Small White Lady’s Slipper
Tall grass prairie, dry-mesic hillsides, low calcerous prairies, and calcerous fens were once the domain of the Small White Lady's Slipper. Now, as a result of urban and agricultural development, its habitat has changed to forest margins and clearings, and boggy or swampy woodland areas. The Small White Lady's Slipper prefers alkaline soil (pH > 7), and requires a southerly exposure with the opportunity for full sun. If its growing area gets too shady or overrun with other plants, the Small White Lady's Slipper will be crowded out, and become etoilated. The leaves and stem are the fragrant parts that attract insect pollinators, mostly bees. The stem and leaves have on them glandular hairs that secrete a toxic substance that can cause a reaction on the skin of many people.  Historically, the Small White Lady's Slipper was abundant throughout 16 mid-Western states, and Southern Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan. Today there are only isolated populations in 11 states and southern Manitoba and Ontario. Although extant in Saskatchewan, populations can be found in the Southern Interlake district and Brandon area in South-central Manitoba, and in Lambton and Hastings Counties of Ontario. It should be noted that the southern parts of Ontario, Manitoba and Saskatchewan were the northern limit of the species' original distribution.
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