Cypripedium Essay, Research Paper

The Lady’s Slipper: Cypripedium

Plant Name

The lady’s Slipper, or Cypripedium, is an easily recognizable species from the Orchidaceae family.

Plant Description

The family is commonly known to have fantastic flowers, with flamboyant color and display. Members of this family are normally found to grow in bogs, meadowlands, and woodlands. The flowers all share some common characteristics, such as, possessing three sepals and petals, with markedly bilateral symmetry. The lowest petal, or lip, usually differs from the other two, either in shape, size, or color, possibly all three. Secondly, the center of the flower is recognized by what is known as a column, which consists of the formed style, stigma, and up to three stamens all joined together. The ovary, which is inferior and embedded in the end of the stem helps to support the rest of the flower. Another characteristic of the Orchidaceae family is the twisting that they do during development. This causes what started out as the lowest petal to become the uppermost. This condition is now referred to botanists as resupinate (Rickett 94).

There are several species found within the genus, Cypripedium, but all share the characteristic inflated, slipper-shaped lip, from which the common name originates (Walcott 20). The genus not only gets its name from the large lip of the flower, but botanically from the reference to the slipper or the sandal (pedilum) of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, who was born on the island of Cyprus (Rickett 96). The lady’s slipper differs from other members of the Orchidaceae family due to the two pollen-bearing stamens, which sit on either side of the column near the opening of the “slipper.” The lip has a large opening on the upper surface, which is enclosed by the curved margins of the lip. The two stamens block the lip opening at the base of the plant, and leave only two very small openings on each side of the column at the base (House 64). There is also a third sterile stamen present, which acts as a shield at the tip of the column (Rickett 94). The lip of the lady’s slipper is thought to aid in pollination of the flower. Bees, as well as other insects, enter the lip by the upper opening on the side and feed upon the nectar found inside. When the time comes for the insect to exit the flower, they must crawl past the column, and in the process, take with them some of the sticky pollen masses from the two fertile stamens. Then as they visit another flower, this pollen may come in contact with the new flower (Walcott 20). The other flower parts of the lady’s slipper include the stigma, which goes downward into the cavity of the lip; two lower sepals which are joined, giving the appearance of only two sepals; and a single green bract, similar to the foliage leave but smaller, which stand behind each flower (Rickett 96).

Species of Family

As mentioned earlier there are several types of species of the genus Cypripedium. Several of these species include the Pink Lady’Slipper, the Yellow or Downy Lady’s Slipper, the Showy Lady’s Slipper, the Small White Lady’s Slipper, and the Ram’s Head Lady’s Slipper. The species differ according to where it is found, the position of the flower, the color of the flower, the size of the flower, and the parts of the flower.

Cypripedium acaule

One of the most common species of the lady’s slipper is the Cypripedium acaule, or the Pink lady’s slipper. The species name acaule is Latin for “stem less,” in reference to the leafless stem of this flower. This plant has a fibrous root system, two basal, pubescent leaves, and is 10-25 cm long. There is a solitary flower that sits on a stalk 25-40 cm long that arises between the two leaves. There are two purplish-brown sepals that are lanceolate and up to 5 cm in length. The petals are similar in size and appearance to the sepals, while the labellum is inflated and pouch shaped. It is opened by a slit in the front, with edges that are turned in, and normally magenta to whitish-pink in color. This commonly found growing in bogs or moist woodlands, anywhere from Newfoundland to Georgia, in late April to mid-July (Hylander 64).

C. calculus

Another common species is the Yellow Lady’s Slipper, or C. calculus. The species name calceolus has the Latin meaning “little shoe,” referring to the smaller flower of this species. The plant arises from a rhizome and may grow tow be up to 40 cm in height. There are normally 3-5 ovate leaves present in a pubescent arrangement. There are usually one or two flowers present on the stem, which have a yellow lip, and are twisted greenish-yellow to purplish-brown petals. This species blooms from April to July and is commonly found in Georgia and North Carolina, growing in bogs, swamps, and woodlands (Rickett 96).

C. arietnum

Another species is the Ram’s Head Lady’s Slipper, or C. arietinum. This is the only lady’s slipper species found in North America in which all three sepals are distinct. The sepals, as well as the lateral petals, are greenish-brown. The lip, streaked white and red, is only one half of an inch long, with a conical projection below, which makes it easily distinguishable from other species. This is a rare species, normally found in the cold, damp woods of Northern areas, such as Quebec, Massachusetts, and New York (House 67).

C. reginae

Another lady’s slipper species is the Showy Lady’s Slipper, or C. reginae. As its name suggests, this species in one of the most beautiful to see. The stem grows to a large height of three feet with elliptic, tapered leaves reaching all the way to the top of the stem. At the summit of the plant grows one to three bi-colored flowers (House 68). The white lip of the flower is more than one inch long and suffused with pink and decorated with purplish streaks (Walcott 21). The leaves and stems of this species are very hairy, which may produce an irritation of the skin similar to that caused by Poison Ivy. This species commonly blooms anywhere from May to August in the mossy swamps, bogs, and mountains of Georgia, Tennessee, and Missouri (Rickett 96).

C. candidum

The small White Lady’s Slipper, or C. candidnum, is a slender species found in sphagnum bogs and marshy meadows, but is a rather rare species. There are three to five elliptical, pointed leaves on the erect stem, which rarely exceeds one foot in height. The flowers normally occur singly at the tip of the stem. The sepals, longer than the lip, are greenish in color and spotted with purple (House 65). The lip, striped with purple or magenta, is plump and saclike, and is about three fourths of an inch long (Hylander 68). This species flowers in June and May in restricted areas from New York to North Dakota (House 65).

C. montanum

The last species is the Mountain’s lady’s Slipper, or C. montanum. This species has a leafy stem that grows to a height of two feet or more. The long, twisted sepals, as well as the petals, vary in color from dark green to brownish-purple, while the lip is white with pink or purplish lines. This species is commonly found in Northern areas, such as Montana and Wyoming, and moves westward to Alaska, Washington, California, and Oregon (Walcott 21).

Medicinal Use

Currently there is no medicinal use for any species in the family Cypripedium.

However, one day research might prove this to be otherwise.

Conclusion

By researching this flower, I learned more about the general characteristics of the Orchidaceae family, as well as the traits of each individual species of the genus Cypripedium. I found it interesting how they all can belong to the same genus, yet have very distinguishable characteristics. Due to this research, I feel that I am able to relate better to the Orchidaceae family and I will have a much greater appreciation for it.

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House, Homer D. Wild Flowers. New York: Macmillan Co., 1942.

Hylander, Clarence J. The Macmillan Wild Flower Book. New York: Macmillan Co.,

1954.

Rickett, Harold William. Wildflowers of the United States, Vol 2: The Southeastern

States. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1967.

Walcott, Mary Vaux. Wildflower’s of America. New York: Crown Publishers, 1969.

The Lady’s Slipper: Cypripedium

Plant Name

The lady’s Slipper, or Cypripedium, is an easily recognizable species from the Orchidaceae family.

Plant Description

The family is commonly known to have fantastic flowers, with flamboyant color and display. Members of this family are normally found to grow in bogs, meadowlands, and woodlands. The flowers all share some common characteristics, such as, possessing three sepals and petals, with markedly bilateral symmetry. The lowest petal, or lip, usually differs from the other two, either in shape, size, or color, possibly all three. Secondly, the center of the flower is recognized by what is known as a column, which consists of the formed style, stigma, and up to three stamens all joined together. The ovary, which is inferior and embedded in the end of the stem helps to support the rest of the flower. Another characteristic of the Orchidaceae family is the twisting that they do during development. This causes what started out as the lowest petal to become the uppermost. This condition is now referred to botanists as resupinate (Rickett 94).

There are several species found within the genus, Cypripedium, but all share the characteristic inflated, slipper-shaped lip, from which the common name originates (Walcott 20). The genus not only gets its name from the large lip of the flower, but botanically from the reference to the slipper or the sandal (pedilum) of Aphrodite, the goddess of love and beauty, who was born on the island of Cyprus (Rickett 96). The lady’s slipper differs from other members of the Orchidaceae family due to the two pollen-bearing stamens, which sit on either side of the column near the opening of the “slipper.” The lip has a large opening on the upper surface, which is enclosed by the curved margins of the lip. The two stamens block the lip opening at the base of the plant, and leave only two very small openings on each side of the column at the base (House 64). There is also a third sterile stamen present, which acts as a shield at the tip of the column (Rickett 94). The lip of the lady’s slipper is thought to aid in pollination of the flower. Bees, as well as other insects, enter the lip by the upper opening on the side and feed upon the nectar found inside. When the time comes for the insect to exit the flower, they must crawl past the column, and in the process, take with them some of the sticky pollen masses from the two fertile stamens. Then as they visit another flower, this pollen may come in contact with the new flower (Walcott 20). The other flower parts of the lady’s slipper include the stigma, which goes downward into the cavity of the lip; two lower sepals which are joined, giving the appearance of only two sepals; and a single green bract, similar to the foliage leave but smaller, which stand behind each flower (Rickett 96).

Species of Family

As mentioned earlier there are several types of species of the genus Cypripedium. Several of these species include the Pink Lady’Slipper, the Yellow or Downy Lady’s Slipper, the Showy Lady’s Slipper, the Small White Lady’s Slipper, and the Ram’s Head Lady’s Slipper. The species differ according to where it is found, the position of the flower, the color of the flower, the size of the flower, and the parts of the flower.

Cypripedium acaule

One of the most common species of the lady’s slipper is the Cypripedium acaule, or the Pink lady’s slipper. The species name acaule is Latin for “stem less,” in reference to the leafless stem of this flower. This plant has a fibrous root system, two basal, pubescent leaves, and is 10-25 cm long. There is a solitary flower that sits on a stalk 25-40 cm long that arises between the two leaves. There are two purplish-brown sepals that are lanceolate and up to 5 cm in length. The petals are similar in size and appearance to the sepals, while the labellum is inflated and pouch shaped. It is opened by a slit in the front, with edges that are turned in, and normally magenta to whitish-pink in color. This commonly found growing in bogs or moist woodlands, anywhere from Newfoundland to Georgia, in late April to mid-July (Hylander 64).

C. calculus

Another common species is the Yellow Lady’s Slipper, or C. calculus. The species name calceolus has the Latin meaning “little shoe,” referring to the smaller flower of this species. The plant arises from a rhizome and may grow tow be up to 40 cm in height. There are normally 3-5 ovate leaves present in a pubescent arrangement. There are usually one or two flowers present on the stem, which have a yellow lip, and are twisted greenish-yellow to purplish-brown petals. This species blooms from April to July and is commonly found in Georgia and North Carolina, growing in bogs, swamps, and woodlands (Rickett 96).

C. arietnum

Another species is the Ram’s Head Lady’s Slipper, or C. arietinum. This is the only lady’s slipper species found in North America in which all three sepals are distinct. The sepals, as well as the lateral petals, are greenish-brown. The lip, streaked white and red, is only one half of an inch long, with a conical projection below, which makes it easily distinguishable from other species. This is a rare species, normally found in the cold, damp woods of Northern areas, such as Quebec, Massachusetts, and New York (House 67).

C. reginae

Another lady’s slipper species is the Showy Lady’s Slipper, or C. reginae. As its name suggests, this species in one of the most beautiful to see. The stem grows to a large height of three feet with elliptic, tapered leaves reaching all the way to the top of the stem. At the summit of the plant grows one to three bi-colored flowers (House 68). The white lip of the flower is more than one inch long and suffused with pink and decorated with purplish streaks (Walcott 21). The leaves and stems of this species are very hairy, which may produce an irritation of the skin similar to that caused by Poison Ivy. This species commonly blooms anywhere from May to August in the mossy swamps, bogs, and mountains of Georgia, Tennessee, and Missouri (Rickett 96).

C. candidum

The small White Lady’s Slipper, or C. candidnum, is a slender species found in sphagnum bogs and marshy meadows, but is a rather rare species. There are three to five elliptical, pointed leaves on the erect stem, which rarely exceeds one foot in height. The flowers normally occur singly at the tip of the stem. The sepals, longer than the lip, are greenish in color and spotted with purple (House 65). The lip, striped with purple or magenta, is plump and saclike, and is about three fourths of an inch long (Hylander 68). This species flowers in June and May in restricted areas from New York to North Dakota (House 65).

C. montanum

The last species is the Mountain’s lady’s Slipper, or C. montanum. This species has a leafy stem that grows to a height of two feet or more. The long, twisted sepals, as well as the petals, vary in color from dark green to brownish-purple, while the lip is white with pink or purplish lines. This species is commonly found in Northern areas, such as Montana and Wyoming, and moves westward to Alaska, Washington, California, and Oregon (Walcott 21).

Medicinal Use

Currently there is no medicinal use for any species in the family Cypripedium.

However, one day research might prove this to be otherwise.

Conclusion

By researching this flower, I learned more about the general characteristics of the Orchidaceae family, as well as the traits of each individual species of the genus Cypripedium. I found it interesting how they all can belong to the same genus, yet have very distinguishable characteristics. Due to this research, I feel that I am able to relate better to the Orchidaceae family and I will have a much greater appreciation for it.

Works Cited

House, Homer D. Wild Flowers. New York: Macmillan Co., 1942.

Hylander, Clarence J. The Macmillan Wild Flower Book. New York: Macmillan Co.,

1954.

Rickett, Harold William. Wildflowers of the United States, Vol 2: The Southeastern

States. New York: McGraw-Hill Book Co., 1967.

Walcott, Mary Vaux. Wildflower’s of America. New York: Crown Publishers, 1969.

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