center for Biodiversity Herbarium
• Intermountain Herbarium Grasses of North America
• Orchids of Wisconsin

Photos

Click to view a larger version. Please considering donating a photo to the Natural Heritage Conservation Program for educational uses. Photo use