Cypripedium montanum
Encyclopedia
Cypripedium montanum is a member of the orchid genus Cypripedium
. It is commonly known as the Large Lady's Slipper, Mountain Lady's Slipper, White Lady's Slipper as well as Moccasin Flower. This latter is also the common name of Cypripedium acaule
.
has alternating, plicate leaves. Atop the stem sits one to three large flowers. The sepal
s and petal
s tend to be maroon-brown while the pouch is white. This species is a close ally of Cypripedium parviflorum
, so they appear to be very similar with the main difference being pouch color.
and Colorado
all the way up to Alaska
. It is usually found at high elevation in open woods and subalpine slopes.
Cypripedium
Cypripedium is a genus of 47 species of lady's-slipper orchids native to temperate and colder regions of the Northern Hemisphere.Some grow in the tundra in Alaska and Siberia, which is an unusually cold habitat for orchids. They can withstand extreme cold, growing under the snow and blooming when...
. It is commonly known as the Large Lady's Slipper, Mountain Lady's Slipper, White Lady's Slipper as well as Moccasin Flower. This latter is also the common name of Cypripedium acaule
Cypripedium acaule
Cypripedium acaule is a member of the orchid genus Cypripedium. Members of this genus are commonly referred to as lady's slipper orchids. First described in 1700, C. acaule is commonly referred to as the Pink Lady's Slipper, Stemless Lady's-slipper, or Moccasin Flower...
.
Description
C. montanum, sometimes called "Mountain Lady's Slipper," grows to be up to 70 cm tall. The stemPlant stem
A stem is one of two main structural axes of a vascular plant. The stem is normally divided into nodes and internodes, the nodes hold buds which grow into one or more leaves, inflorescence , conifer cones, roots, other stems etc. The internodes distance one node from another...
has alternating, plicate leaves. Atop the stem sits one to three large flowers. The sepal
Sepal
A sepal is a part of the flower of angiosperms . Collectively the sepals form the calyx, which is the outermost whorl of parts that form a flower. Usually green, sepals have the typical function of protecting the petals when the flower is in bud...
s and petal
Petal
Petals are modified leaves that surround the reproductive parts of flowers. They often are brightly colored or unusually shaped to attract pollinators. Together, all of the petals of a flower are called a corolla. Petals are usually accompanied by another set of special leaves called sepals lying...
s tend to be maroon-brown while the pouch is white. This species is a close ally of Cypripedium parviflorum
Cypripedium parviflorum
Cypripedium parviflorum, commonly known as Yellow Lady's Slipper or Mocassin Flower is a Lady's Slipper orchid found in North America.-External links:* * , Digital Flora of Newfoundland and Labrador...
, so they appear to be very similar with the main difference being pouch color.
Range
C. montanum can be found along the western third of the United States and Canada, from CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
and Colorado
Colorado
Colorado is a U.S. state that encompasses much of the Rocky Mountains as well as the northeastern portion of the Colorado Plateau and the western edge of the Great Plains...
all the way up to Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. It is usually found at high elevation in open woods and subalpine slopes.
