Is this listing trustworthy?

[Purpoh]

I was looking at an Ebay listing and I came across something interesting:

5 pink lady slipper plants ( cypripedium acaule ) | eBay

It's 5 Cypripedium acaule listed for 36 dollars. Are these likely illegally collected plants? If so, is there anything that can be done?

[jkofferdahl]

It's an interesting listing. Please don't take my response to your question as a challenge.

The plant in the photo does appear to be growing in the wild. The seller is located in a part of the state of Virginia where I've actually seen the species in the wild. The price seems low. Is it then possible that the plants are illegally collected? I suppose so. It's also possible that the seller grows them legally, and since he lives in an area where they occur naturally it would make sense that he's well-situated to do so. Most likely he would also be well-situated to grow them from seed.

Other than a photo which appears to be taken in the wild (at least outdoors), and the price, what about the listing makes you nervous? Have you contacted the seller?

[Subrosa]

Are you aware of the difficulty of growing C. acaule in places it doesn't occur naturally?

[jkofferdahl]

Originally Posted by Subrosa

Are you aware of the difficulty of growing C. acaule in places it doesn't occur naturally?

If you're asking me, in all honesty, not especially. My guess is that it's quite difficult to grow from seed; it seems that way for so many North American slippers. I have sad knowledge of North American orchids other than from camping/hiking in my halcyon days, carrying flower guides and looking for orchids. My understanding is also that when taken from the wild this species has just about a dire high mortality rate, meaning the seller would likely have to scour several Virginia counties to produce five viable plants to sell. All I'm saying is that it's unfair to presume the seller's guilt even with seemingly good circumstantial evidence (as I said, I've seen them in the wild myself right in the part of Virginia the seller is located in, probably the same county). And very little feedback, either. It's not like it's a plant that nobody on earth other than this person sells. A lot about it could be very questionable, but equally perfectly legit and reasonable. That's why I'd contact the seller before calling the PlantFeds.

[estación seca]

I think what Subrosa is saying is that these plants are almost 100% certain to die in transit, or shortly thereafter. North American Cypripediums are extremely difficult to grow without their symbiotic fungi in their growing bed.

I tend to believe plants offered by vendors who live near habitat are wild-collected, unless stated otherwise. The listing is extremely brief, and does not include such information. I would not buy such a plant without being sure it was grown in captivity from seed or division, and not wild-collected.

[Subrosa]

Nope. What I'm saying is that the plants require a specialised environment to thrive. Responsible collection is very possible, and there is absolutely nothing wrong with responsible collection.

[PaphMadMan]

This listing would make me hesitate for several reasons.

Any responsible seller of plants should be telling you about the specialized requirements of plants like this. Failure rate will be high even for an experienced grower with the right place and conditions. Nothing said...

A responsible seller should also at least say something about issues of illegal collection and the origin of the plants. Nothing said...

Cyps are always best shipped while dormant. Unless these have been held refrigerated over winter until now, they will be in active growth. Nothing said...

This may not be someone who is illegally collecting plants for a quick profit, but it appears to be someone inexperienced who is only interested in getting your money, not in you successfully growing these Cyps.

Anything that can be done? EBay certainly doesn't care. Perhaps contacting the right agency in the state of Virginia would get the person some scrutiny. Perhaps. I wouldn't recommend a vigilante raid. Can't think of any other options.

[Ray]

My comments = PaphMadMan's comments x 2

[Purpoh]

I guess I can ask him a few questions. I would feel bad if he was just a guy growing them legally (although that would definitely be preferred.)

[Subrosa]

Fwiw I did very well with wild collected acaule until the squirrels ate them. I planted them in a dedicated bed in the fall and was treated to lovely blooms the following spring, and very good growth before the squirrels were treated to lunch. The reason for the high mortality of wild collected plants is that the root systems on these plants are extensive and shallow. Walking up to a plant and digging it in a "normal" fashion will almost certainly kill it. The single eye plants I received had extensive root systems over 1' in diameter.