Rare Plants of South Dakota

Please cite this webpage as: South Dakota Natural Heritage Program. 2018. Rare Plants of South Dakota. South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks, Pierre, South Dakota. https://gfp.sd.gov/rare-plants/. Accessed (today's date).

Scientific Name	Common Name	Global Rank	State Rank	Comment	Federal Status	State Status
Adiantum capillus-veneris	Southern Maidenhair-fern	G5	S1	Single occurrence on Cascade Creek of S B Hills.
Adiantum pedatum	Northern Maidenhair-fern	G5	SH	Last collected in 1941 from Spearfish Mtn.
Adoxa moschatellina	Musk-root	G5	S4	Higher elevations of the B Hills.
Agastache scrophulariifolia	Purple Giant Hyssop	G4	S2	Few collections from e SD.
Agoseris aurantiaca	Orange Mountain-dandelion	G5	S2	Reported from nw Black Hills.
Agrimonia pubescens	Downy Agrimony	G5	SU	Single 1969 collection from Newton Hills.
Allium drummondii	Drummond's Wild Onion	G5	SU	Reported from Shannon Co.
Anemone quinquefolia	Wood Anemone	G5	S2	Known from 4 forests in ne SD.
Antennaria dimorpha	Dwarf Pussytoes	G5	SU	Two collections from the Black Hills.
Arabis canadensis	Sicklepod	G5	S2	Rich forests of e SD.
Aralia racemosa	American Spikenard	G4G5	S3	Rich forests of e SD.
Aristida longespica	Slimspike Threeawn	G5	S2	Sandy soils along Missouri River
Asarum canadense	Wild-ginger	G5	S2	Known from 2 forests in ne SD.
Asclepias lanuginosa	Wooly Milkweed	G4?	S2	Few recent collections from e SD prairies.
Asclepias sullivantii	Prairie Milkweed	G5	SH	Few collections from 1950's & 60s in se SD.
Asplenium trichomanes	Maidenhair Spleenwort	G5	S3S4	Moist granite outcrops of cent B Hills.
Asplenium viride	Green Spleenwort	G4	S3	Limestone outcrops & soil of n B Hills.
Aster pauciflorus	Marsh Alkali Aster	G4	SH	Last collected in 1959 in nw SD.
Aster pubentior	Flattop Aster	G5	S2S3	Fens & seepage areas of e SD.
Astragalus americanus	Rattlepod	G5	S3	Forested riparian zones of B Hills.
Astragalus barrii	Barr's Milkvetch	G3	S3	Regional endemic including sw SD.
Astragalus kentrophyta	Spiny Milkvetch	G5	SH	Last collected in 1920 from W SD.
Astragalus hyalinus	Summer Orophaca	G4	S2S3	Recently documented in sw SD.
Astragalus miser	A Milk-vetch	G5	SH	Single collection from B Hills in 1895.
Astragalus mollissimus	Wooly Locoweed	G5	SH	Single 1924 collection from SW SD.
Botrychium campestre	Prairie Moonwort	G3G4	S2S3	Native grasslands of the B Hills & e SD.
Botrychium gallicomontanum	Frenchman's Bluff Moonwort	G1	S1	Limestone grasslands of the B Hills.
Botrychium lineare	Slender Moonwort	GNR	S1	Native grasslands of the s B Hills.
Botrychium lunaria	Moonwort Grape-fern	G5	S1S2	Black Hills meadows & grasslands.
Botrychium matricariifolium	Matricary Grape-fern	G5	S1	Rarely collected in e SD & B Hills.
Botrychium multifidum	Leathery Grape-fern	G5	S1	Black Elk Peak area of the B Hills.
Botrychium pallidum	Pale Moonwort	G3	S2S3	Black Hills meadows & grasslands.
Botrychium simplex	Least Grape-fern	G5	S4	B Hills meadows & e SD sand prairie.
Bupleurum americanum	American Thorowax	G5	S1	2006 discovery in Cathedral Spires of B Hills.
Cacalia plantaginea	Indian Plantain	G4G5	SR	Reported but unverified in ne SD.
Calypso bulbosa	Fairy Slipper Orchid	G5	S3	Spruce forests of higher B Hills.
Cardamine concatenata	Toothwort	G5	S2	Few occurrences in forests of e SD.
Carex aggregata	Clustered Sedge	G5	SH	Last collected near Pickerel Lk in 1966.
Carex alopecoidea	Tawny Sedge	G5	S2S3	Wetland margins of e SD & B Hills.
Carex athrostachya	Jointed-spike Sedge	G5	S1	Single recent collection from cent B Hills.
Carex bella	Elegant Sedge	G5	S1	Few occurrences in Black Elk Peak area.
Carex brunnescens	Brownish Sedge	G5	SU	Last collected in 1975 from Black Elk Peak area.
Carex canescens	Gray Sedge	G5	S2	Spruce wetlands of higher B Hills
Carex capillaris	Hair Sedge	G5	S3	Moist B Hills habitats & historically in ne SD.
Carex concinna	Low Northern Sedge	G4G5	S3S4	Uncommonly collected in Black Hills.
Carex intumescens	Swollen Sedge	G5	S3	Few occurrences in Black Elk Peak area.
Carex lacustris	Lake Sedge	G5	S4?	Fens & fresh water wetlands of s & ne SD.
Carex leptalea	Delicate Sedge	G5	S3	Forested wetlands of higher B Hills
Carex occidentalis	Western Sedge	G4	S2	Few occurrences in Black Elk area.
Carex pedunculata	Long-stalked Sedge	G5	S4?	Deciduous forests of B Hills and ne SD.
Carex rupestris	Curly Sedge	G5	S1	Last collected in Black Elk Peak area, 1983.
Carex sparganioides	Bur Sedge	G5	SH	Last collected in 1928 from forests in se SD.
Carex tribuloides	Blunt-broom Sedge	G5	S1	Single 1992 collection from B Hills springhead wetland.
Carex vaginata	Sheathed Sedge	G5	S1	Discovered in 2009 in Centrail Black Hills.
Carex vesicaria	Inflated Sedge	G5	SH	Single 1962 collection from NE SD.
Carex viridula	Little Green Sedge	G5	S1	Fen habitats of ne SD & historically in B Hills.
Caulophyllum thalictroides	Blue Cohosh	G4G5	S3	Rich forests of e SD.
Ceanothus fendleri	Fendler's Whitethorn	G5	S2	Locallized in sw Black Hills.
Chaenactis douglasii	Douglas' Dusty Maiden	G5	SU	Western species found in nw SD.
Chenopodium subglabrum	Smooth Goosefoot	G3G4	S2	Rarely collected from sand prairies of w SD.
Chrysothamnus parryi	Parry's Rabbit-bush	G5	SU	Reported for sw SD, no specimens.
Cinna arundinacea	Stout Woodreed	G5	SH	Last reported in 1920 from forests of se SD.
Clematis hirsutissima	Sugar Bowls	G4	S2	Uncommon in grasslands of sw SD.
Corallorhiza odontorhiza	Autumn Coral-root	G5	SU	Collected once in 1971 from n B Hills.
Corallorhiza trifida	Pale Coral-root	G5	S3S4	Cool, moist forests at higher elevations of the B Hills.
Coreopsis palmata	Finger Coreopsis	G5	S3	Uncommon in prairies of se SD.
Cornus amomum	Pale Dogwood	G5	SU	Few collections from se SD floodplain forests.
Cryptantha cana	Silver-mounded Candleflower	G5	S2	Regional endemic extending into sw SD.
Cryptantha jamesii	James'Candleflower	G5T5?	S1	Rediscovered in 2004 in SW SD.
Cryptogramma acrostichoides	American Rock-brake	G5	S1	Single collection in 1994 from n Hills rock outcrops.
Cypripedium candidum	Small White Lady's-slipper	G4	S1	Few occurrences in prairies of ne SD.
Cypripedium parviflorum	Yellow Lady's-slipper	G5	S3S4	Forests of B Hills and ne SD.
Cystopteris bulbifera	Bulbil Bladder Fern	G5	S1	Single known occurrence in ne SD.
Dalea cylindriceps	Andean Prairie Clover	G3G4	SH	Single collection in 1926 from SW SD.
Danthonia californica	California Oatgrass	G5	S1	Rare in Black Hills montane meadows.
Deschampsia cespitosa	Tufted Hairgrass	G5	S3	Black Hills wet meadows at higher elevations.
Diarrhena americana	American Beakgrain	G4?	SH	Single collection along Big Sioux River in 1958.
Disporum hookeri	Drops of gold	G5	S2S3	Aspen/birch and mixed forests of n B Hills.
Dryopteris carthusiana	Spinulose Shield Fern	G5	S1	Single 1993 collection from central B Hills.
Echinocereus viridiflorus	Hedgehog Cactus	G5	S3	Native grasslands of s Black Hills.
Elaeagnus commutata	Silverberry	G5	S1	Barely enters n SD, formerly of B Hills.
Eleocharis rostellata	Beaked Spikerush	G5	S1	Single known occurrence on Cascade Creek.
Eleocharis tenuis	Slender Spikerush	G5	S1	Single known occurrence on Minnechaduza Ck.
Elymus diversiglumis	Interrupted Wildrye	G3G4Q	SH	Last collected in 1969 from woodlands of B Hills.
Epipactis gigantea	Stream Orchid	G3G4	S1	Single known occurrence on Cascade Creek.
Equisetum scirpoides	Dwarf Scouring Rush	G5	S3S4	Black Hills riparian forests at higher elevations.
Equisetum variegatum	Variegated Scouring Rush	G5	S1	Few occurrences in Black Hills.
Eragrostis trichodes	Sand Lovegrass	G5	S4?	Uncommon in sandhills of s-cent SD.
Erigeron acris	Bitter Fleabane	G5	SH	Three historical collections from wet meadows in s B Hills.
Erigeron ochroleucus	Buff Fleabane	G5	S3S4	Few collections from B Hills hogback ridge.
Eriogonum visheri	Dakota Buckwheat	G3	S3	Badland outcrops of w SD, sw ND & se MT.
Eriophorum gracile	Slender Cottongrass	G5	S1	Rare in fens of SD.
Eriophorum polystachion	Tall Cottongrass	G5	S3S4	Fens of e SD and the Black Hills.
Erythronium albidum	White Fawn Lily	G5	S1	Single occurrence in se SD forest.
Euphorbia fendleri	Fendler's Spurge	G5	S3S4	Few collections from Mt Mahogany stands of s B Hills.
Eustoma exaltatum	Tulip Gentain	G5	S1	Single recent occurrence in s B Hills.
Fimbristylis autumnalis	Slender Fimbry	G5	SH	Reported but unverified in se SD.
Gentiana affinis	Northern Gentian	G5	S2S3	Montane meadows of B Hills and ne SD.
Gentiana puberulenta	Downy Gentian	G4G5	S4?	Prairies of e SD & disjunct in B Hills.
Gentianopsis procera	Small Fringed Gentian	G5	S2	Fens of e SD.
Geranium maculatum	Wild Cranesbill	G5	S1	Rich forests of e SD.
Gymnocladus dioicus	Kentucky Coffee-tree	G5	S2	Few native stands in forests of se SD.
Haplopappus multicaulis	Branched Goldenweed	G4	S3S4	Regional endemic of seleniferous soils.
Ipomopsis longiflora	White-flowered Gilia	G5	S2	Barely entering sandhills of s SD.
Ipomopsis spicata	Spike Gila	G5	S4?	Uncommon in w SD.
Isoetes melanopoda	Black-footed Quillwort	G5	SH	Single 1924 specimen from Mellette Co. wetland.
Isopyrum biternatum	False Rue Anemone	G5	SH	Single historical report from cent SD.
Juglans nigra	Black Walnut	G5	S4?	Few native stands in forests of se SD.
Juncus alpinoarticulatus	Alpine Rush	G5	S3S4	Permanent wet meadow habitat with fresh water.
Juncus articulatus	Jointed Rush	G5	S1	B Hills wet meadows, historically from ne SD.
Juncus canadensis	Canada Rush	G5	S1	Single known occurrence in s-cent SD.
Juncus marginatus	Margined Rush	G5	S1	Sandy wet meadows of s-cent SD.
Lactuca floridana	Woodland Wild Blue Lettuce	G5	S2	Rare in forests of se SD.
Lechea intermedia	Pinweed	G5	SH	Last collected in 1965.
Ledum groenlandicum	Labrador Tea	G5	SX	Single 1931 collection from n Black Hills.
Lespedeza capitata	Bush Clover	G5	S2	Uncommon in prairies of se SD.
Lesquerella arenosa var. argillosa	Sidesaddle Bladderpod	G5T3	S3	Regional endemic of badlands in sw SD.
Lesquerella montana	Mountain Bladderpod	G5	S1S2	Reported for s Black Hills.
Leucophysalis grandiflora	White Groundcherry	G4?	SX	Several historical collections from Spearfish Canyon.
Lewisia pygmaea	Alpine Bitterroot	G5	S1S2	Montane meadows of the Black Hills.
Liatris pycnostachya	Cattail Gayfeather	G5	S1	Rare in ne SD.
Lilium canadense ssp. michiganense	Turk's Cap Lily	G5	S1	Rare in tallgrass prairies of e SD.
Liparis loeselii	Loesel's Twayblade	G5	S1S2	Rare in fens of e SD.
Listera convallarioides	Broad-lipped Twayblade	G5	S1	Few occurrences in springhead wetlands of n B Hills.
Lithophragma glabrum	Bulbus Woodland Star	G4G5	S1S2	Montane meadows of the Black Hills.
Lithospermum caroliniense	Hairy Puccoon	G4G5	S4?	Sandhills of s SD, historically from B Hills.
Lithospermum latifolium	American Gromwell	G4	S1	Single known occurrence in ne SD.
Lobelia kalmii	Kalm's Lobelia	G5	S2	Calcareous fens of ne SD.
Lomatium nuttallii	Nuttall's Desert-parsley	G3	SH	Single 1926 collection from s Black Hills.
Luzula acuminata	Hairy Woodrush	G5	S2S3	Restricted to boreal forest types of n B Hills.
Luzula parviflora	Small-flowered Woodrush	G5	S2S3	Few collections in the n B Hills.
Lycopodium annotinum	Bristly Clubmoss	G5	S1	Few occurrences in n Black Hills.
Lycopodium complanatum	Ground Cedar	G5	S2	Few occurrences in n Black Hills.
Lysimachia quadriflora	Prairie Loosestrife	G5?	S1	Apparently restircted to sandhills of n-cent SD.
Melica bulbosa	Oniongrass	G5	S1	Single 1991 collection from n Black Hills.
Menyanthes trifoliata	Bog Buckbean	G5	S1	Two recent sites known, two historical sites destroyed.
Mertensia ciliata	Streamside Bluebells	G5	S1	Few collections from riparian zones in w SD.
Microseris nutans	Nodding Silver-puffs	G5	S1	Only 3 collected from NW SD.
Mitella pentandra	Five-point Bishop's Cap	G5?	S1	Few occurrences in n Black Hills.
Monarda pectinata	Pony Beebalm	G5	SH	Single 1924 collection from Todd Co.
Monotropa uniflora	Indian Pipe	G5	S1	Rare in forests of eastern SD.
Myriophyllum heterophyllum	Water Milfoil	G5	S1	Two historical & 1recent collection from Brookings Co.
Navarretia intertexta var. propinqua	Great Basin Navarretia	G5T5	SH	Two historical collection from Harding Co.
Nymphaea odorata	White Water-lily	G5	S1	Rare in SE SD.
Oenothera flava	Yellow Evening Primrose	G5	S1	Historically known but few recent finds in w SD.
Oenothera rhombipetala	Fourpoint Evening Primrose	G4G5	S4?	Barely entering sandhills of s SD.
Orobanche uniflora	One-flowered Broomrape	G5	S2	Rarely collected from ne Black Hills.
Oxyria digyna	Mountain Sorrel	G5	S2	Localized in Black Elk Peak area of B Hills.
Panax quinquefolius	American Ginseng	G3G4	S1	Single known occurrence in se SD.
Parnassia glauca	Waxy Bog-star	G5	S3	Calcareous fens of ne SD.
Parnassia palustris	Northern Bog-star	G5	S1	Single occurrence in fen of n-cent SD.
Pedicularis procera	Long-leaved Lousewort	G4G5	S2	Localized near Deerfield in mixed forest & clearings.
Penstemon nitidus	Shining Penstemon	G5	S2	Few occurrences on buttes of nw SD.
Petasites sagittatus	Sweet-coltsfoot	G5	S2	Localized in streamside wetland habitats of n B Hills.
Phacelia linearis	Threadleaf Phacelia	G5	SU	Few reports from sandy soils near the B Hills.
Phleum alpinum	Alpine Timothy	G5	SU	Higher elevations of the cent & n B Hills.
Phlox divaricata	Woodland Blue Phlox	G5	SX	Historically collected in forests of se SD.
Physaria brassicoides	Rydberg's Twinpod	G5	S3	Regional endemic in W SD.
Picradeniopsis woodhousei	Bahia	G4G5	SU	Two 1967 collections from w SD.
Pinus contorta	Lodgepole Pine	G5	S2	Single stand near Nahant & scattered trees elsewhere in n B Hills.
Pinus flexilis	Limber Pine	G5	S1	Localized in Black Elk Peak area of B Hills.
Platanthera dilatata	Northern White Orchid	G5	S1	Rare in wetland habitats of the n B Hills.
Platanthera orbiculata	Round-leaved Orchid	G5	S3	Forested habitats of the n Black Hills.
Platanthera praeclara	Western Prairie Fringed Orchid	G2	SH	Last collected in e SD in 1916.	LT
Poa rupicola	Timberline Bluegrass	G5T3T5	S1	Single known occurrence on Black Elk Peak.
Poa sylvestris	Sylvan Bluegrass	G5	SH	Single 1959 collection from ne SD.
Polanisia jamesii	James' Clammyweed	G5	S4?	Sandy habitats of s-cent & sw SD.
Polygala sanguinea	Blood Milkwort	G5	SU	Reported for SD but no specimens located.
Polypodium virginianum	Rock Polypody	G5	S1	Few occurrences on quartzite outcrops of se SD.
Polystichum lonchitis	Northern Holly-fern	G5	S2S3	Moist forested habitats of n Black Hills.
Polystichum munitum	Western Sword Fern	G5	SH	Single collection from n B Hills in 1967.
Potamogeton amplifolius	Large-leaf Pondweed	G5	S1	Historically in calm, fresh water of e SD, only 2 recent reports.
Potamogeton vaginatus	Sheathed Pondweed	G5	SH	Last observed in Blue Dog Lake in 1962.
Prenanthes alba	White Rattlesnake Root	G5	S2	Restricted to forests of ne SD.
Prenanthes aspera	Rough Rattlesnake-root	G4?	S2	Uncommon in prairies of e SD.
Psoralea linearifolia	Slimleaf Scurfpea	G4?	SU	Two historical and one 1971 report in w SD grasslands.
Pyrola picta	White-veined Wintergreen	G4G5	S3S4	Higher elevation forests of the n B Hills.
Pyrola uniflora	One-flower Wintergreen	G5	S2S3	Mature spruce forests of the n B Hills.
Pyrus ioensis	Iowa Crab-apple	G4G5	SU	Reported for woodlands of se SD, no vouchers yet found.
Rhamnus alnifolia	Alder Buckthorn	G5	SH	Two historical collections from n B Hills.
Rhodiola integrifolia ssp. leedyi	Leedy's Roseroot	G5T1	S1	Single occurrence on granite in the central Black Hills.	LT
Rhynchospora capillacea	Slender Beakrush	G4	S2	Fens of ne SD, historically from s-cent SD.
Salix candida	Sage Willow	G5	S1	Fens of ne SD, single disjunct occurrence in B Hills.
Salix humilis	Prairie Willow	G5	S1	Presently only known from sand prairie of n-cent SD.
Salix lucida	Shining Willow	G5	S1	Single recent collection from cent B Hills.
Salix serissima	Autumn Willow	G4	S1	Saturated, organic soils of n Black Hills.
Sanguinaria canadensis	Bloodroot	G5	S4?	Forests of e SD & disjunct in B Hills.
Saxifraga cernua	Nodding Saxifrage	G4	S1	Moist sites at higher elevations of B Hills.
Saxifraga occidentalis	Western Saxifrage	G5	S2	Few collections from n Black Hills.
Scrophularia marilandica	Maryland Figwort	G5	SH	Last collected from prairie in se SD in 1960.
Senecio spartioides var. spartioides	Broom Groundsel	G5T5	S2	Uncommonly collected in SW SD.
Silphium integrifolium	Entire-leaf Rosinweed	G5	SU	Recently rediscovered in se SD.
Silphium laciniatum	Compass Plant	G5	S3	Tallgrass prairies of se SD.
Smilax ecirrata	Upright Carrion-flower	G5?	SH	Last collected in 1965 in se SD forest.
Solidago riddellii	Riddell's Goldenrod	G5	S1	Rare in fens of E SD.
Solidago velutina	Three-nerved Goldenrod	G5?	SU	Few scattered collections from w SD & BH's.
Sorbus scopulina	Western Mountain Ash	G5	S3S4	Localized in the n Black Hills.
Sparganium emersum	Green-fruited Bur Reed	G5	S1	Rare in Ne SD wetlands.
Spiraea alba	Meadowsweet	G5	S3	Prairies & wet meadows of e SD. Historically in BH's.
Spiranthes cernua	Nodding Ladies' Tresses	G5	S2	Few occurrences in prairies of ne SD.
Spiranthes magnicamporum	Great Plains Ladies' Tresses	G4	S3	Prairie swales & meadows in e & s-cent SD.
Spiranthes vernalis	Twisted Ladies' Tresses	G5	S2	Moist meadows in southeastern most SD.
Stachys tenuifolia	Smooth Hedge-nettle	G5	SU	Single collection in 1989 from floodplain in se SD.
Stipa robusta	Sleepy Grass	G5	S3S4	Uncommon grass of the s Black Hills.
Taenidia integerrima	Yellow Pimpernell	G5	SH	Last collected in 1883 from cent SD.
Thelesperma megapotamicum	Hopi-tea	G5	S3S4	Coarse soiled prairies of sw SD.
Thelypteris palustris	Marsh Fern	G5	S1	Three known occurrences in fen habitats
Townsendia exscapa	Easter Daisy	G5	S4?	Uncommon in grasslands of western SD.
Townsendia grandiflora	Largeflower Townsend-daisy	G4?	S3S4	Grasslands of sw SD.
Townsendia hookeri	Hooker's Townsend-daisy	G5	S3	Sparse grassland & barren substrates of sw SD.
Trifolium beckwithii	Beckwith Clover	G4G5	S1	Prairie swales & meadows in ne SD.
Trillium cernuum	Nodding Trillium	G5	S2	Rich forests of ne SD.
Trillium flexipes	Declining Trillium	G5	SU	Reported for SD but no specimens located.
Trillium nivale	Snow Trillium	G4	S2	Rich forests of se SD.
Triplasis purpurea	Purple Sandgrass	G4G5	SU	Sand prairie & dunes of s SD.
Tripterocalyx micranthus	Sand Puffs	G5	S1S2	Sand prairie & blowouts of nw SD.
Ulmus thomasii	Rock Elm	G5	SH	Last collected in 1960 from forest in se SD.
Utricularia miner	Lesser Bladderwort	G5	S2	Rare in fens of ne SD.
Uvularia grandiflora	Large-flowered Bellwort	G5	S3S4	Rich forests of e SD.
Uvularia sessilifolia	Small-flowered Bellwort	G5	S4	Last collected in 1894 from se SD forest.
Vaccinium macrocarpon	Wild Cranberry	G4	S1	Recently discovered in Black Hills acid fen.
Vaccinium membranaceum	Mountain Huckleberry	G5	S2	Restricted to forests in Lead/Deadwood area.
Veronicastrum virginicum	Culver's Root	G4	S1	Mesic prairie of se SD.
Viburnum edule	Squashberry	G5	S3	Cool, moist forests of Spearfish Ck watershed.
Viola selkirkii	Great-spurred Violet	G5?	S2S3	Moist forests at higher elevations of the B Hills.
Xylorhiza glabriuscula	Woody Aster	G4	S3S4	Seleniferous soils of sw SD.
Zizania aquatica	Wild Rice	G5	S2	Slow streams & lake bays of e SD.

Key to codes used in Natural Heritage Database species list:

FEDERAL STATUS

LE = Listed endangered
LT = Listed threatened
LELT = Listed endangered in part of range, threatened in part of range 
C = Candidate for federal listing, information indicates that listing is justified.
PE = Proposed endangered
PT = Proposed threatened

STATE STATUS

SE = State Endangered
ST = State Threatened

An endangered species is a species in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of its range. (applied rangewide for federal status and statewide for state status)

A threatened species is a species likely to become endangered in the foreseeable future.

Global/State Ranking

Process:

Global ranks are periodically reviewed by species experts and shared throughout the NatureServe Network. State or provincial ranking is the responsibility of individual heritage programs. 

The goal of state, provincial and global species ranking is to assess extinction risk using standard methods. NatureServe and network program staff collect and evaluate data with established tools and methods to assign ranks that are as accurate and consistent as possible given the data available on a species. Major categories assessed during species ranking are rarity, threats and trends. 

South Dakota Heritage Program staff began a comprehensive review of state ranks in 2016. The process should be completed during 2022, with a goal to reassess species ranks at least every five years.

Ranks and definitions:

These are applied rangewide for global rank and statewide for state rank.

G1 S1 Critically imperiled because of extreme rarity (5 or fewer occurrences or very few remaining individuals or acres) or because of some factor(s) making it especially vulnerable to extinction.

G2 S2 Imperiled because of rarity (6 to 20 occurrences or few remaining individuals or acres) or because of some factor(s) making it very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range.

G3 S3 Either very rare and local throughout its range or found locally (even abundantly at some of its locations) in a restricted range, or vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors; in the range of 21 of 100 occurrences.

G4 S4 Apparently secure, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery. Cause for long term concern.

G5 S5 Demonstrably secure, though it may be quite rare in parts of its range, especially at the periphery.

GU SU Unrankable due to lack of information or conflicting information about status or trends.

GH SH Historically known, may be rediscovered.

GX SX Believed extinct, historical records only.

GNR SNR Not yet ranked

GNA SNA Not applicable – A conservation rank is not applicable because the species is not a suitable target for conservation activities.

Rank qualifiers:

_? _? Inexact rank
_C Captive or cultivated only
_Q Taxonomic status is questionable, rank may change with taxonomy

Infraspecific taxon rank:

_T Rank of subspecies or variety