In the 2012 President's Budget Request, the National Biological Information Infrastructure (NBII) is terminated. As a result, all resources, databases, tools, and applications within this web site will be removed on January 15, 2012. For more information, please refer to the NBII Program Termination page.
Calypso Orchid [Photo: Kelly Lotts, Big Sky Institute]
The Mountain Prairie Region is home to a wide variety of vegetation that supports a complex array of wildlife. Because the survival of a large number of species depends on its existence, whitebark pine is considered to be a keystone species in subalpine ecosystems. It is in demise throughout its range, in part due to an introduced blister rust fungus. Other native plant species in the Mountain Prairie region are at risk from competing invasive species.
"The PLANTS Database provides standardized information about the vascular plants, mosses, liverworts, hornworts, and lichens of the U.S. and its territories. It includes names, plant symbols, checklists, distributional data, species abstracts, characteristics, images, crop information, automated tools, onward Web links, and references."
Description:A small flowering plant that approaches 4-8 inches tall. Flowers have 5-7 veined petals that are typically pale blue or mauve in color, but are occasionally white or light yellow. Dakota Indians believed this wildflower's song encouraged other plants to awaken. This wildflower is also called the pasque flower, wild crocus, wind flower, and may flower.
Life History:Blooms from mid-April to mid-May, the earliest prairie flower
Habitat:Undisturbed prairies; well-drained, sandy, gravelly soils and roadsides.
Distribution:Found on southward facing slopes throughout the Northwestern United States and up to Northern Alaska. It is the state flower of South Dakota.
