::trixxie17

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This is the very rare and endangered Western Prairie Orchid. It was first mentioned in the journals of Lewis and Clark in their journey starting in 1803 across what would become the USA - they were in search of the Pacific ocean using a Native American guide Sacajawea. This orchid has all but disappeared from the landscape of my country and the Dept. of the Interior, as part of a conservation program, is providing seeds to various prairie preserves to try to save it from extinction. The guide at the prairie explained that they are required to put the cage around it to help ward off any critters that may try to eat it.