View source for Lady's Slipper

{{Taxobox
| color = lightgreen
| name = Lady's Slipper Orchids
| image = DSC01006.JPG
| image_width = 250px
| image_caption = An orchid of the genus ''Paphiopedilum''
| regnum = [[Plant]]ae
| divisio = [[Flowering plant|Magnoliophyta]]
| classis = [[Monocotyledon|Liliopsida]]
| ordo = [[Asparagales]]
| familia = [[Orchidaceae]]
| subfamilia = '''Cypripedioideae'''
| subdivision_ranks = Genera
| subdivision = 
See [[Taxonomy of the orchid family]].
}}

'''Lady Slippers''' is a term used to describe the [[Orchidaceae|orchids]] in the subfamily Cypripedioidea, which includes the [[genus|genera]] ''[[Cypripedium]], [[Mexipedium]], [[Paphiopedilum]], [[Phragmipedium]]'' and ''[[Selenipedium]]'', distinguished by their slipper-shaped [[pouch (orchids)|pouch]]es (modified [[labellum]]s), which function by trapping insects so that they are forced to climb up past the [[staminode]], behind which they collect or deposit [[pollinium|pollinia]].  

This subfamily has been considered by some (Rasmussen, 1985) to be a family Cypripediaceae, separate from the [[Orchidaceae]].

[[Image:Cypripediumcalceolus-levels.jpg|left|thumb|Lady's slipper orchid (''Cypripedium calceolus'')]]
The subfamily Cypripedioideae is [[monophyletic]] and consists of five genera. Their common features are two fertile diandrous (that is, with two perfect [[stamen]]s) [[anther]]s, a shield-shaped [[staminode]] and a saccate (sac-shaped) [[labellum|lip]].

''Cypripedium'' are found across much of [[North America]], as well as in parts of [[Europe]]. The state flower of [[Minnesota]] is the Showy Lady's Slipper (''[[Cypripedium reginae]]'').  The Pink Lady's Slipper, (''[[Cypripedium acaule]]''), is the official state wildflower of [[New Hampshire]].  The Lady's Slipper is also the official provincial flower of [[Prince Edward Island]], a small province of [[Canada]].

''Paphiopedilum''s are found in the tropical forests of [[southeast Asia]] reaching as far north as southern [[China]].  ''Paphiopedilum'' is quite easy to cultivate and therefore is popular among orchid enthusiasts.  In fact, overcollecting of this genus has caused some problems in its original habitat.

''Phragmipedium'', found across northern South and Central America, is also easy to cultivate as it requires lower [[temperature]]s than ''Paphiopedilum'', eliminating the need for a [[greenhouse]] in many areas.

[[Image:pinkslipper.jpg|thumb|Pink Lady's Slipper, found in Bristol, Vermont (''[[Cypripedium acaule]]'')]]

The lady's slipper is known in the [[United States of America]] as the ''[[moccasin]] flower'', from its resemblance to a shoe or moccasin.

== References ==
*Rasmussen, F. N. [[1985]]. Orchids. In R. M. Dahlgren, H. T. Clifford, and P. F. Yeo [eds.], The families of the monocotyledons. Springer Verlag, Berlin.
*Cash, C. [[1991]]. ''The Slipper Orchids'', Timber Press ISBN 0-88192-183-1. Lists 140 slipper orchid species.
*Cox, A.V., A. M. Pridgeon, V. A. Albert, and M. W. Chase. 1997. Phylogenetics of the slipper orchids (Cypripedioideae: Orchidaceae): nuclear rDNA ITS sequences. ''Plant Systematics and Evolution'' 208: 197-223. [http://folk.uio.no/victoraa/Cox_1997.pdf PDF]

== External links == 
* [http://www.slipperorchid.org/ The Slipper Orchid Alliance]
* [http://www.slipperorchidforum.com/ The Slipper Orchid Forum]
* [http://www.slippertalk.com/ Slipper Orchid Discussion Forum]
* [http://www.slipperorchids.info/ SlipperOrchids.info]

[[Image:spotted.jpg|thumb|px300|Spotted Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium guttatum) in [[Alaska Peninsula National Wildlife Refuge]]]]

[[Category:Orchids]]