Executive Summary 



Surveys in 1995 by Montana Natural Heritage Program and Kootenai National Forest botanists 

 located five new occurrences of small yellow lady's slipper ( Cypripedium calceolus var. 

 parviflorum ) and two new occurrences of sparrow's egg lady's slipper (C passerinum ) on the 

 Kootenai National Forest. There are now 15 occurrences of C. calceolus var. parviflorum and 6 

 occurrences of C passerinum known from the Forest. The populations of both species on 

 Kootenai National Forest are potential conservation strategy contributions from a state and 

 regional office perspective in terms of their distribution and/or population sizes. Populations of 

 these sensitive orchid species are restricted to calcareous wetlands on the Fortine and Libby 

 Ranger Districts. The local distribution of these plants appears to be further restricted by 

 grazing; significant numbers were found only in areas where cattle are excluded. This status 

 report summarizes available species' information to date, augmenting guidebook information as a 

 reference and planning tool. 



IV 



