The Eastern Prairie Fringed Orchid was added to the US list of Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants in September 1989. Their greatest threat is habitat loss, mostly through conversion to cropland, competition with introduced alien plants, filling of wetlands, intensive hay mowing, fire suppression, and overgrazing. These orchids are also picked and collected because of their rarity and beauty. The reliance of this plant on Hawkmoths for pollination means that any threat to the insect, such as the use of insecticides, further endangers its survival.

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