Mountain Lady's Slipper
 

Haven't posted here in a while so here's picture of Cypripedium montanum, the Mountain Lady's Slipper. It is possible that this is not pure C. montanum, since it was part of swarm that included many plants that showed signs of being hybrids of this species and Cyp. parviflorum. This picture was taken in 2010 in British Columbia.

http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6048/...6a06412f_t.jpg

I have seen C montanum in many places in BC - never have I seen it within 250 miles of a C parviflorum. I have seen the threads on other forums that state that the greenish forms of C montanum are actually a hybrid with C parviflorum. Balderdash! Pollen can't fly hundreds of miles just to make a natural hybrid.

Carl

Gorgeous slipper, All we have over here are the Cyp calceolus with is nearly identical to the american Cyp. parviflorum.
So sad that the spot was set to be bulldozed, I really really hope that this didn't happen! Cyps are so slow to reproduce that it really would be a huge loss.

Do you lug around a black background with you to be able to take such nice shots in situ?

(Btw, I really really like the previous shot 'minimalism' in your album, almost looks like a painting with that hazy background)

Thanks, Camille, for the nice comments on both pictures. Actually I did have a piece of black velvet with me for a background, but if you look at the majority of pictures of native orchids in my photostream you'll see they have a natural background and I prefer that.

Love, love, love this orchid, and that's a wonderful picture :drool:

I'm going to see if the grower has this to buy when I go to a local show in November. He had one last year, but I got a different cyp instead. I've decided I've got to get this one now. Of course when you pay £30+ for a pot of gravel with the promise that there is a dormant orchid inside it's a bit nerve racking to wait to spring and see it appear... but the last three from this grower have all done well :)

Hope you find one, Rosie. I envy you the opportunity to grow these yourself, but it is exciting to find them in the wild.