PINK LADY SLIPPER

Cypripedium acaule - Pink Mocassin Flower

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Wonderful to stumble across.


DESCRIPTION:
The single distinctive slipper-like petal hangs below the greenish-brown sepals and atop a single leafless stalk. The 1 1/2 to 2" flower is intricately veined with red and has a fissure down the front. The leaves are basally attached and grow to 8" in pairs.

FLOWERS:
April to July

HABITAT:
Dry forests, frequently pine and oak woods; boggy areas. Sometimes in humas mats covering rock outcrops and less often in moist woods.

 

OTHER INFORMATION:

There's an eroticism about this plant which i won't go into here, but the flower is one of the largest Orchids native to the area.

This beautiful plant should neither be picked nor dug-up and transplanted where you'd prefer it. Even thought it sometimes can be found in large colonies, it propagates very poorly and are difficult to grow in the garden. Apparently, like others of the orchid family, it requires a key fungus in the soil. If this fungus cannot survive in the new area, neither does the Pink Lady Slipper.


OTHER OBSERVATIONS:

My observations about this plant can be found at:

OFFSITE INFORMATION:

If you're interested