Pink Lady's Slipper

Appearance

Unlike most other species of "Cypripedium", the pouch of "C. acaule" opens in a slit that runs down the front of the labellum rather than a round opening. The plant consists of two plicate leaves near the ground. From between those leaves sprouts a long, pubescent stalk that bears a single pink flower. The sepals and petals tend to be yellowish-brown to maroon with a large pouch that is usually some shade of pink but can be nearly magenta. The white pouched-green petaled forma alba can occasionally be found mixed in with normal populations.

Naming

Cypripedium acaule Aiton, 1789
Cypripedium hirsutum Mill.
Cypripedium humile Salisb.
Fissipes acaulis (Aiton) Small
Calceolus hirsutus (Mill.) Nieuwl.

First described in 1789 by Scottish botanist William Aiton, "C. acaule" is commonly referred to as the pink lady's slipper, stemless lady's-slipper, or moccasin flower. The pink lady's slipper is the provincial flower of Prince Edward Island, Canada and the state wildflower of New Hampshire, United States.

Distribution

Alta., Man., N.B., Nfld. and Labr. (Nfld.), N.W.T., N.S., Ont., P.E.I., Que., Sask.; Ala., Conn., Del., D.C., Ga., Ill., Ind., Ky., Maine, Md., Mass., Mich., Minn., N.H., N.J., N.Y., N.C., Ohio, Pa., R.I., S.C., Tenn., Vt., Va., W.Va., Wis

Status

Listed as "Endangered" in Illinois and Tennessee and as "Unusual" in Georgia. In New York it is listed as "Exploitably Vulnerable".

Habitat

"C. acaule" requires highly acidic soil but tolerates a range of shade and moisture, though it prefers at least partial shade and well-drained slopes. It is usually found in pine forests, where it can be seen in large colonies, but it also grows in deciduous woods. It was long speculated that a fungus association was needed for growth, and that "acaule" could not be artificially cultivated outside of these associations. However, a greater understanding of orchids in general has shown that this association is only needed to germinate orchid seeds, and is not required once plants begin making true leaves.

Dry to wet forests, bogs, brushy barrens, heath, and roadsides on highly acidic soil.

Reproduction

By seeds.

Predators

Possibly similar or the same species of leaf miners and other insects that feed on other species of Cypripedium. Deer browse the plants.

Cultural

As a sedative, gynecological aid, for urinary tract problems, anthelmintic and other conditions by various eastern Native American tribes.