Cypripedium, Orchid
Cypripedium is a genus of lady's slipper orchids in the family Orchidaceae, comprising about 47 species. It is native to the colder regions of Northern Hemisphere. Cypripedium is abbreviated as Cyp. in horticultural trade. It is commonly known as lady's slipper, mocassin flower, camel's foot, squirrel foot, slipper orchid, steeple cap, Venus's shoe, and whippoorwill shoe. Most Cypripedium species are terrestrial orchids with short and robust rhizomes. The rhizome grows annually with a growth bud at one end and dies off at the other end. An elongate erect stem grows from the bud at the tip of the rhizome, with leaves growing along its length. The leaves are lanceolate, ovate to elliptical, most often hairy and folded along their length. Cypripedium's inflorescence is racemose, and produces 1-12 flowers, with 1-3 flowers in most species. The flowers has three sepals and three acute petals, with the third and lowermost petal a striking slipper-shaped lip. The sepals and petals are usually in same color and the lip in different color.  Cypripedium calceolus Author: Manuguf (Creative Commons Attribution ShareAlike 3.0-unported) | ||
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