What Kind of Orchids Are Lady's Slippers?

Genera

• There are five genera of lady's slipper orchid. Cypripedium is found in North America, Europe and parts of Asia; the species within this group called Cypripedium reginae, or showy lady's slipper, is the state flower of Minnesota. Selenipedium is a Central and South American genus, consisting of six distinct species. Mexipedium consists of only a single species, Mexipedium xerophyticum, which no longer grows in the wild. Phragmipedium consists of 20 species from southwest Mexico and Central and South America, in which all are considered endangered in the wild. Paphiopedilum is composed about 80 species and is probably the most popular genus with gardeners as it is relatively easy to cultivate. It originates from China and southeast Asia.

Common Features

• The common feature of all lady's slipper orchids -- and the reason for their colloquial name -- is the pouch shape of their flowers. Resembling a slipper, the flowers form bulging protuberances. They are formed from modified labellum (lips) petals. Typically, the other petals are different shapes and colors than the petals forming the "slipper." This is to attract insects to the pouch.

Reason

• The lady's slipper orchid has its uniquely shaped "slipper" flower to aid its reproduction. Insects are drawn to the slipper -- often because of its bright coloring. However, the shape of the slipper means that many insects that alight on it fall into the pouch. Unlike the Venus flytrap, the orchid does not want to trap the insect, but to crawl out, the creature must brush past the anthers and pistils of the plant, located within the flower. These, respectively, are the male and female reproductive organs of flowers, the first producing pollen and the second germinating the pollen when it is deposited by the insect. As the insect crawls out, it either deposits pollen it has collected from another orchid in the pistils -- which germinates to become a seed -- or collects pollen that it will then take to another plant.

Cultivation

• Gardeners wishing to cultivate lady's slipper orchids are likely to purchase a species from the Paphiopedilum genus. These are the easiest to cultivate and are evergreen, terrestrial plants. They are suited to well-composted or fertilized soil that is well drained. Lady's slipper orchids like a lot of moisture but do not like to stand in it as they become waterlogged. Turning the soil with some bark prior to planting will ensure good drainage. They prefer part sunlight and part shade.