From a news story, published today in Lafayette, Indiana (Journal and
Courrier) :
"Search for Ladyslipper orchid worth lifetime wait
...
Indiana is host to several types of wild orchids but the most impressive is
the genus Cypripedium...
found at isolated locations throughout the state but are very protected
because of plant poachers.
...
The poachers don't care that the plants they steal and sell on the Internet
will likely be dead within weeks because purchasers don't have the
technical knowledge or habitat to keep the plants alive...
Eventually, after a week of contacting everyone I know who had ever set
foot in the woods, I received a surprise message from an employee of the
Indiana Department of Natural Resources Division of Nature Preserves.
...
I was given directions to the patch and permission to visit the non-public
area of state-owned land after making promises not to divulge the location
...
the orchids were blooming within 20 feet of a paved road...
a patch of yellow ladyslippers, brassy flowers held high above the green
undergrowth as they swayed in the cool wind.
...
After snapping a few hundred pictures, I finally stood up to brush off the
brown forest duff from my knees."
source / complete news item :
http://www.lafayettejc.com/columns/200505296local_sports1117344508.shtml
***********
I can certainly relate to that 'report' : last weekend, I was in the
Laurentides, close to Ste Marguerite du Lac Masson, observing Cypripedium
acaule, in situ, not yet in bloom.
***********
Regards,
Viateur
_______________________________________________
the OrchidGuide Digest (OGD)
[email protected]
http://orchidguide.com/mailman/listinfo/orchids_orchidguide.com
