Kentucky lady's slipper facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Kentucky lady's slipper |
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| Conservation status | |
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| Genus: |
Cypripedium
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| Species: |
kentuckiense
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The Kentucky lady's slipper (scientific name: Cypripedium kentuckiense) is a beautiful and rare type of orchid. It's also known as the southern lady's slipper. These special flowers get their name because their lowest petal looks like a tiny slipper or pouch.
Scientists first thought this plant was just a different version of another lady's slipper, called Cypripedium parviflorum. But after looking closely at its shape and studying its DNA, they realized it's a unique species all on its own!
About This Special Flower
The Kentucky lady's slipper has the biggest flowers of all the plants in its group, called Cypripedium. Its petals and sepals (which are like outer petals) are greenish with purple stripes and spots. The most noticeable part is its very large "lip" or "pouch," which is a creamy ivory or pale yellow color.
This plant can grow quite tall, up to 70 centimeters (about 27 inches). It has leaves that look like bracts (small, leaf-like structures) and can be up to 12 centimeters (about 5 inches) long. Usually, each plant grows only one flower.
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The unique Cypripedium kentuckiense flower.
Where It Grows
The Kentucky lady's slipper is found in many parts of the central United States. You can find it in states like Texas, Mississippi, Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri, Arkansas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, and Tennessee. There's also a small area where it grows in Lancaster County, Virginia.
However, this plant doesn't grow everywhere in these states. It usually grows in small, separate patches. It prefers to live in deep, narrow valleys called ravines. It especially likes soils that are acidic and made from sandstone.
See also
In Spanish: Cypripedium kentuckiense para niños
