Observations by picarlson

Several specimens found in a manhole by DPW personnel. Location was humid, but no standing water, dark. Webs were observed on the sides of the manhole. for size comparison, red lid is 3 inches across. Dickinson Co, Breitung Twsp, Michigan's U.P.

Saw numerous plants this day along the Sturgeon and Menominee rivers. Saw more on 7/31/16 on a different part of the Sturgeon. This is not my first encounter with this species, we have seen it for years at many locations.

This is the first time I have ever seen Cardinal flower in Dickinson Co. It does grow along the Menominee River in Menominee Co. Plants were in a back water of the Sturgeon river. One plant by it's self and 5 plants together on the opposite side of the back water.

Property owners found 1 plant in 2014. They have now located 3 plants. 2 plants are 19.5 inches high, the 3rd is only 10in high. Flower is off white w/a tinge of green. Lip is un-evenly fringed, spur is longer than the flower. Flowers average 1/2in long (tip of lip to tip of dorsal sepal), Spurs averaged 3/4in long. Habitat is an abandoned farm field. Field had previously been stripped of top soil and is now a mostly open weedy field (grasses, clovers, common milkweed, daisy, blackeyed susan, bedstraw) with some volunteer White pine, White spruce and Balsam poplar.
2 plants growing in a sunnier location were in bloom. 3rd plant was growing in a shadier area and was only in bud. Soil is a sandy loam and dries out quickly.

This is a population of Parnassia palustris that I have been watching for several years. Population seems to be increasing slightly and I found another small population in a nearby abandoned barrow pit.

Found small population of Autumn Coralroot, Corallorhiza odontorhiza, I believe var. pringlei. I have observed this var previously in Grand Marais, MI. I did not have a chance to explore more of the area to check for more plants. There were several dozen plants in this one area. Most of the flower lips had turned brown and some of the seed pods were starting to open. I was able to find 1 plant w/ a few observable flowers on it. Next year I will attempt to find them earlier in the season for better photos and check for additional populations.

Found several groups of Clubspur orchid (Platanthera clavellata) along a powerline. Groups ranged from just a few plants to many plants.
Area ranged from very wet to damp, sunny to semi shaded. Mossy w/sedges, cranberry, bunchberry, blueberry, dogwood, etc. Largest population was around a wet sunny in the middle of the powerline. Area frequented by deer and many plants had been browsed.
This is not the first time I have encountered this species in Dickinson Co,but this is the most abundant population I've seen here.