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Pink Lady's Slipper

Cypripedium acaule

Description:

One of the largest native orchids, this flower is characterized by a leafless stalk bearing one flower with a distinctive, pink, inflated, slipper-like petal. This petal has red veins and a fissure down the front. There are 3 sepals and 2 greenish brown upper petals. The plant has one basal pair of long, oval leaves.

Habitat:

Spotted in a mixed, wet forest. Pink Lady's Slippers are rare and hard to find in Connecticut, but when they are discovered, they usually occur in large patches. It should not be picked or dug up for transplanting because they reproduce very poorly and are extremely difficult to grow in gardens.

Notes:

According to Native American folklore, a young maiden, who ran barefoot in the snow in search of medicine to save her tribe, was found collapsed on the way back from her mission with swollen, frozen feet. As a result, lady slipper flowers grew where her feet had been as a reminder of her bravery.

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13 Comments

Christine Y.
Christine Y. 6 years ago

Thanks Zlatan!

Zlatan Celebic
Zlatan Celebic 6 years ago

Beautiful series; and a lovely folklore story. And, of course, congrats.

Christine Y.
Christine Y. 6 years ago

Thanks very much Danièle and Project Noah!

DanielePralong
DanielePralong 6 years ago

You're on a roll Christine, your Pink Lady's Slipper came second in our 2017 Best Wildlife photo competition, Plants category:

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Christine Y.
Christine Y. 6 years ago

Thanks Leuba and Felix!

Leuba Ridgway
Leuba Ridgway 6 years ago

Lovely spotting Christine. Thanks for the information & story.

Felix Fleck
Felix Fleck 6 years ago

Great info and series! Beautiful!

Christine Y.
Christine Y. 6 years ago

Ah ha, thanks! First pic is f 2.8, ISO 200, exposure 1/125. I think the lens was 700ish - but, it has image stabilization and great bokeh. It was worth saving up for...

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 6 years ago

is the macro lens expensive.Depending,I might buy it.

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 6 years ago

If you right click on your picture,it gives you info about ISO,aperture,focal length

Christine Y.
Christine Y. 6 years ago

Thanks Hema! I use a Canon 60D with a Canon 100mm macro lens...As for settings, lol, I have no idea - just automatic...isn't that cringeworthy ;-P. I hike with my 2 young kids most of the time and they don't stand still long enough for me to fiddle with settings unfortunately!

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 6 years ago

you aced it! which camera did you use and settings?

Hema  Shah
Hema Shah 6 years ago

lovely flower and story!

Christine Y.
Spotted by
Christine Y.

Connecticut, USA

Spotted on May 20, 2017
Submitted on May 20, 2017

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