Showy Lady's Slipper

(Cypripedium reginae)

 

   

 

 

Color Photograph: Ohio Department of Natural Resources

Line Drawing: Britton, N.L., and A. Brown. 1913. An Illustrated Flora of the Northern United States and Canada, Second Edition.

 

Showy Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium reginae Walt.)

Identification: Flower white, with a pink suffusion. Lower 2 petals fused into a globular pouch (slipper) without a dorsal line. Pouch white, upper portion suffused with dark pink. Upper petal white, ovate, overhanging flower. Lateral two petals also white. Top leaf modified, overhanging top of flower. Stem thick and hairy. Leaves ovate, hairy, occurring up and down the stem. Plant 1 to 3 feet in height.

Distribution: Minnesota in the west to Newfoundland in the east, southward to the northern United States and in the mountains to Georgia.

Habitat: Showy Lady's Slipper is found in wet woods and swamps.

Flowering period: June to July.

Similar Species: The striking white flowers with the pink suffusion of the flower pouch are distinctive features of this spectacular species.

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