Plants and Animals

Stachys pilosa Hairy hedge-nettle

Key Characteristics

Perennial forb of mesic or seasonally moist areas; stem with spreading hairs, leafy from base to inflorescence; leaves hairy and green underneath, greater than 13.0 mm wide; inflorescence stem hairy underneath inflorescence and terminal; sepals hairy and less than 8.0 mm long; flower petals hairy.

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
Alpena 1 1986
Cheboygan 7 1958
Delta 1 2021
Emmet 4 1949
Gogebic 1 1986
Leelanau 1 2014
Marquette 1 2017
Ontonagon 1 1993
Schoolcraft 4 1995

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

Known Michigan occurrences are in the Upper Peninsula and northern Lower Peninsula. Found in mesic to seasonally moist areas in jack pine plains, thickets, meadows, stream banks, lake and pond shores; rarely along roads and railroads.

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

Only documented associate in Michigan is jack pine (Pinus banksiana). Known associates in Virginia occurrences include sedges (Carex interior, C. prairea), water horsetail (Equisetum fluviatile), spotted Joe-Pye weed (Eutrochium maculatum), rushes (Juncus balticus, Juncus brachycephalus, and Juncus torreyi), and shining ladies’-tresses (Spiranthes lucida).

Management Recommendations

Little information is documented on habitat and communities of Michigan occurrences. It is found in wetlands throughout its range. This species requires conservation of habitat and regional and local protection of the hydrology. Where this species occurs is wetland habitat, protect the hydrology by avoiding surface water inputs, drainage ditches, road construction, agricultural development, and logging in adjacent uplands.

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 third week of June to second week of September

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

  • Bousquet, W.S., and G.P. Fleming. 2017. Floristics of the Abrams Creek Wetlands, a Calcareous Fen Complex in Winchester City and Frederick County, Virginia. Castanea 82: 132–155.
  • Ebinger, J.E., L.R. Phillippe, and P.B. Marcum. 2011. Vegetation of Wilmington Shrub Prairie Nature Preserve, Will County, Illinois. Transactions of the Illinois State Academy of Science 104: 1–16.
  • Feist, M.A., M. Morris, L.R. Phillippe, and J.E. Ebinger. 2008. Sand Prairie Communities of Matanzas Nature Preserve, Mason County, Illinois. Castanea 73: 177–187.
  • Gerke, J.M., E.J. Farnsworth, and W.E. Brumback. 2014. Fifteen years of change: What a comparison of the two Flora Conservanda lists can tell us about rare plant species in the New England landscape. Rhodora 116: 428–493.
  • McClain, W.E., J.E. Schwegman, T.A. Strole, L.R. Phillippe, and J.E. Ebinger. 2008. Floristic Study of Sand Prairie-Scrub Oak Nature Preserve, Mason County, Illinois. Castanea 73: 29–39.
  • Molano-Flores, B., L.R. Phillippe, P.B. Marcum, C. Carroll-Cunningham, J.L. Ellis, D.T. Busemeyer, and J.E. Ebinger. 2015. A Floristic Inventory and Vegetation Survey of Three Dolomite Prairies in Northeastern Illinois. Castanea 80: 153–170.
  • Murphy, M.J.C., L.R. Phillippe, and J.E. Ebinger. 2008. Vascular flora of Bonnie’s Prairie Nature Preserve, Iroquois County, Illinois. Transactions of the Illinois State Academy of Science 102: 1–19.
  • Voss, E.G., and A.A. Reznicek. 2012. Field Manual of Michigan Flora. University of Michigan Press, Ann Arbor, MI. 1008 pp.