Endangered Species
Since the tall-grass prairie is an endangered ecosystem, some of the associated plants and animals are also scarce.
The western prairie fringed orchid (Platanthera praeclara) is an endangered orchid found in the north block of the Prairie Preserve. It grows in remnant native prairies and wet meadows in the United States and Canada. It is estimated that there are fewer than 4,000 plants in the Preserve, the only Canadian location of this plant. The western prairie fringed orchid is a sturdy, long-lived perennial with creamy-white to white flowers in a cluster 25 centimetres or more in diameter. The lower petal of each flower is delicately fringed. Blooming generally begins in early-July and lasts for three weeks. It is believed that sphinx moths play an important role in pollinating the orchids. These orchids require a companion fungus, known as mycorrhizae, to survive; this fungus is easily destroyed when the plant is dug up.
The small white lady's slipper (Cypripedium candidum) is an endangered orchid found in the wet meadows of the south block of the Prairie Preserve. The population consists of fewer than 1500 plants. Small white lady's slippers grow in clumps, blooming briefly in May and then all but disappearing. The small white lady's slipper cannot reproduce without the presence of a companion fungus, nor can the mature plants live without a symbiotic fungus found within its root system.
Protected under Manitoba's Endangered Species Act, it is unlawful to pick, dig or disturb the surroundings of the small white lady's slippers or the western prairie fringed orchid. The Preserve was established to protect and conserve the native species found there, so please do not pick, dig or collect any of the plants and animals.
