Plants and Animals

Conioselinum chinense Hemlock-parsley

species photo
Bradford S. Slaughter
species photo
Bradford S. Slaughter
species photo
Bradford S. Slaughter
species photo
Bradford S. Slaughter

Key Characteristics

Slender herb of swamps in southern Michigan; 40 to 150 cm tall; pedicels and rays scabrous; flowers white, in umbels; small bracts in umbel branches (i.e., rays) are no wider than the branches; styles up to 2.0 mm long; fruits flattened dorsally, with 3 prominent ribs in the middle of each winged fruit.

Status and Rank

US Status: No Status/Not Listed
State Status: SC - Special Concern (rare or uncertain; not legally protected)
Global Rank: G5 - Secure
State Rank: SNR - Not ranked

Occurrences

CountyNumber of OccurrencesYear Last Observed
Allegan 2 2020
Berrien 1 2019
Calhoun 1 1949
Cass 1 1906
Clinton 1 1890
Ingham 1 1882
Ionia 2 1893
Kalamazoo 1 1934
Kent 3 1899
Lenawee 1 1985
Macomb 1 1950
Oakland 4 1971
Washtenaw 6 2011

Information is summarized from MNFI's database of rare species and community occurrences. Data may not reflect true distribution since much of the state has not been thoroughly surveyed.

Habitat

Found in southern Michigan in moist peat in tamarack and cedar swamps, often with a significant hardwood component, and along stream banks. Usually occurs in calcareous areas with strong groundwater seepage, along outlet streams, and often at the base of steep slopes.

Natural Community Types

For each species, lists of natural communities were derived from review of the nearly 6,500 element occurrences in the MNFI database, in addition to herbarium label data for some taxa. In most cases, at least one specimen record exists for each listed natural community. For certain taxa, especially poorly collected or extirpated species of prairie and savanna habitats, natural community lists were derived from inferences from collection sites and habitat preferences in immediately adjacent states (particularly Indiana and Illinois). Natural communities are not listed for those species documented only from altered or ruderal habitats in Michigan, especially for taxa that occur in a variety of habitats outside of the state.

Natural communities are not listed in order of frequency of occurrence, but are rather derived from the full set of natural communities, organized by Ecological Group. In many cases, the general habitat descriptions should provide greater clarity and direction to the surveyor. In future versions of the Rare Species Explorer, we hope to incorporate natural community fidelity ranks for each taxon.

Associated Plants

Nodding wild onion (Allium cernuum), Jack-in-the-pulpit (Arisaema triphyllum), Marsh-marigold (Caltha palustris), musclewood (Carpinus caroliniana), false chervil (Chaerophyllum procumbens), small enchanter’s-nightshade (Circaea alpina), honewort (Cryptotaenia canadensis), sticky willy (Galium aparine), spotted touch-me-not (Impatiens capensis), tamarack (Larix laricina), spicebush (Lindera benzoin), bishop’s-cap (Mitella diphylla), cinnamon fern (Osmundastrum cinnamomeum), Jacob’s ladder (Polemonium reptans), dwarf raspberry (Rubus pubescens), black snakeroot (Sanicula odorata), rough goldenrod (Solidago rugosa), skunk cabbage (Symplocarpus foetidus), white cedar (Thuja occidentalis), eastern hemlock (Tsuga canadensis), and sweet white violet (Viola blanda).

Management Recommendations

Protect occupied habitat by maintaining moderate canopy cover, avoiding impacts to hydrology, especially cool groundwater sources, and controlling erosion along adjacent slopes. Maintain healthy intact swamp forests and minimize forest fragmentation. When possible, leave large tracts of unharvested forests and allow natural processes to operate unhindered.

Survey Methods

Random meander search covers areas that appear likely to have rare taxa, based on habitat and the judgment of the investigator.

  • Meander search

    • Survey Period: From first week of August to second week of October

References

Survey References

  • Elzinga, C.L., D.W. Salzer, and J.W. Willoughby. 1998. Measuring and Monitoring Plant Populations. The Nature Conservancy and Bureau of Land Management, Denver. BLM Technical Reference 1730-1. 477pp.
  • Goff, G.F., G.A. Dawson, and J.J. Rochow. 1982. Site examination for Threatened and Endangered plant species. Environmental Management 6(4): 307-316
  • Nelson, J.R. 1984. Rare Plant Field Survey Guidelines. In: J.P. Smith and R. York. Inventory of rare and endangered vascular plants of California. 3rd Ed. California Native Plant Society, Berkeley. 174pp.
  • Nelson, J.R. 1986. Rare Plant Surveys: Techniques For Impact Assessment. Natural Areas Journal 5(3):18-30.
  • Nelson, J.R. 1987. Rare Plant Surveys: Techniques for Impact Assessment. In: Conservation and management of rare and endangered plants. Ed. T.S. Elias. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 8pp.

Technical References

  • Gleason, H. A., and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second edition. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx. 910pp.
  • Gray, A. 1950. Gray's Manual of Botany; eighth ed. Van Nostrand Reinghold, New York. 1632pp.
  • Holmgren, N.H. 1998. Illustrated Companion to Gleason and Cronquist's Manual. Illustrations of the vascular plants of Northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx. 937pp.
  • Reznicek, A.A., E.G. Voss, and B.S. Walters. 2011. Conioselinum chinense (L.) Britton, Sterns & Poggenb. Michigan Flora. Michigan Flora Online. University of Michigan. Web. Available at: https://www.michiganflora.net/species.aspx?id=115 [Accessed March 31, 2020].
  • Swink, F. and G. Wilhelm. 1994. Plants of the Chicago Region, 4th ed. Indiana Academy of Science, Indianapolis. 921pp.
  • Voss, E.G., and A.A. Reznicek. 2012. Field Manual of Michigan Flora. University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, MI. 1008 pp.