Chapter 3 North Carolina’s Species
3.13.1.1 Federal Regulations One of the most important protective measures for conservation is the Endangered Species Act (ESA) of 1973, designed to protect and recover endangered and threatened species of fish, wildlife, and plants within the United States and its territories. Currently, there are 27 plant species known to occur in North Carolina that are listed by the US Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS) for federal protection under the ESA (USFWS 2025b) . The Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) is an agreement between international governments to protect wild plants and animals from becoming threatened or endangered from international trade (CITES 1975) . The United States is a participating member nation. Protection is afforded through listing of a species in one of three lists, or appendices (CITES 2025) .
• Appendix I provides the highest protection, limiting any trade of a species on the list only to exceptional circumstances because they are threatened with extinction.
• Appendix II controls trade of species that are at higher risk when trade could be incompatible with their survival.
• Species included in Appendix III are protected in at least one country that is party to the convention and CITES has been asked for assistance in controlling trade of the species.
There are several state-listed plants identified as SGCN and priority species that are included in CITES Appendix II. The following is a list of the current SGCN and priority species on the Appendix II list.
Federal Status
State Status
Scientific Name
Common Name
Arethusa bulbosa
E E T E E E E
Bog-rose, Dragon's-mouth
Calopogon multiflorus Dactylorhiza viridis
Many-flowered Grass-pink
Long-bracted Frog Orchid
Rhodiola rosea
Roseroot
Sarracenia minor var. minor
E
Hooded Pitcherplant
Sarracenia purpurea var. montana
Southern Appalachian Purple Pitcher Plant
Sarracenia oreophila Spiranthes laciniata Spiranthes longilabris
E
Green Pitcherplant
SC-V
Lace-lip Ladies'-tresses
E E T
Giant-spiral Orchid
Spiranthes lucida
Shining Ladies'-tresses
Spiranthes ochroleuca E – Endangered
Yellow Nodding Ladies'-tresses
SC-V – Special Concern, Vulnerable
T - Threatened
2025 NC Wildlife Action Plan
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