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THE MICHIGAN BOTANIST
Vol. 48
believed to occur in the mosaic of plant communities of the Carney Fen Wetland
Complex in Carney, Michigan.
Plant enthusiasts, who have discovered the existence of rare orchids such as
the ram's head lady's slipper (Cypripedium arietinum) along with other distinctive plant species, have visited the Carney Fen Wetland Complex for many
years. The Carney Fen is located within a complex of wetland communities,
dominated by a rich conifer swamp. The area contains a northern fen, which is
not common in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan (Michigan Natural Features Inventory, 2003). Since this wetland complex harbors a large assemblage of orchid
species, some of which are rare, there is concern for its protection.
Although this wetland is located within state land, very little information is
known about the ecology, plant communities, hydrology, wildlife and function of
the ecosystem as a whole. It is known that this wetland complex contains habitats and soils described by Brzeskiewicz (2000) that support the ram's head
lady's slipper orchid (i.e., cool, slightly acid or neutral soils in dense white
cedar/balsam fir/spruce swamps or in mesic sandy loam or clay textured soil
under the partial shade of a mixed forest). Select areas of the fen are still actively
managed for timber by the Michigan Department of Natural Resources (MI
DNR), however approximately 2325 acres of the Carney Fen Wetland Complex
were officially designated as a Michigan Natural Area in 2009 due to the dedication of many volunteers and in part, this study (Wolfe, 2006).
In this study, 31 known ram's head locations were surveyed in three different
habitat types to describe plant species diversity, vegetative and physiographic
characteristics, and soil properties. Study plots, which did not contain ram's head
orchids, were also surveyed to provide comparative data on ram's head habitat.
Based on the rarity of ram's head lady's slipper and interest in protecting this
wetland complex, this study provides baseline ecological information on a scientifically overlooked area.
METHODS
Study Species
The ram's head lady's slipper is Michigan's smallest native lady's slipper orchid (Case 1987)
having a distinctive conical pouch with purple, crimson or green net-like venation on the lip (Penskar and Higman 1999). It is only 0.7 to 3 dm tall with leaves 3 to 5 in number (Case 1987). The
flower is about the size of a thumbnail, about 1.5 to 2.5 cm long and 1.2 cm wide (Case 1987). The
ram's head lady's slipper can be found growing individually or in clusters of up to 12, blossoming in
mid-May to early June (Brzeskiewicz 2000). They can remain in flower for a week or so if the
weather is cool and the flower is not pollinated (Case 1987). The ram's head lady's slipper does not
produce flowers every year causing difficulties with field identification (Penskar and Higman 1999).
This species has been considered rare for a long time yet this could be due to the fact that it often
goes unnoticed given the small size (Case 1987). A common feature of ram's head habitat is an open,
uncrowded under-story layer with low competition from other plants (Alverson & Solheim 1980).
According to Case (1987), this orchid needs cool soil and shelter from direct sun. Although ram's
head lady's slippers grow to their largest size in swamps and bogs, it is most abundant in the drier
upland habitat commonly growing in multi-stalk clumps (Ostlie 1990).
Study Area
The Carney Fen Wetland Complex, a local name, is located within the Escanaba River State Forest about 4.5 miles west of Carney, Michigan. The Carney Fen is located on a USGS map in the
