House Bill 4923 (7-1-97) l f , r s e e e c e e e e e e e g n g h d n d d would be drawn to state symbol, it should be the Petoskey Stone. As the eautiful flowers in their own Brater

ating an increase in ecotourism d in affording the protection due resources in the state. Where some r and are already designated by several ate symbols represent natural resources species list, and more people are familia Iris is Michigan's very special wildflower.

chigan. By designating the Dwarf Lake Iris lovers and bird watchers travel to thos This small plant blooms in spring wit This small plant blooms in spring special and unique about the state, and th special and unique about the state, and hey are found in most states lying east of the are found, so will botanists, gardeners, an e trillium. White trilliums are also on th Since the Dwarf Lake Iris can be viewed i Since the Dwarf Lake Iris can be viewed

wildflower. No one else can claim the Dwar it is particularly suited for designation as th it is particularly suited for designation and the province of Ontario in Canada as th purple flowers and is listed as an endangere with other states, certain natural resources ar with other states, certain natural resources Lake Iris is virtually exclusive to Michiga er) ichigan Nature Association nature preserves and ichigan Nature Association nature preserves where morels and rare birds (e.g. the Kirtlan area in 1810, the Dwarf Lake Iris grows alon area in 1810, the Dwarf Lake Iris grows

f s, igan. In short, state symbols should symboliz In short, state symbols should nature lovers travel to northern Michigan to se Iris as theirs because 95 percent of the flower n endangered species. Plus, just as more nating the Dwarf Lake Iris as the state wildflower symbols play an important role in highlightin symbols play an important wildflower. First discovered in the Mackina wildflower. First discovered in the e nd e boosting the economy in northern regions of th boosting the economy in northern regions shroom whit northern shorelines of Lake Huron and Lak northern shorelines of Lake Huron the P.H. Hoeft state park in Presque Isle County the P.H. Hoeft state park in Presque mething the official wildflower, attention a aces her ate. official the flower that would ai to ADOPT STATE WILDFLOWER STATE ADOPT 4923 as introduced House Bill (7-1-97) First Analysis Liz Sponsor: Rep. Affairs Committee: Regulatory ARGUMENTS: For: State with them. Response: White trilliums are indeed b right, but t Mississippi Rive states Lak grow in Mi as mu wildlife and natural of Michigan's st shared unique to Michigan, such as Dwar shore stat Isla the Mich vibrant species. five M at st so Dwarf Lake Against: If a wildflower is adopted as a the endangered pl Warbl ot this rare wildflower. desig has the potential of gener and l f . f f , s e a c e e y n m Iri Page 1 of 2 Pages has adopted white-tailed deer ) has been nominated very pretty flower, the The plant grows along inted turtle). Just recently, n proposed to designate the However, Michigan has not Iris lacustris ( e "Isle Royale Greenstone"), a state f the Dwarf Lake Iris being unique to bird (the robin), a state tree (the white Iris has been designated as an endangered segment of the Upper Peninsula and th segment of the Upper Peninsula and ninety-five percent of the world's Dwar the Dwarf Lake Iris has been found onl the Dwarf Lake Iris has been found tip of the lower peninsula. Outside o tip of the lower peninsula. Outside ) as the official state wildflower. state stone (the Petoskey Stone), a state ge state stone (the Petoskey Stone), a state e brook trout), a state soil (the Kalkaska soi e brook trout), a state soil (the Kalkaska of botanical and nature groups. The Dwar of botanical and nature groups. The he shores of the Door Peninsula in Wisconsin ymbols. Michigan has a state flower (the appl ymbols. Michigan ill would designate the Dwarf Lake Iris ( tedly, Lake Act 15 of 1997 designated the in 1810 by a naturalist, Thomas Nuttall in 1810 by a naturalist, Thomas a gan, ake Michigan and Lake Huron shorelines of th ake Michigan and Lake Huron shorelines t Michigan became a state in 1837, it Michigan became a Iris was first discovered on or near Mackina Iris was first discovered on or near s b (th nd thern i Manitoulin Island and the Bruce Peninsula L a candidate for designation as state wildflower by a candidate for designation as state wildflower ke utheastern rious objects, animals, and plants to serve as official rious objects, animals,

lacustris FISCAL IMPLICATIONS: Fiscal information is not available. as the flower as the official state wildflower. THE CONTENT OF THE BILL: The THE APPARENT PROBLEM: THE APPARENT Since va state blossom), a state pine), (chlorastrolite, or th fish series), and a state reptile (pa Public as the state game mammal. number La Isla Repor Lake Iris plants are in Michigan. so nor Michi along and Ontario, Canada. Described as a Dwarf species. In light o Michigan, legislation has bee as yet adopted a state wildflower. The Dwarf Lake Iris House Bill 4923 (7-1-97) e Page 2 of 2 Pages the bill. (6-17- Analyst: S. Stutzky ature Association supports the bill. (6- supports the ature Association gan Environmental Council supports the bill. gan Environmental Council niversity of Michigan Herbarium supports th niversity of Michigan U Michigan Botanical Club supports Michigan Botanical POSITIONS: N The Michigan 25-97) Areas Council supports the bill. The Michigan Natural (6-16-97) The 97) The Michi (6-24-97) The bill. (3-18-97)