Plants and Animals

Liatris punctata Dotted blazing star

Key Characteristics

Small forb of dry prairies; stem erect, bearing numerous overlapping narrow leaves covered in conspicuous minute dots or pits; inflorescence a spike of purple flowers heads, each head with only 4-8 tubular florets; fruits with plume-like bristles arising from the top of the seed.

Status and Rank

US Status: No Status/Not Listed
State Status: X - Presumed extirpated (legally 'threatened' if rediscovered)
Global Rank: G5 - Secure
State Rank: SX - Presumed extirpated

Occurrences

CountyNumber of OccurrencesYear Last Observed
Kalamazoo 1 1941

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

Michigan's only collection of this species was made along a roadside in dry prairie soil in 1933. Elsewhere this species is generally known from sand prairie relics, sandstone bluffs, and dry river terraces.

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

No data are available concerning associates in Michigan.

Management Recommendations

The principal need for this species is inventory in southwest Michigan to discover if any extant colonies exist. If found, it would likely benefit from prescribed burning and other management that maintains prairie habitat.

Survey Methods

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

  • Shoreline spotting

    • Survey Period: From first week of May to fourth week of June

References

Survey References

  • Bibby, C.J., N.D. Burgess, and D.A. Hill. 1992. Bird Census Techniques. Academic Press, New York.

Technical References

  • Evers, D.C. 1994. Endangered and Threatened Wildlife of Michigan. The University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor. 412pp.
  • Hyde, D.A. 1999. Special Animal Abstract for Charadrius melodus (Piping plover). Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Lansing, MI. 4pp.
  • Hyde, D.A. 1999. Special Animal Abstract for Charadrius melodus (Piping plover). Michigan Natural Features Inventory, Lansing, MI. 4pp.

More Information