PROTECTING WISCONSIN'S BIODIVERSITY

 
 
   
 
Scientific Name Common Name Global Rank State Rank Federal Status WI Status

Northern Yellow Lady's-slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum var. makasin)

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Photo by Kevin Doyle

 

Counties with Mapped NHI Occurrences

Northern Yellow Lady's-slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum var. makasin), a Wisconsin Special Concern plant, is found in fens, calcareous swales, and rich springy forest edges. Blooming occurs late-May through late-June, fruiting late-June through late-July. The optimal identification period for this species is late-May through early-July.

Cypripedium calceolus, Cypripedium pubescens

 
 
 

Northern yellow lady's slipper, an erect forb, has one or two flowers with a pouch yellow, 2-3cm long and usually veined with purple. Its sepals and lateral petals are greenish-yellow to purplish-brown, narrow, and 3-5cm long, its lower sepals are united, narrower, and bidentate at the tip. Its fruit is a capsule with tiny seeds. It has oval to lance-egg-shaped leaves, 6-20cm long

It is distinguished from C parviflorum var pubescens by its smaller pouch (2-3cm vs 3-5cm) smaller overall stature, and habitat preference (moist calcareous swamps and fens vs deciduous forests).

Blooming occurs late-May through late-June, fruiting late-June through late-July.

Perennial. The optimal identification period for this species is late-May through early-July.

Associated species include Acer saccharum, Thuja occidentalis, Pinus strobus, Cypripedium reginae, Abies balsamea, Carex disperma, C trisperma, Cornus stolonifera, Alnus rugosa, and Gentiana andrewsii.

Northern yellow lady's-slipper is found in fens, calcareous swales, and rich springy forest edges.

Avoid known individual plant locations and conduct operations elsewhere when they are least likely to cause damage. Ideally, this would involve frozen, snow-covered ground. However, in areas of the state where frozen conditions are unreliable, very dry soils late in the growing season might be the best available alternative. Consult with a biologist, if needed.

Avoid locating landings, staging areas, or access routes on or near known populations.

Avoid broadcast spraying of herbicides and use care with spot spraying.

Prescribed burns and/or brushing may be beneficial, dependent on local site conditions and burn frequency. Rotational burns with annual unburned refugia may be preferred.

Minimize disturbance to hydrology, including soil disturbance from rutting.

Maintain and restore open habitat through selective clearing and brushing.

Survey for and control invasive plants prior to conducting timber operations, as these can be spread by vehicles and often respond vigorously to increased light. See forestry BMPs for invasive species.

Species of Greatest Conservation Need (SGCN) are associated with habitats (or natural communities) and places on the landscape. Understanding relationships among SGCN, natural communities and ecological landscapes help us make decisions about issues affecting SGCN and their habitat and how to respond. Download the Wildlife Action Plan association score spreadsheet to explore rare species, natural communities and ecological landscape associations

Conservation actions respond to issues or threats, which adversely affect species of greatest conservation need (SGCN) or their habitats. Besides actions such as restoring wetlands or planting resilient tree species in northern communities, research, surveys and monitoring are also among conservation actions described in the Wisconsin Wildlife Action Plan because lack of information can threaten our ability to successfully preserve and care for natural resources.