Manitoba’s Species At Risk

Endangered Western prairie fringed orchid praeclara

Any native Manitoba species he Western prairie fringed orchid To produce seed, a flower must be threatened to disappear T (Platanthera praeclara) is a provincially pollinated. Sphinx moths pollinate flowers through all or most of its and nationally endangered wildflower, by removing the pollen-bearing structures Manitoba range. Endangered occurring in Manitoba and seven American from one flower and transporting them to species are declared as such by states. It is a perennial that can grow to a another. Sphinx moths are nocturnal and regulation under the height of 40 to 88 cm (16 to 35 inches). are attracted to the flowers at night, when Act. the flowers produce a scent. Flowers are arranged in a spike of four to 33 (most often less than 20) white to Seed capsules mature by late August or creamy white flowers. Flowers are fragrant early September. Seeds are very small, and at night to attract the moths that are its may be dispersed by either wind or water. pollinators. To distinguish a Western Successful germination requires the prairie fringed orchid from other orchids assistance of mycorrhizae, soil fungi that look for its large, white flowers with deeply help the take up soil nutrients. New fringed margins and its large size, relative may grow for many years before to other Manitoba orchids. producing flowers.

Habitat Distribution

In Manitoba, the Western prairie fringed The orchid occurs from Manitoba, south to orchid can be found in calcareous , east to and west to central (calcium-rich, or alkaline) prairies and wet . Manitoba’s orchid population, meadows, typically growing with tall located in and around the Tall Grass Prairie prairie grasses, sedges and some shrubs. Preserve near Vita, is the largest single It most often grows in relatively population of this species anywhere in undisturbed grassland, however the orchid its range, and the only Canadian site for can also be seen in disturbed sites such as this species. roadside ditches. Status Life History The Western prairie fringed orchid is The Western prairie fringed orchid is a considered provincially very rare by the perennial, surviving from one year to Manitoba Conservation Data Centre, another as an underground stem. The and globally rare by the Association for lower flowers on the flowering spike open Biodiversity Information. Threats to the by the third week of June, and by the species include conversion of native prairie second week of July, most flowers have habitat, draining, spraying of herbicides, opened. Flowers last for several days. overgrazing and annual haying before plants have produced seed. Manitoba’s Species At Risk Cool Facts changes in the population and finding new sites for the plant. Several research projects have also been done in an attempt to better The Manitoba population understand the biology of this species. of Western prairie fringed orchids is the largest in the world. Get invoved in recovery Approximately 50 percent of all known plants occur in Manitoba, If you have a Western prairie fringed on in a 48 km2 (19 square mile) your property, congratulations. Your land area west of Vita. management skills have helped to maintain the population of one of the rarest plants in Canada. Contact the Wildlife Branch, or The number of flowering plants your nearest Manitoba Conservation office, fluctuates from year to year. if you would like more information on In Manitoba, the highest number what you can do to further enhance your of flowering plants ever land for this and other native Manitoba observed was approximately plant and animal species. 21,000. One year earlier only If you see a Western prairie fringed 2,000 flowering plants orchid, contact Manitoba Conservation were observed. The Western prairie fringed orchid is listed at one of the numbers listed below. as Endangered by regulation 25/98 under the Manitoba Endangered Species Act. Manitoba Conservation The orchid has also been assigned a status Wildlife Branch The Tall Grass Prairie Preserve of Endangered by the Committee on the Box 24, 200 Saulteaux Crescent contains about 50 percent of all Status of Endangered Wildlife in Canada Winnipeg, Manitoba Western prairie fringed orchids (COSEWIC). It is listed as Threatened in R3J 3W3 found in Manitoba. the United States by the Endangered Species (204) 945-7764 www.gov.mb.ca/natres/wildlife/index.html Act, and is also listed under several state endangered species acts. •

The Western prairie fringed Stewardship and Recovery Manitoba Conservation orchid is specially adapted Eastern Regional Office In 1995 the Canadian Nature Federation to be pollinated by sphinx moths Lac du Bonnet which can reach down its long produced a recovery plan for Western (204) 345-1427 nectar spur with their tongues, and prairie fringed orchid. A key component is can transfer pollen from flower to the protection of critical habitat for the • flower in the process. species. The Manitoba Tall Grass Prairie Partners in production of this fact sheet: Preserve protects over 2,100 hectares Manitoba Conservation, Wildlife Branch (5,200 acres) of habitat for native prairie Environment Canada, Canadian Wildlife Service, Manitoba Cattle Producers Association species, including the Western prairie The Western prairie fringed fringed orchid. orchid grows under very specific soil Staff of the Tall Grass Prairie Preserve have conditions, and with the assistance been performing surveys of the Western of mycorrhizae, soil fungi that assist prairie fringed orchid since 1992, observing the plant in taking up soil nutrients.

Extirpated Species Endangered Species Threatened Species Vulnerable Species Any species once native to Any native Manitoba species Any native Manitoba species likely Species not regulated under Manitoba that has disappeared threatened to disappear through to become endangered or at risk the Endangered Species Act through all of its Manitoba range. all or most of its Manitoba range. due to low or declining numbers in but which could eventually Extirpated species are declared as Endangered species are declared Manitoba if the factors affecting it be considered Endangered such by regulation under the as such by regulation under the don’t improve. Threatened species or Threatened if the factors Endangered Species Act. Endangered Species Act. are declared as such by regulation affecting them do not under the Endangered Species Act. improve.