| Proserpinaca pectinata |
| Mermaid-weed |
Key Characteristics
Aquatic emergent plant of coastal plain marshes; both submerged and emergent alternate leaves similar, deeply pinnately divided and feather-like; 3-parted flowers and fruits tiny, borne in leaf axils of emergent leaves.
Status and Rank
- State Status: E - Endangered (legally protected)
- State Rank: S1 - Critically imperiled
- Global Rank: G5 - Secure
Occurrences
| County Name | Number of Occurrences | Year Last Observed |
|---|---|---|
| Ottawa | 1 | 2007 |
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
Mermaid-weed is known from a single site in southwest Lower Michigan where it was found on a sandy, wet, peaty substrate that is seasonally inundated.
Natural Community Types
Associated Plants
Common water horehound, steeplebush, sensitive fern, panic grass, sedge, bluejoint grass, twig-rush, sedges, bushy aster, black-fruited spike-rush, umbrella-grass, northern clubmoss, panic grass, cross-leaved milkwort, bald rush, tall beak-rush, tooth-cup, netted nut-rush, hyssop hedge nettle, marsh St John's-wort, pipewort, autumn sedge, meadow beauty; shrub margin: red maple, black gum, pin oak, black chokecherry, dogwoods, and buttonbush.
Management
This species requires conservation of habitat and protection of the hydrology (maintenance of cyclical drawdown regime and water table). Maintain moist, open habitat. It is also vulnerable to ORV impacts, dredging, and filling of sites.
General Survey Guidelines
Random meander search covers areas that appear likely to have rare taxa, based on habitat and the judgment of the investigator.
Survey Methods
- Meander search
Survey Period: From first week of August to fourth week of September
More Information
See MNFI Species AbstractReferences
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
- Crow, G.E. and C.B. Hellquist. 2000. Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Northeastern North America. Volume 1. Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms, and Angiosperms: Dicotyledons. University of Wisconsin Press, Madison. 480pp.
- 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.
- Godfrey, R.K. and Wooten. 1981. Aquatic and Wetland Plants of Southeastern United States. Dicotyledons. University of Georgia Press, Athens. 712pp.
- 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.
- Voss, E. G. 1985. Michigan Flora. Part II. Dicots (Saururaceae-Cornaceae). Bulletin of the Cranbrook Institute of Science and University of Michigan Herbarium. 724pp.
