Allium schoenoprasum
Chives
Photo by Susan R. Crispin
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Key Characteristics

Circumboreal forb (20-50 cm) of the western Upper Peninsula; leaves linear, rounded at base, arising from bulb smelling strongly like onion; flowers in erect umbels, pedicels equal to or shorter than florets.

Status and Rank

  • State Status: T - Threatened (legally protected)
  • State Rank: S2 - Imperiled
  • Global Rank: G5 - Secure

Occurrences

County NameNumber of OccurrencesYear Last Observed
Delta31990
Houghton11944
Keweenaw51994
Marquette11990
Occurrence Map for [Sname]

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 alvar grasslands, such as those along the Escanaba River and also in cool, moist bedrock crevices on the Lake Superior shore.

Natural Community Types

Associated Plants

Little bluestem, prairie dropseed, cat's foot, Canadian milk vetch, harebell, sedges, Indian paintbrush, field chickweed, bastard toad flax, hair grass, prairie smoke, ground juniper, bee-balm, shrubby cinquefoil, old field goldenrod, Kalm's lobelia, New England violet, bulrush sedges, meadow rue, grass-leaved goldenrod, butterwort, shrubby St John's-wort, beak-rush, ticklegrass, yarrow, bearberry, marsh bellflower, pale Indian paintbrush, spike-rush, butterwort, ninebark, silverweed, dwarf Canadian primrose, wild rose, bird's-eye primrose, and three-tooth cinquefoil.

Management

Requires protection of the habitat and perpetuation of natural disturbance (i.e. prescribed fire, wind throw, etc.) and hydrological regimes. Since alvar is primarily a sedge and grass dominated community, species found in this community usually do not tolerate later stages of succession and require management that prevents woody plant encroachment, such as prescribed burns or brush removal. This species is susceptible to damage from excessive recreational use and foot traffic.

General Survey Guidelines

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

Survey Methods

References

Survey References

Technical References

Page Citation

Michigan Natural Features Inventory. 2007. Rare Species Explorer (Web Application). Available online at http://web4.msue.msu.edu/mnfi/explorer [Accessed Nov 23, 2009]