Cedar Creek Natural History Area

Plants of Cedar Creek

The Orchid Family is well represented at Cedar Creek, and is looked for by many visitors to the Area.  16 species in 10 genera have been found here.

Most familiar to the layperson are the large attractive Lady Slippers, four species in the genus Cypripedium.  The most common is C. calceolus (Yellow Lady Slipper).  It occurs in lowland woods off Crone’s Knoll, and elsewhere.  There used to be a colony of C. reginae (Showy Lady Slipper) behind Lawrence Cabin, but it no longer persists.  C. acaule (Stemless Lady Slipper) is an uncommon species of lowland woods (Orchid Island, FLNT). C. arietinum (Ram’s-head Lady Slipper) occurs in the lowland woods east of Crone’s Knoll.  It may well have been planted there.  It has persisted vegetatively for many years, but only flowers sporadically.

Calopogon tuberosus (Grass Pink Orchid) and Pogonia ophioglossoides (Rose Pogonia) are two attractive orchids found along the perimeter of MEM (south of Fish Lake).  The latter has not been seen in several years.

Four species of Platanthera (Fringed Orchids) are found on the Area.  P. psychodes (Purple Fringed Orchid) occurs in lowland woods just west of the creek crossing on Anoka Co. 24.  P. lacera (Ragged Fringed Orchid) occurs in shallow marshes (MEM).  P. hyperborea (Tall leafy Green Orchid) and P. obtusata (Blunt-leaved Orchid) are rare species of  marsh and open swamp.

Spiranthes cernua (Nodding Ladies’ Tresses) is an uncommon species of wet marshes (Reiling Fen). Goodyera pubescens (Rattlesnake Plantain) occurs along the north edge of Crone’s Knoll.  Possibly planted?

The most common species of lowland woods is Corallorrhiza trifida (Early Coral Root).  This six inch tall orchid with pale yellow flowers frequents most wooded swamp edges.  The following are three uncommon inconspicuous orchids.  Liparis loeselii  (Loesel's Twayblade) is found in the swamp behind the Lab,  Malaxis unifolia (Green Adder’s Mouth) is found at  MEM, and Listera cordata  (Heartleaf Twayblade) is found on sphagnum hummocks bordering Cedar Bog Lake.