found along each of the following coastal rivers: the Machias River in 

 Machias (region 6), Chandler River in Jonesport (region 6), Penobscot River in 

 Bangor (region 4), Passagassawakeag River in Belfast (region 4), Kennebec 

 River in Topsham (region 2), and at Cape Small Point in Phippsburg (region 2). 

 The last collection was made in 1936 along the Chandler River in Jonesport. 

 Five specimens were collected between 1896 and 1935. 



The endangered variety ( colpophilus ) is recognized as a true variety in the 

 three most recent floras that encompass coastal Maine (Fernald 1950; Gleason 

 and Cronquist 1963; and Seymour 1969). However, H. E. Ahles (personal 

 communication, University of Massachusetts Herbarium, Amherst, MA; November, 

 1979), who is preparing a flora of New England, suggests colpophilus may be an 

 extreme form of ringens that he would not recognize as taxonomically distinct. 

 Experimental evidence, including reciprocal transplants, and critical analysis 

 of key vegetative and reproductive characters would be required to resolve the 

 taxonomic status of this variety. 



Reproduction in the estuary monkey flower is primarily sexual, however short 

 rhizomes used in asexual reproduction are produced also. The flowers are 

 blue, somewhat showy, and asymmetrical in shape. Pollination is done by bees. 

 The flowering period is June through August and the fruit matures between 

 July and September. The fruit capsule opens passively along horizontal 

 sutures. No data are available on seed predation but insects and small 

 mammals are the most likely predators. 



Oil spills, tidal power, hydroelectric power, and trampling pose the greatest 

 threat to the estuary monkey flower. Plants of the more common variety 

 ( ringens ) exposed to oil in Connecticut were completely eliminated after one 

 growing season (Burk 1977). 



Ram's-Head Lady' s-Slipper 



The ram's-head lady ' s-slipper , a threatened orchid, inhabits mixed forests and 

 open white cedar forests. It is found in moist, well-aerated, shady soil. 

 This species' range extends from Nova Scotia and northern New England, west 

 through Quebec, Ontario, and the Great Lakes. It is rare throughout its 

 entire range (Luer 1975). 



The ram's-head lady' s-slipper has been collected in coastal Maine at Cape 

 Elizabeth, South Portland, Gardiner, Bucksport, and Orland. It also has been 

 collected in the nearby townships of Wayne, Old Town, New Gloucester, and 

 Manchester. An estimated 200 to 300 plants were found recently in Wayne 

 (Brower 1977). This is the largest number of plants record in Maine thus far. 



Reproduction in this plant is both sexual (by seeds) and asexual (by 

 offshoots). The flowers are pollinated by bees which are attracted to the 

 flowers by strong odors (no nectar is contained in these flowers). Upon 

 landing on a flower the bees may fall into a pouch and are forced to crawl out 

 under the reproductive structures where cross-fertilization occurs. 



Lumbering, plant collecting, and trampling pose the greatest threats to the 

 ram's-head lady' s-slipper . Insecticides also are a threat because they may be 

 toxic to bees which are necessary for fertilization. 



20-11 



10-80 



