Rare Species Guide

  Basis for Former Listing

Very little is known about Prenanthes crepidinea (nodding rattlesnakeroot) in Minnesota. In fact, everything we know is based on a single herbarium specimen collected in 1900 at an unknown location near Jefferson in Houston County (Rosendahl and Moore 1947). It appears to have been found once, then forgotten. To the best of our knowledge, there has been no concerted effort to relocate this species, though a number of floristic studies conducted by first-rate botanists have encompassed Houston County. Still, P. crepidinea has never been reported since its original discovery, despite being a relatively large and conspicuous plant. It is considered to be endangered in adjacent Wisconsin and entirely absent in adjacent Iowa (NatureServe 2009). The rediscovery of this species in Minnesota would indeed be an exciting event and would very likely raise the call for it to be listed as endangered or threatened. Prenanthes crepidinea was listed as a special concern species in Minnesota in 1996.

  Basis for Delisting

Prenanthes crepidinea has never been reported since its original discovery, despite being a relatively large and conspicuous plant. The species is now considered to be extirpated from Minnesota and a status of special concern is no longer necessary. Prenanthes crepidinea was delisted in 2013.

  References and Additional Information

Bogler, D. J. 2006. Prenanthes. Pages 264-271 in Flora of North America Editorial Committee, editors. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Volume 19. Oxford University Press, New York, New York.

NatureServe. 2009. NatureServe Explorer: An online encyclopedia of life [web application]. Version 7.1. NatureServe, Arlington, Virginia.

Rosendahl, C. O., and J. W. Moore. 1947. A new variety of Sedum rosea from southeastern Minnesota and additional notes on the flora of the region. Rhodora 49:197-202.

Minnesota Department of Natural Resources. 2012. Statement of need and reasonableness. Division of Ecological and Water Resources, Minnesota Department of Natural Resources, St. Paul. 337 pp.