Cypripedium

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Cypripedium
Cypripedium reginae.jpg
Showy lady's slipper
( Cypripedium reginae )
Scientific classification Red Pencil Icon.png
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Cypripedioideae
Genus: Cypripedium
L., 1753
Type species
Cypripedium calceolus
L., 1753
Synonyms [1]
Cypripedium, trapping a bee so it goes through a narrow passage where it picks up the pollinia to perform pollination. Cypripedium.pollination.jpg
Cypripedium, trapping a bee so it goes through a narrow passage where it picks up the pollinia to perform pollination.

Cypripedium is a genus of 58 species and nothospecies of hardy orchids; it is one of five genera that together compose the subfamily of lady's slipper orchids (Cypripedioideae). They are widespread across much of the Northern Hemisphere, including most of Europe and Africa (Algeria [2] ) (one species), Russia, China, Central Asia, Canada the United States, Mexico, and Central America. [1] [3] [4] [5] They are most commonly known as slipper orchids, lady's slipper orchids, or ladyslippers; other common names include moccasin flower, camel's foot, squirrel foot, steeple cap, Venus' shoes, and whippoorwill shoe. An abbreviation used in trade journals is "Cyp." The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek Κύπρις (Kúpris), an early reference in Greek myth to Aphrodite, and πέδιλον (pédilon), meaning "sandal". [6]

Contents

Most of Cypripedium grow in temperate and subtropical climates, but some species grow in the tundra in Alaska and Siberia, which is an unusually cold habitat for orchids. Other species occur well into tropical areas such as Honduras and Myanmar. [1]

Some of the northern species can withstand extreme cold, growing under the snow and blooming when the snow melts. But, in the wild, some have become rare and close to extinction, due to an ever shrinking natural habitat and over-collection, people prizing the flowers for their beauty. Several species are legally protected in some regions. In the late 20th century, only a single known plant of Cypripedium calceolus survived in Britain.

Characteristics

The Cypripedium are terrestrial and, as with most terrestrial orchids, the rhizome is short and robust, growing in the uppermost soil layer. The rhizome grows annually with a growth bud at one end and dies off at the other end. The stem grows from the bud at the tip of the rhizome. Most slipper orchids have an elongate erect stem, with leaves growing along its length. But the mocassin flower or pink lady's slipper ( Cypripedium acaule ) has a short underground stem with leaves springing from the soil. The often hairy leaves can vary from ovate to elliptic or lanceolate, folded (plicate) along their length. The stems lack pseudobulbs.

The inflorescence is racemose. It can carry one to twelve flowers, as in Cypripedium californicum . But most species have one to three flowers. There are three sepals, with, in most species, the two lateral ones more or less fused. The flower has three acute petals with the third a striking slipper-shaped lip, which is lowermost. The sepals and the petals are usually similarly colored, with the lip in a different color. But variations on this theme occur. The aspect of the lip of different species can vary a great deal. As with all orchids, it is specially constructed to attract pollinators, which it traps temporarily. The flowers show a column with a unique shield-like staminode. The ovary is 3-locular (with three chambers).

Taxonomy

Comparison between a DNA-analysis and the morphological characteristics in this genus has shown that there is a high degree of divergence between the two, probably due to long periods of isolation or extinction of intermediate forms. The Eurasian species with yellow or red flowers form a distinct group from the North American species with yellow flowers. The Mexican Pelican Orchid ( Cypripedium irapeanum ) and the California lady's slipper ( Cypripedium californicum ) are probably the first diverging line. They share several similarities with their sister group Selenipedium .

Species and natural hybrids

There are 58 currently recognized species and nothospecies (naturally occurring hybrids) recognized in this genus, as of May 2014: [1]

Subgenus Cypripedium

SectionImageNameDistribution
Acaulia Cypripedium acaule - Sasata edit1.jpg Cypripedium acaule – Mocassin flower, Pink lady's slipper, Two-leaved lady's slipperC. and E. Canada, NC & E USA
Arietinum Cypripedium arietinum 1-disch (5098053504).jpg Cypripedium arietinum – Ram's-head lady's slipperC & E Canada, NC & NE USA
Cypripedium plectrochilum Orchi 154-1.jpg Cypripedium plectrochilum N Myanmar to SC China
Bifolia Cypripedium guttatum Orchi 5155-1.jpg Cypripedium guttatum – Spotted lady's slipperEuropean Russia to Korea, Alaska to Yukon
Lady Slipper by USFWS - cropped.jpg Cypripedium yatabeanum Russian Far East to N & NC Japan, Aleutian Islands to SW Alaska
Cypripedium Kaunis kuldking looduses.jpg Cypripedium calceolus – Yellow lady's slipperEurope to Japan
Cypripedium candidum - Flickr 003 (1).jpg Cypripedium candidum – Small white lady slipperSE Canada, NC & E USA
Cypripedium - cordigerum.jpg Cypripedium cordigerum – Heart-Lip lady's slipperN Pakistan to Himalaya, S Tibet
Cypripedium farreri China
Cypripedium fasciolatum China
Cypripedium henryi Orchi 024-1.jpg Cypripedium henryi – Henry's lady's slipperC China
Cypripedium kentuckiense Orchi 2012-05-21 009.jpg Cypripedium kentuckiense – Kentucky lady's slipper, Southern lady's slipperC & E USA
Cypripedium montanum - Flickr 002.jpg Cypripedium montanum – Large lady's slipper, Mountain lady's slipper, White lady's slipper, Moccasin flowerAlaska to California
Cypripedium parviflorum Orchi 016.jpg Cypripedium parviflorum Salisb. – (Greater) yellow lady's slipper, moccasin flower, or hairy yellow ladyslipperCanada, E USA
Cypripedium segawai EC Taiwan
Cypripedium shanxiense China to N Japan
Eniantopedilum Cypripedium fasciculatum (14639706125) cropped 1.jpg Cypripedium fasciculatum – Brownie lady's slipper, Clustered lady's slipperW USA
Flabellinervia Cypripedium japonicum Thunb. in J.A.Murray, Syst. Veg. ed. 14 817 (1784) (33986204008).jpg Cypripedium japonicum – Japan lady's slipperChina, Korea, Japan
Cypripedium formosanum Hayata, Icon. Pl. Formosan. 6 66 (1916) (46591580665).jpg Cypripedium formosanum – Formosa lady's slipperC Taiwan
Macrantha Cypripedium calcicolum China
Cypripedium franchetii Orchi 152-1.jpg Cypripedium franchetii – Franchet's lady's slipperC & SC China
Cypripedium himalaicum SE Tibet to Himalaya
Cypripedium ludlowii SE Tibet
Cypripedium macranthos Sw., Kongl. Vetensk. Acad. Nya Handl. 21 251 (1800) (47936096797).jpg Cypripedium macranthos – Large-flowered lady's slipperE Belarus to temperate E Asia
Cypripedium taibaiense China
Cypripedium tibeticum 1.jpg Cypripedium tibeticum Sikkim to C China
Cypripedium yunnanense SE Tibet, China
Retinervia Cypripedium elegans E Nepal to China
Cypripedium debile (Hokkaido) Rchb.f., Xenia Orchid. 2- 223 (1874) (34321717806).jpg Cypripedium debile – Frail lady's slipperJapan, Taiwan, China
Cypripedium palangshanense China
Sinopedilum Cypripedium bardolphianum China
Cypripedium forrestii China
Cypripedium micranthum China
Trigonopedia Cypripedium daweishanense (S.C.Chen & Z.J.Liu) S.C.Chen & Z.J.Liu (2005)Yunnan, China South-Central
Cypripedium fargesii Orchi 294144.jpg Cypripedium fargesii China
Cypripedium lentiginosum China
Cypripedium lichiangense - cropped.jpg Cypripedium lichiangense S.C.Chen & P.J.CribbChina (SW Sichuan, NW Yunnan), NE Myanmar
Cypripedium malipoense S.C.Chen & Z.J.LiuYunnan, China South-Central
Cypripedium margaritaceum – Pearl-white lady's slipperChina
Cypripedium sichuanense China
Cypripedium wumengense China

Subgenus Irapeana

SectionImageNameDistribution
Irapeana Cypripedium californicum (17573895236).jpg Cypripedium californicum – California lady's slipperOregon, N. California
Cypripedium molle Mexico
Cypripedium dickinsonianum.jpg Cypripedium dickinsonianum Mexico (S Chiapas) to Guatemala
Cypripedium irapeanum.jpg Cypripedium irapeanum – Pelican Orchid, Irapeao lady's slipperMexico to Honduras
Obtusipetala Cypripedium flavum Orchi 101.jpg Cypripedium flavum – Yellow lady's slipperSE Tibet, SC China
Cypripedium passerinum.jpg Cypripedium passerinum – Franklyn's lady's slipper, small white Northern lady's slipper, sparrow's egg lady's slipperAlaska to Canada, Montana
Cypripedium reginae '-190401' Walter, Fl. Carol. 222 (1788) (48036513113).jpg Cypripedium reginae Walter – Large white lady's slipper, Queen's lady's slipper, showy lady's slipperC & E Canada, E. USA
Subtropica Cypripedium subtropicum SE. Tibet
Cypripedium wardii SE. Tibet, China

Natural Hybrids

ImageScientific nameCommon NameDistribution
Cypripedium × alaskanum C. guttatum × C. yatabeanumAlaska
Cypripedium × andrewsii C. candidum × C. parviflorum var. pubescensE Canada, NC & NE USA
Cypripedium × catherinae C. macranthon × C. shanxienseRussian Far East
Cypripedium x columbianum Orchi 2012-05 22 004.jpg Cypripedium × columbianum C. montanum × C. parviflorum var. pubescensW Canada, NW USA
Cypripedium x herae C.parviflorum x C.reginaeManitoba, Canada
Cypripedium x ventricosum Orchi 144.jpg Cypripedium × ventricosum C. calceolus × C. macranthosRussia to Korea
Cypripedium × wenqingiae C. farreri × C. tibeticumChina

Uses

The genus has a long history of use, dating back 2,500 years to the Far East, where they were used medicinally.

Conservation

Several orchid species thought to be extinct in the United Kingdom including one native species in this genus have been found in habitat and are currently the subject of aggressive conservation efforts to protect and restore these showy plants to their native ranges. [7]

Awards

The following have received the Royal Horticultural Society's Award of Garden Merit:-

Related Research Articles

<i>Erythronium</i> Genus of flowering plants

Erythronium, the fawn lily, trout lily, dog's-tooth violet or adder's tongue, is a genus of Eurasian and North American plants in the lily family, most closely related to tulips. The name Erythronium derives from Ancient Greek ἐρυθρός (eruthrós) "red" in Greek, referring to the red flowers of E. dens-canis. Of all the established species, most live in North America; only six species are found in Europe and Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cypripedioideae</span> Subfamily of orchids

Cypripedioideae is a subfamily of orchids commonly known as lady's slipper orchids, lady slipper orchids or slipper orchids. Cypripedioideae includes the genera Cypripedium, Mexipedium, Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium and Selenipedium. They are characterised by the slipper-shaped pouches of the flowers – the pouch traps insects so they are forced to climb up past the staminode, behind which they collect or deposit pollinia, thus fertilizing the flower. There are approximately 165 species in the subfamily.

<i>Phragmipedium</i> Genus of orchids

Phragmipedium is a genus of the Orchid family (Orchidaceae) and the only genus comprised in the tribe Phragmipedieae and subtribe Phragmipediinae. The name of the genus is derived from the Greek phragma, which means "division", and pedium, which means "slipper". It is abbreviated 'Phrag' in trade journals.

<i>Selenipedium</i> Genus of orchids

Selenipedium is a genus of the orchid family (Orchidaceae). The genus has been given its own tribe, Selenipedieae, and subtribe, Selenipediinae. It is abbreviated Sel in trade journals.

<i>Cypripedium kentuckiense</i> Species of orchid

Cypripedium kentuckiense, the Kentucky lady's slipper or southern lady's slipper, is a member of the orchid genus Cypripedium. Members of this genus are commonly referred to as lady's slipper orchids.

<i>Cypripedium acaule</i> Species of flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae

Cypripedium acaule is a species of flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae. It is commonly referred to as the pink lady's slipper or moccasin flower. The specific epithet acaule means "lacking an obvious stem", a reference to its short underground stem, for which reason the plant is also known as the stemless lady's-slipper. It is the provincial flower of Prince Edward Island, Canada and the state wildflower of New Hampshire, United States.

<i>Cypripedium californicum</i> Species of orchid

Cypripedium californicum, the California lady's slipper, is a member of the orchid genus Cypripedium, the lady's slipper orchids, native to the western United States.

<i>Cypripedium montanum</i> Species of orchid

Cypripedium montanum is a member of the orchid genus Cypripedium. It is commonly known as large lady's slipper, mountain lady's slipper, white lady's slipper as well as moccasin flower. This latter is also the common name of Cypripedium acaule.

<i>Cypripedium fasciculatum</i> Species of orchid

Cypripedium fasciculatum, the clustered lady's slipper, is a member of the orchid genus Cypripedium. Members of this genus are commonly referred to as lady's slippers. C. fasciculatum, along with C. montanum and C. californicum, are the only members of the genus Cypripedium that are endemic to western North America.

<i>Cypripedium candidum</i> Species of orchid

Cypripedium candidum, known as the small white lady's slipper or white lady's slipper, is a rare orchid of the genus Cypripedium. It is native to eastern North America across the northern United States and southern Canada.

<i>Cypripedium parviflorum</i> Species of orchid

Cypripedium parviflorum, commonly known as yellow lady's slipper or moccasin flower, is a lady's slipper orchid native to North America. It is widespread, ranging from Alaska south to Arizona and Georgia. It grows in fens, wetlands, shorelines, and damp woodlands.

<i>Cypripedium dickinsonianum</i> Species of orchid

Cypripedium dickinsonianum is a species of orchid known as Dickinson's lady's slipper or Dickinson's cypripedium after American orchidist Stirling Dickinson.

<i>Cypripedium irapeanum</i> Species of orchid

Cypripedium irapeanum, known as Irapeao's cypripedium or pelican orchid, is a species of orchid found in Mexico and Central America in section irapeana. It has a widespread distribution from the central Mexico states of Sinaloa and Durango south to Guatemala and Honduras. They are found in mixed pine and oak forests on well-drained limestone slopes and in areas with volcanic and clay soil which are rich in metals. They can be found in some areas in groups of hundreds. They bloom from early June to late July.

<i>Cypripedium tibeticum</i> Species of orchid

Cypripedium tibeticum is a species of slipper orchid in the section Cypripedium in the subsec. Macrantha It is native to Bhutan, Sikkim, and Western China.

<i>Cypripedium reginae</i> Species of orchid

Cypripedium reginae, known as the showy lady's slipper, pink-and-white lady's-slipper, or the queen's lady's-slipper, is a rare lady's-slipper orchid native to northern North America. Although never common, this plant has vanished from much of its historical range due to habitat loss. It is the state flower of Minnesota.

<i>Adenochilus</i> Genus of flowering plants

Adenochilus, commonly known as gnome orchids is a genus of two species of flowering plants in the orchid family Orchidaceae, one endemic to New Zealand and the other to Australia. Both species have a long, horizontal, underground rhizome with a single leaf on the flowering stem and a single resupinate flower with its dorsal sepal forming a hood over the labellum and column.

<i>Cypripedium calceolus</i> Species of orchid

Cypripedium calceolus is a lady's-slipper orchid, and the type species of the genus Cypripedium. It is native to Europe and Asia.

<i>Cypripedium arietinum</i> Species of flowering plant in the orchid family Orchidaceae

Cypripedium arietinum, the ram's head lady's slipper, is a rare orchid that grows in lightly shaded areas with calcareous soils. It is characteristic of the alvars around the Great Lakes in North America, as well as in New England. In Canada, it is found from Quebec to Saskatchewan, plus an isolated population in Nova Scotia, where it grows on gypsum based soils, 330 km away from the nearest population in Maine.

<i>Cypripedium passerinum</i> Species of orchid

Cypripedium passerinum is a species of lady's slipper orchid known by the common names sparrow's-egg lady's-slipper, spotted lady's-slipper, and Franklin's lady's-slipper.

<i>Cypripedium yatabeanum</i> Species of orchid

Cypripedium yatabeanum, known as the spotted lady slipper or palomino lady's slipper, is a species of terrestrial orchid. It is native to Alaska, to the Russian Far East, and northern Japan.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 "Cypripedium". World Checklist of Selected Plant Families (WCSP). Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.
  2. Walid, Nemer & Rebbas, Khellaf & Krouchi, Faiza. (2019). Découverte de Cypripedium calceolus (Orchidaceae) au Djurdjura (Algérie), nouvelle pour l’Afrique du Nord. Flora Mediterranea. 29. 207-214. 10.7320/FlMedit29.207.
  3. "Cypripedium calceolus". Altervista Flora Italiana.
  4. Chen, Xinqi; Cribb, Phillip J. "Cypripedium". Flora of China via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  5. Sheviak, Charles J. (2002). "Cypripedium". In Flora of North America Editorial Committee (ed.). Flora of North America North of Mexico (FNA). Vol. 26. New York and Oxford via eFloras.org, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
  6. "Meet The Ladies: The Slipper Orchids". USDA Forest Service . Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  7. Jowit, Juliette (3 August 2010). "Ghost orchid comes back from extinction". The Guardian . Retrieved 1 June 2015.
  8. "Cypripedium formosanum". RHS. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  9. "Cypripedium Hank Small gx". RHS. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  10. "Cypripedium Michael gx". RHS. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  11. "Cypripedium reginae". RHS. Retrieved 5 May 2020.
  12. "Cypripedium Sabine gx". RHS. Retrieved 5 May 2020.