Minnesota Wild Flowers in Danger!

I would consider myself pretty in tune to perennials that grow well in Minnesota. I was unaware, however, of how many native Minnesota Wild Flowers are actually threatened or of "special concern."  Did you know there are Orchids that are native to MN wetlands?  I had no idea!

Here's the list from Wikepedia:

Short's aster Aster shortii (threatened)

Three-leaved coneflower Rudbeckia triloba var. triloba (special concern)

Northern gentian Gentiana affinis (special concern)

Soft goldenrod Solidago mollis (special concern)

Northern paintbrush Castilleja septentrionalis (endangered)

Floating marsh marigold Caltha natans (endangered)

Alpine milk vetch Astragalus alpinus (endangered)

Missouri milk vetch Astragalus missouriensis (special concern)

Slender milk vetch Astragalus flexuosus (special concern)

Clasping milkweed Asclepias amplexicaulis (special concern)

Narrow-leaved milkweed Asclepias stenophylla (endangered)

Prairie milkweed Asclepias hirtella (threatened)

Sullivant's milkweed Asclepias sullivantii (threatened)

Ram's head orchid Cypripedium arietinum (threatened)

Tubercled rein orchid Platanthera flava var. herbiola (endangered)

Western prairie fringed orchid Platanthera praeclara (threatened)

Western prairie fringed orchid Platanthera praeclara (threatened)

Small shinleaf Pyrola minor (special concern

Nuttall's sunflower Helianthus nuttallii ssp. rydbergii (special concern)

Lance-leaved violet Viola lanceolata (threatened)

Yellow prairie violet Viola nuttallii (threatened)

All of the above links and pictures are from Wikipedia. Another great resource for Minnesota Wild Flowers is http://www.minnesotawildflowers.info/page/home