Cypripedium californicum A.Gray
California Lady's Slipper
Facts About
Accepted Synonyms: None
Cypripedium californicum, the California Lady's Slipper, has the smallest range of the western lady's slippers- limited to southwestern Oregon and northern California. Often found in large colonies, the tall plants may exceed 120 cm with alternating leaves and numerous flowers. The flowers have yellow petals and a white pouch similar in size to C. passerinum, but the number of flowers and their display along the stem, distinguishes this orchid from all other lady's slippers. This orchid prefers wet areas such as seeps, marshes, forest openings and steep slopes, usually with a serpentine substrate.
Cypripedium californicum is considered vulnerable because of its limited distribution and its occurrence in areas that could be logged or mined. This orchid is also threatened by illegal collection.
Pollination
This orchid is pollinated by the carpenter bee, Ceratina acantha and may become territorial when other insects approached the flower.
Ecosystem Type
Marshes, seeps, stream bank, woodlands
Characteristics
- Habitat:
- terrestrial
- Leaf arrangement:
-
- alternate
- stem
- Number of leaves on stem:
-
- five
- six
- seven or more
- Form of the labellum:
- the labellum is pouch-like
- Labellum outline:
- the labellum is simple
- Main color of labellum:
- white
- Nectar spur:
- absent
- Inflorescence type:
- the inflorescence is a raceme
- Labellum characteristics:
- the labellum is saccate
- Labellum length:
- 15–20 mm
- Sepal length:
- 15–20 mm
- Plant height:
- 25–120 cm
Native to North America
Yes
North American Conservation Status & Distribution
Conservation Status
| Conservation and Wetland Status | |
|---|---|
| Global Rank | Vulnerable |
| US Status | N/A |
| Canadian Status | N/A |