Flowers of Brokenhead
Did you know that the Brokenhead Wetland Ecological Reserve is home to 28 species of orchids, and 300 species of plants and grasses. Some that are very rare and only found in Manitoba!
Orchids
Yellow Moccasin Flower (AKA lady slipper):
Name: Cypripedium parviflorum
Size: 16 to 60 cm tall
Colour: Yellow petals
Name: Cypripedium arietinum
Size: 4–16 in
Colour: Purple/red petal
Fun fact: This is a rare flower that only grows on Sphagnum mosses.
Other plants
Name: Rhododendron tomentosum
Size: Low shrub, about 20 inches tall
Colour: Green
Fun fact: This is a traditional medicine used by the Anishinaabeg for hundreds of years. Used for various ailments and detoxification, the leaves of the plant are only gathered at certain times of the year.
Name: Larix laricina
Size: Boreal tree, about 49–75 ft tall
Colour: green
Fun fact: Tamaracks thrive in wetlands, where they play a vital role in the ecosystem. Their roots stabilize soggy soils, reduce erosion, and create a home for countless species of wildlife, from birds to amphibians. Wetlands, in turn, purify our water, regulate floods, and store carbon, acting as the Earth’s natural lungs. For many Indigenous communities, wetlands and tamaracks are sacred. They remind us of the interconnected balance of life. Without healthy wetlands, there is no clean water, no thriving wildlife, and no future.
Protection
We need to continue our efforts to protect this area as many rare plants, flowers, and food plants call these wetlands home.