Pink Lady Slipper, Cypripedium acaule

[jreidsma]

Hi everyone

One of my family members found this orchid at my aunts house, they knew nothing about it and so they dug it up and brought it to me in a little red cup.


Sadly it did not live, its roots were destroyed too much. They have fine hair like roots that can spread for a couple feet and once they get harmed the whole root dies pretty much. They did not know any better though so we cannot be mad with them.

My friends grandpa (I think grandpa) is a botanist that kind of specializes in lady slippers and he said that the plant sort of kills itself with its own enzymes if the roots are disturbed too much or something?

Still a very pretty flower

[Cyplover]

He is correct. This species has been under much debate as to weather the mychorrizal fungus needed in the placemat stages lives along side it into adulthood. I have found the easiest way to transplant/harvest these plants is to use a three pronged spade to gently tease the roots from the surrounding leaf litter. Another tip, the best time is in the fall when they are dormant. Other than the fact that these plants are extremely sensitive when root damage occurs they are one of the easier cypripediums to dig up, as that rarely go below the top two inches of leaf mulch.

D