Lady's slipper orchids, lady slipper orchids or slipper orchids are the orchids in the subfamily Cypripedioidea, which includes the genera Cypripedium, Mexipedium, Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium and Selenipedium. They are characterised by the slipper-shaped pouches (modified labellums) of the flowers – the pouch traps insects so they are forced to climb up past the staminode, behind which they collect or deposit pollinia, thus fertilising the flower.
This subfamily has been considered by some to be a family Cypripediaceae, separate from the Orchidaceae. The subfamily Cypripedioideae is monophyletic and consists of five genera. Their common features are two fertile diandrous (that is, with two perfect stamens) anthers, a shield-shaped staminode and a saccate (sac-shaped) lip. The Cypripedium genus is found across much of North America, as well as in parts of Europe and Asia. The state flower of Minnesota is the Showy Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium reginae). The Lady's Slipper is also the official provincial flower of Prince Edward Island, a province of Canada. Paphiopedilums are found in the tropical forests of southeast Asia reaching as far north as southern China. Paphiopedilum is quite easy to cultivate and therefore is popular among orchid enthusiasts. In fact, overcollecting of this genus has caused some problems in its original habitat. Phragmipedium, found across northern South and Central America, is also easy to cultivate as it requires lower temperatures than Paphiopedilum, eliminating the need for a greenhouse in many areas. The lady's slipper is also known in the United States of America as the moccasin flower, from its resemblance to a shoe or moccasin. The once thought extinct flower is now legally protected from cultivation. This variety of orchid was spotted at a a golf course in Lancashire England and daily patrols are made to ensure its safety. Above's source: WIKIPEDIA INDIA In India the subfamily is represented by two genera, namely, Cypripedium and Paphiopedilum, which inturn are represented by 5 (C. elegans, C. guttatum, C. cordigerum, C. himalaicum, C. tibeticum) and 9 species (P. charlesworthii, P. insigne, P. druryi, P. villosum, P. fairrieanum, P. spicerianum, P. hirsutissimum, P. venustum, P. wardii) respectively. Of these only 3 species of Cypripediums are found in Western Himalaya and one species of Paphiopedilum is found in Western Ghats, i.e., Paphiopedilum druryi. I will be sharing few pics of this subfamily in my next few mails. Enjoy Pankaj -- *********************************************** "TAXONOMISTS GETTING EXTINCT AND SPECIES DATA DEFICIENT !!" Pankaj Kumar Ph.D. (Orchidaceae) Research Associate Greater Kailash Sacred Landscape Project Department of Habitat Ecology Wildlife Institute of India Post Box # 18 Dehradun - 248001, India
