Nestle into nature

  Old Rag Master Naturalists
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Chapter Administration
    • Sponsoring Agencies & Partners
    • In Memory Of
  • Events & News
    • Calendar
    • Upcoming Events
    • Chapter Awards & Recognition
    • Spotlight on Members and Presenters
    • Newsletters
  • Training & Education
    • Become a VMN >
      • Class XII Updates
    • Continuing Education >
      • Continuing Education Programs
      • CE Resources >
        • Field Guides
        • Nature Books & Readings
  • Volunteer Projects
    • Approved Volunteer Project
    • Project Accessibility Information
    • Activities by Interest >
      • Activities From Home
      • Animals
      • Birds
      • Habitats & Trails
      • Plants & Trees
      • Pollinators
    • New Project Proposal Request
  • Nature Blog
  • Contact Us

Pink Lady's Slippers

5/31/2017

0 Comments

 
Picture
Many guides cite the Pink Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium acaule) as common in eastern forests, however it is always a nice surprise to come across this lovely spring wildflower.
The Latin word acaule means 'stem less', referring to the leafless flower stem. The stem grows up from two basal leaves.
Lady's Slippers  favor pine forests but is also found in deciduous forests which have acidic soils (pH 4-5). The blossoms are light pink to magenta and, occasionally, white.  Another variety which is found in Virginia, Cypripedium parviflorum, looks similar but has a yellow blossom.


Picture
Lady's Slippers are often found in colonies which have acidic soils. They can grow to be 20 years old if left undisturbed.
Picture
 It takes many years for Pink Lady's Slippers to go from seed to mature plant and requires a specific  fungal association.
Like all orchids, the seeds require this symbiotic relationship since the seeds do not contain carbohydrate stores like most seeds to sustain the newly germinated seedling. The threads of the fungus from the genus Rhizoctonia break open the seed pod and provide the plant with soil nutrients that it cannot access on its own.


Picture
Native Americans refer to the plant as "moccasin flower" and historically (and currently) use the root as medicine to treat nervousness, insomnia, low fever and a host of other ailments. 



0 Comments

Your comment will be posted after it is approved.


Leave a Reply.

    Subscribe

    Have a blog or blog idea? 
    ​​Let us know (click)   

    The Reading Corner 
    Books  - Click Here
    Field Guides - Click Here 
    Other Blogs
    VA Native Plant Society - click 
    Brenda Clement Jones - click
    John Muir Laws' Blog - click   
    ​Megan's Nature Nook - click

    Categories

    All
    Biodiversity
    Birds
    Butterflies & Pollinators
    Climate
    General Nature
    Habitat
    Insects
    Invasives
    Mammals
    Podcasts
    Public Lands
    Reptiles And Amphibians
    Stream Monitoring
    Trees

    Archives

    March 2023
    February 2023
    January 2023
    August 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    August 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    October 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    December 2018
    September 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    April 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016



    Blog Administrator:
    Kathleen A.
    ​VMN since 2018
Proudly powered by Weebly
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Chapter Administration
    • Sponsoring Agencies & Partners
    • In Memory Of
  • Events & News
    • Calendar
    • Upcoming Events
    • Chapter Awards & Recognition
    • Spotlight on Members and Presenters
    • Newsletters
  • Training & Education
    • Become a VMN >
      • Class XII Updates
    • Continuing Education >
      • Continuing Education Programs
      • CE Resources >
        • Field Guides
        • Nature Books & Readings
  • Volunteer Projects
    • Approved Volunteer Project
    • Project Accessibility Information
    • Activities by Interest >
      • Activities From Home
      • Animals
      • Birds
      • Habitats & Trails
      • Plants & Trees
      • Pollinators
    • New Project Proposal Request
  • Nature Blog
  • Contact Us