Cypridium Reginae - Showy Ladyslipper

[fishmommy]

We recently went slipper hunting at a local wildflower reserve (Eshqua Bog in Hartland, VT) and the Showy Ladyslipper was well in bloom. We saw about 8 of them in their natural habitat that morning.

[Carl Austin]

Sorry but that's Cyp parviflorum (probably var pubescens).

Carl

[fishmommy]

ok, sorry about that! There was a small sign right next to it that said Cypridium reginae - Showy Ladyslipper
I know nothing about them

[Tindomul]

Yup its Cypripedium parviflorum. Its gorgeous, nice pics fishmommy!
Was this a wild plant???

[fishmommy]

yes quite wild

[jrodpad]

That's amazing. And to think a Cyp that is that exotic looking grows in the wild in New England?!!!

I need to get out more. At least in the spring when the Cyps come out.

Thanks for sharing!

- J

[RJSquirrel]

[RosieC]

Gorgeous.

I was confused to begin with, I grow reginae and mine is nothing like that, I was glad when others said it was parviflorum

Really gorgeous, I will have to keep a look out for parviflorum as the possible next cyp to buy.

[Paphluvr]

Here is a link to a nice picture of the real Cyp. reginae.

Cyp reginae | Flickr - Photo Sharing!

To bad it was labeled incorrectly, but nice photo non the less.

It's been a while since I took pictures of these in Michigan, but I seem to recall that Cyp. reginae is the largest of the slippers I have seen at approx. 3' tall.

According to Case (Orchids of the Western Great Lakes Region,1987) the stem and leaves can produce a reaction in some individuals similar to poison ivy.

[fishmommy]

I think it wasn't labeled at all and there was probably a pre-bloom reginae right next to it for which the sign was intended. That particular bog is one of the biggest caches of showy ladyslippers in New England, it was just too early to see them. We'll likely go back in a week or two and see the real deal :-)