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Cypripedium fasciculatum

Kellogg ex S. Wats.

Clustered Lady's-slipper

G4Apparently Secure Found in 50 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
G4Apparently SecureGlobal Rank
VulnerableIUCN
HighThreat Impact
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.159788
Element CodePMORC0Q060
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
IUCNVulnerable
CITESAppendix II
Endemicendemic to a single nation
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassMonocotyledoneae
OrderOrchidales
FamilyOrchidaceae
GenusCypripedium
Other Common Names
clustered lady's slipper (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodLegacy Rank calculation - Excel v3.1x
Review Date2018-02-05
Change Date1994-02-08
Edition Date2018-02-05
Edition AuthorsVrilakas, Sue; rev. R. Bittman 5/2005, rev. A. Tomaino (2018)
Threat ImpactHigh
Range Extent200,000-2,500,000 square km (about 80,000-1,000,000 square miles)
Number of Occurrences> 300
Rank Reasons
The species' large overall range and the number of known populations suggest that the taxon is not in immediate danger. However, the small size of most populations, their isolated nature, evidence of decline, and threats including timber harvest and soil disturbing activities, warrant concern for the species' long-term survival throughout its range.
Range Extent Comments
Cypripedium fasciculatum occurs in disjunct areas of mountain ranges in the west (Coast Ranges, Cascades, Sierra Nevadas, Rockies), from Washington, Idaho to Montana, Oregon to central California, and Utah, Wyoming, and Colorado (Flora of North America Editorial Committee 2002). Falsely reported from British Columbia (Kartesz 1999).
Occurrences Comments
Number of extant occurrences is in Oregon 514, Idaho 115, Wyoming 29, and Utah 11 (NatureServe Network Database as of November 2017). There are 270 observations in Montana which represent 10 moderate to large populations, 3 historical occurrences and many additional small occurrences (Montana Natural Heritage Program 2018). California does not actively track occurrences but Kaye and Cramer (2005) analyzed 302 California populations in National Forests that were last seen in 1980 or later. Washington and Colorado watch list the species and have an unknown number of occurrences.
Threat Impact Comments
Threatened by timber harvest activities, ground disturbing activities such as power line and road construction/maintenance, and high intensity wildfires; Other threats include collecting, trampling, recreation, livestock grazing, fuel reduction practices, alterations to hydrology, mining, and invasive plants (Kaye and Cramer 2005; Lichthardt 2003, Fertig 2000; Vance 2005; CNPS 2018). "Climate change has the potential to negatively affect population viability for C. fasciculatum, especially in the lower elevation sites" (Gray et al. 2012).
Ecology & Habitat

Description

Clustered Lady's-slipper is a perennial with densely hairy, solitary stems, which are 5-20 cm tall and arise from a rhizome. There is a single leaf wrapped around the base of the stem and one pair of sessile, opposite leaves located near the top of the stem; these leaves are broadly elliptic to oval-shaped and are 4-8 cm broad. The 2-4 flowers are tightly clustered at the top of the stem, and each is subtended by a green, lance-shaped bract. The 3 narrowly lance-shaped sepals are 12-25 mm long and greenish brown to purplish with purple lines or spots; the lower 2 are united nearly to the tip. The 2 upper petals are similar to the sepals in shape and color; the lower petal is pouch-shaped, shorter than the sepals, and greenish yellow with brownish-purple margins and often a purple tinge. The ovary and mature capsule are densely hairy.

Diagnostic Characteristics

Cypripedium fasciculatum is a distinctive orchid which is easily identifiable in flower and fruit. Its leaves appear to be opposite but they are actually subopposite, joined to the stem almost but not exactly in the same spot about midway up the stem. Species in the genus LISTERA resemble this orchid but are much smaller, have prominent hairs, and flowers arranged in an elongate inflorescence.

Habitat

C. fasciculatum is found on ultrabasic soils, granitics, schists, limestone and quartz-diorite. Populations have been reported from rocky to loamy soils in damp to dry sites. They are found in mixed evergreen, mixed conifer, and Douglas-fir forests and in pine and black oak stands. Populations are generally found in areas of from 60 -100% shade provided by tree canopy or shrubs (Rice 1984).

Ecology

Cypripedium fasciculatum maintains a mycorrhizal association into maturity (Whitridge and Darlene Southworth 2005). "Digestion of fungal biomass in root cells supplies C. fasciculatum with substantial proportions of both carbon and nitrogen" (Whitridge and Darlene Southworth 2005).
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest/WoodlandForest - Conifer
Other Nations (1)
United StatesN4
ProvinceRankNative
WashingtonS3Yes
IdahoS3Yes
ColoradoS3Yes
WyomingS3Yes
OregonS2Yes
CaliforniaS4Yes
UtahS2Yes
MontanaS3Yes
Threat Assessments
ThreatScopeSeverityTiming
2 - Agriculture & aquacultureSmall (1-10%)Slight or 1-10% pop. decline—
2.3 - Livestock farming & ranchingSmall (1-10%)Slight or 1-10% pop. decline—
3 - Energy production & miningSmall (1-10%)Slight or 1-10% pop. decline—
4 - Transportation & service corridorsRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline—
5 - Biological resource useLarge (31-70%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline—
5.2 - Gathering terrestrial plantsSmall (1-10%)Slight or 1-10% pop. decline—
5.3 - Logging & wood harvestingRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline—
6 - Human intrusions & disturbanceSmall (1-10%)Slight or 1-10% pop. decline—
6.1 - Recreational activitiesSmall (1-10%)Slight or 1-10% pop. decline—
7 - Natural system modificationsRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline—
7.1 - Fire & fire suppressionRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline—
7.2 - Dams & water management/useSmall (1-10%)Slight or 1-10% pop. decline—
8 - Invasive & other problematic species, genes & diseasesSmall (1-10%)Slight or 1-10% pop. decline—
8.1 - Invasive non-native/alien species/diseasesSmall (1-10%)Slight or 1-10% pop. decline—
11 - Climate change & severe weatherRestricted (11-30%)Moderate or 11-30% pop. decline—

—

Plant Characteristics
DurationPERENNIAL
Economic Value (Genus)Yes
Roadless Areas (50)
California (17)
AreaForestAcres
Bald RockPlumas National Forest4,675
Black ButteMendocino National Forest15,461
Bucks LakePlumas National Forest680
ChanchelullaShasta-Trinity National Forest3,915
GrindstoneMendocino National Forest26,031
KangarooKlamath National Forest40,617
Middle ForkPlumas National Forest29,278
Middle YubaTahoe National Forest7,379
Pilot CreekSix Rivers National Forest9,192
RussianKlamath National Forest21,771
Salt GulchShasta-Trinity National Forest6,511
SnoozerKlamath National Forest23,414
South ForkShasta-Trinity National Forest16,786
ThatcherMendocino National Forest16,652
Weaver BallyShasta-Trinity National Forest829
West YubaTahoe National Forest16,059
Wilderness ContiguousMendocino National Forest3,606
Colorado (3)
AreaForestAcres
Dome PeakRoutt NF35,716
Pagoda PeakRoutt NF57,676
Troublesome SouthRoutt NF47,359
Idaho (3)
AreaForestAcres
Bighorn - WeitasNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest254,845
North Lochsa SlopeNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest117,662
West Meadow CreekNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest115,949
Montana (6)
AreaForestAcres
Bear - Marshall - Scapegoat - SwanLewis and Clark National Forest344,022
Bmss Ra 1485Flathead National Forest334,275
Marble PointLolo National Forest12,581
Patricks Knob - North CutoffLolo National Forest16,970
Sheep Mountain - StatelineLolo National Forest37,844
South Siegel - South CutoffLolo National Forest13,474
Oregon (4)
AreaForestAcres
Calf - Copeland CreekUmpqua National Forest15,696
Cougar BluffUmpqua National Forest5,574
Limpy RockUmpqua National Forest6,782
Williams CreekUmpqua National Forest5,844
Utah (6)
AreaForestAcres
0401005Ashley National Forest38,930
0401007Ashley National Forest16,483
418040Uinta National Forest1,702
Lone Peak ContiguousWasatch-Cache National Forest874
Mt. AireWasatch-Cache National Forest9,681
White PineWasatch-Cache National Forest1,942
Washington (6)
AreaForestAcres
Big Lava BedGifford Pinchot National Forest19,043
Devils GulchWenatchee National Forest24,419
EntiatWenatchee National Forest72,617
Lion RockWenatchee National Forest4,692
Norse PeakWenatchee National Forest10,169
TeanawayWenatchee National Forest72,849
Wyoming (5)
AreaForestAcres
East Fork EncampmentMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest7,445
Encampment River AdditionMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest4,996
Middle ForkMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest13,238
Rock CreekMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest18,874
Snowy RangeMedicine Bow-Routt National Forest29,660
References (35)
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