lady's slipper

lady's slipper
Any member of several genera of orchids in which the lip of the flower is slipper-shaped.

The genus Cypripedium has about 50 temperate and subtropical species. Two well-known species, the yellow lady's slipper (C. calceolus) and the pink lady's slipper, or moccasin flower (C. acaule), are found in temperate coniferous woods in early spring. Other genera include Phragmipedium and Selenipedium of the New World tropics, and the tropical Asian Paphiopedilum. Many hybrids have been developed.

Lady's slipper (Cypripedium)

Grant Heilman

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▪ plant
      any member of several genera of orchids, family Orchidaceae, in which the lip of the flower is slipper-shaped. The genus Cypripedium has about 50 temperate and subtropical species. One well-known species is the yellow lady's slipper (Cypripedium calceolus); another is the pink lady's slipper (C. acaule), also known as the moccasin flower. Most species have one or two flowers on a stem about 30 to 60 cm (12 to 24 inches) tall.

      About 16 species of lady's slippers constitute the genus Phragmipedium. They are narrow-leaved plants native to tropical America. One to six flowers with ribbonlike petals are borne on a stalk nearly 90 cm tall. The six species in the genus Selenipedium, also native to tropical America, may be 5 m (16 feet) tall. The leaves are folded, and the flowers are borne on a spike at the tip of the plant. Species of Paphiopedilum, a genus of 62 tropical Asian lady's slippers, have mottled or greenish leaves with a leathery texture and large, waxy flowers of various colours. Many hybrids have been developed.

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Universalium. 2010.

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  • Lady's slipper — La dy s slip per . (Bot.) Any orchidaceous plant of the genus {Cypripedium}, the labellum of which resembles a slipper. Less commonly, in the United States, the garden balsam ({Impatiens Balsamina}). [1913 Webster] …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • lady's slipper — noun any of several chiefly American wildflowers having an inflated pouchlike lip; difficult or impossible to cultivate in the garden • Syn: ↑lady slipper, ↑ladies slipper, ↑slipper orchid • Hypernyms: ↑orchid, ↑orchidaceous plant • …   Useful english dictionary

  • Lady's Slipper — Taxobox name = Lady s Slipper Orchids image width = 250px image caption = An orchid of the genus Paphiopedilum regnum = Plantae divisio = Magnoliophyta classis = Liliopsida ordo = Asparagales familia = Orchidaceae subfamilia = Cypripedioideae… …   Wikipedia

  • lady's slipper — Impatiens Im*pa ti*ens ([i^]m*p[=a] sh[i^]*[e^]nz), prop. n. [L., impatient.] (Bot.) A genus of plants, several species of which have very beautiful flowers; so called because the elastic capsules burst when touched, and scatter the seeds with… …   The Collaborative International Dictionary of English

  • Lady´s slipper — plačialapė klumpaitė statusas T sritis vardynas apibrėžtis Gegužraibinių šeimos vaistinis, dekoratyvinis augalas (Cypripedium calceolus), paplitęs Europoje ir Azijoje. atitikmenys: lot. Cypripedium calceolus angl. Lady´s slipper vok. gelber… …   Lithuanian dictionary (lietuvių žodynas)

  • lady's slipper — noun Date: 1597 any of several North American temperate zone orchids (as of the genus Cypripedium) having flowers whose shape suggests a slipper called also lady slipper …   New Collegiate Dictionary

  • lady's-slipper — /lay deez slip euhr/, n. 1. any orchid of the genus Cypripedium, the flowers of which have a protruding petal somewhat resembling a slipper: all species are reduced in numbers, some greatly. 2. any of several other related plants having similar… …   Universalium

  • lady's-slipper — /lay deez slip euhr/, n. 1. any orchid of the genus Cypripedium, the flowers of which have a protruding petal somewhat resembling a slipper: all species are reduced in numbers, some greatly. 2. any of several other related plants having similar… …   Useful english dictionary

  • lady's slipper — noun A variety of orchid in the subfamily Cypripedioideae distinguished by their slipper shaped pouches which trap insects to improve pollination rates. Syn: slipper orchid …   Wiktionary

  • lady's slipper — noun an orchid whose flower has a pouch or slipper shaped lip. [Genus Cypripedium.] …   English new terms dictionary

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