grows along ecotonal margins of spruce (Picea engelmannii . R glauca . or hybrids) habitat 

 types with wetland features such as fens, bogs, streamsides, lakeshores, and springs. The 

 vegetation varies depending on landform, elevation, and geography. Some of the less 

 typical habitats where the species grows in the state include Aspen stands, other 

 coniferous forests such as Douglas fir ( Pseudotsuga menziesii ) habitat types, brushy river 

 bottoms, willow stringers, and disturbed roadsides with other wet site plants. 



On the Kootenai National Forest there is also a range of vegetation types which support 

 Cypripedium calceolus var. parviflorum . but most populations are associated with spruce 

 forest/wetland ecotones. Most sites key to the Picea/ Clintonia uniflora . Picea/Equi serum 

 arvense (Pfister et al. 1977) or Picea/Cornus stolonifera (Hansen et al. 1995) habitat 

 types. At two sites, however, the presence of spruce was not noted on field survey forms, 

 but Douglas fir was present; these are at Glen Creek (054) and near the Confluence of the 

 Kootenai and Fisher Rivers (051). The latter is in draw bottoms dominated by aspen 

 ( Populus tremuloides ) and deciduous shrubs (slide 2 in Appendix C). At a third 

 occurrence, Ant Flat (025), the habitat is also quite different, although the surrounding 

 forest is dominated by spruce; here the orchids grow in willow ( Salix bebbiana ) thickets 

 and in a moist "meadow" with shrubby cinquefoil ( Potentilla fruticosa ). The plants at Ant 

 Flat are very small, perhaps due to low vigor resulting from high levels of competition in 

 the relatively sunny, open habitat. 



The typical ecotonal habitat of Cypripedium calceolus var. parviflorum on the KNF hosts 

 a unique and characteristic assemblage of plants adapted to calcareous wetlands. 

 Deciduous trees which sometimes occur at the sites include Betula papyri fera and 

 Populus balsamifera . Deciduous shrubs often contribute greater canopy cover at the sites 

 than trees; these include Alnus viridis . Betula glandulosa or Betula occidentalis . Cornus 

 stolonifera . Lonicera involucrata and Rhamnus alni folia . Graminoid cover, mostly by 

 small sedges such as Carex interior . Carex cappilaris and Carex leptalea may be moderate 

 to high. Cover by forbs is usually high; common associated forbs include Galium 

 triflorum . Mitella nuda . Petasites sagitatus . Rubus pubescens . and other orchids like 

 Habenaria dilatata and Habenaria saccata . Horsetails are also usually conspicuous and 

 include Equisetum arvense . Equi serum hymale . and Equisetum scirpoides . Moss cover is 

 usually very high in these habitats. 



ECODATA plots were sampled at Brimstone Creek (026), Magnesia Creek (029) and in 

 the Hidden Lake Area (027). This data is provided in Appendix B, and includes complete 

 lists of vascular plant species in the plots and their aerial coverage. Additional associated 

 plant species are listed in the general site description fields of the Element Occurrence 

 Records in Appendix A. Photographic slides showing the vegetation at several sites are 

 included in Appendix C. 



2. Topography: Cypripedium calceolus var. parviflorum grows in glaciated valley or draw 

 bottoms at relatively low elevations on the KNF. Elevations of the population sites range 

 from 2,600 feet at Libby Dam (040) to 3,800 feet at Glen Creek (054) and Magnesia 

 Creek (029). Populations are associated with high watertable features such as wetlands 

 and moist draw bottoms. These are settings of stable ground water discharge, and C 

 calceolus var. parviflorum is usually restricted to the discharge zone. The sites are 

 usually level but at Libby Dam and Glen Creek the plants grow next to streams on 

 moderate slopes. At the wettest sites the plants grow on hummocks, while in more mesic 

 habitats they have a more scattered distribution across flats and in swales. 



3. Soil relationships: Cypripedium calceolus var. parviflorum is adapted to cool, moist, 



