Endangered Plants of the Boreal Forest

Lady 's Slipper

• The lady's slipper is a flower from the orchid family that is an endangered species. Lady's slippers come in many different colors, but all resemble the slipper that a lady would wear, hence the name. Deforestation threatens the life of this orchid in the boreal forest. Lady's slippers live at the base of trees and live off the rich compost provided by decaying leaves. The more trees that are cut down, the more lady's slippers are destroyed. In places the lady's slippers persist, the orchid is continually watched and protected by rangers, scientists and even police in some locations, according to a conservation assessment prepared by the USDA.

Methuselah's Beard

• Methuselah's beard is an endangered lichen of the boreal forest. Methuselah's beard hangs from the branches of trees and looks very much like the long beard of an old man. It is the longest lichen in the world and very sensitive to pollution. Scientists use the lichen as a guide for measuring air quality. The more of the lichen that dies, the lower the air quality. In areas where the lichen can flourish and spread, the air quality is much higher. Threats to Methuselah's beard come from two different sources: the pollution from the machines cutting down the trees, and the actual loss of the trees in which the lichen grows and lives.

Whorled Pogonia

• The whorled pogonia is a threatened plant in the boreal forest. This flower is also in the orchid family, but only grows about 10 to 14 inches tall. The stem has five leaves that encircle two small, greenish-yellow flowers. Due to habitat loss, as well as being picked and stepped on by hikers, the number of whorled pogonias has dropped. Wherever whorled pogonias are found growing, there are only about 20 plants per location. The flower has disappeared from several U.S. states altogether, making the boreal forest one of the last places to find the wildflower.