In 2023, the Ottawa Orchid Society Conservation Committee conducted a census of the Cypripedium reginae population in the Purdon Conservation Area. This is what the report found.
The Purdon Conservation Area is home to a large population of showy lady’s slippers (Cypripedium reginae). Since 1985, the population has been censused four times, allowing to monitor the showy lady’s-slipper long-term population trend.
The 2023 census counted a total of 6357 Cypripedium reginae stems, including seedlings, flowering, and vegetative stems. The population has experienced a significant drop from the previous count of 8020 stems in 2009. Moreover, we observe a continuous decline in the total number of stems since 1985.
The causes of fluctuations in showy lady’s-slipper abundance are not clear but could include drought, herbivory, and pollinator limitation. Pursuing monitoring of the population and collecting information of the potential causes of fluctuations in orchid abundance will be crucial in determining the best conservation and management practices for the future.
