Common Name:
Showy lady's slipper orchid
Scientific Name:
Cypripedium reginae
Unique Qualities:
Each petal is usually white with a rosy red wash and a fuzzy pale yellow “throat.” The flower is designed for specific types of small flying insects that enter the flower and once inside pick up the plant's pollen and transfer it to other plants, thereby assisting the orchid's reproduction process.
Can be Seen:
The showy lady's slipper grows in large numbers around the Great Lakes, in both Canada and the United States.
Likes to Hang Out:
They can be seen in swampy and seepage areas. They also grow in moist woods, bogs, swamps, and meadows. These orchids are an endangered species in Virginia, U.S.
Benefits of the Plant:
The Showy lady’s slipper is a member of the orchid family, which is the largest family of flowering plants with over 20,000 species worldwide.
Status:
In most provinces and states, the flower is listed as rare or vulnerable, as much of its habitat is being taken over by agriculture and development.
