Cypripedium reginae facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Showy lady's Slipper |
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Cypripedium
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C. reginae
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| Cypripedium reginae Walter (1788)
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The Cypripedium reginae, often called the Showy Lady's-slipper, is a truly special and rare wild orchid. You might also hear it called the Pink-and-white Lady's-slipper or the Queen's Lady's-slipper. This beautiful flower grows naturally in the northern parts of North America. It stands out with its bright white petals and a unique, pouch-like pink part.
This plant is a type of "lady's-slipper" orchid. Its name comes from the flower's shape, which looks a bit like a slipper. It's a temperate orchid, meaning it grows in areas with distinct seasons, not just warm places.
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About the Showy Lady's Slipper
The Showy Lady's Slipper is one of the largest and most striking wild orchids in North America. It can grow quite tall, sometimes reaching up to 3 feet (about 90 cm) in height. Each plant usually has one or two large flowers, but sometimes it can have more.
This orchid is known for its beautiful flowers. They have two pure white petals that spread out. The most noticeable part is the large, inflated "pouch" or "slipper," which is usually a vibrant pink or magenta color. Sometimes, you might even find one with an all-white slipper!
Where Does It Grow?
The Showy Lady's Slipper prefers to grow in wet, cool places. You can often find it in fens, swamps, and moist woodlands. It especially likes areas where the soil has a lot of calcium, like limestone.
This orchid is native to a wide range across northern North America. It grows from Saskatchewan and Manitoba in Canada all the way east to Newfoundland. In the United States, it's found from North Dakota to Maine, and south to Missouri and Georgia.
Why Is It Special?
The Showy Lady's Slipper is a very slow-growing plant. It can take many years, sometimes even more than a decade, for a seedling to grow large enough to produce its first flower. Once it starts blooming, a single plant can live for 50 years or even longer!
This orchid is considered rare in many parts of its range. It faces threats from habitat loss, as the wet areas it needs are sometimes drained for other uses. It's also sensitive to changes in its environment. Because it's so beautiful, some people might be tempted to pick its flowers or try to move the plants, but this can harm them.
It's important to protect these amazing plants in their natural homes. Many states and provinces have laws to protect the Showy Lady's Slipper. For example, it is the official state flower of Minnesota.
How Does It Reproduce?
Like many orchids, the Showy Lady's Slipper has a special way of reproducing. Its flowers are designed to attract certain insects, like bees, which help pollinate them. The slipper-like pouch acts as a trap for insects. Once inside, the insect has to find a specific exit, and as it leaves, it picks up or drops off pollen.
The seeds of orchids are incredibly tiny, almost like dust. They don't have much stored food, so they need help from special fungi in the soil to grow. This makes it very difficult for them to grow from seed on their own, which is another reason why they are so rare and precious.
Images for kids
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In a forested fen in Williamstown, Massachusetts
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On a 1969 U.S. stamp
See also
In Spanish: Gran zapatilla de dama para niños
