Cypripedium parviflorum var. parviflorum (Small yellow lady’s slipper)

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Cypripedium parviflorum Salisb. var. parviflorum

Small yellow lady’s slipper

Kingdom	Plantae	Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae
Subkingdom	Tracheobionta	Vascular plants—plants with a “circulatory system” for delivering water and nutrients
Division	Magnoliophyta	Flowering plants, also known as angiosperms
Class	Liliopsida	Monocots (plants with a single seed leaf); includes the lily family
Subclass	Liliidae	Includes lilies, orchids, and many others
Order	Asparagales	A diverse group that includes asparagus
Family	Orchidaceae	Orchid family
Genus	Cypripedium	Latinization (albeit an incorrect one) of ancient Greek words meaning “Venus’ shoe”
Species	parviflorum	Latin for “small flower”—a smaller small flower
var.	parviflorum	Latin for “small flower”—a smaller small flower

About plant names...

Yellow lady's slippers, members of the orchid family, are native to North America, and may be native to Eurasia as well. It is not clear whether the Eurasian varieties are separate species. Because these species are highly variable, botanists also have a difficult time distinguishing among several varieties of North American yellow lady's slippers.

Identification: Plants are 6-16" (15-40 cm) high, smaller in exposed or cold conditions, or in calcium-bearing soil. Leaves are egg-shaped, folded lengthwise, 2-6" (6-15 cm) long and 1-3" (3-8 cm) wide. The yellow, slipper-like flower is called the lip, and is 1-2½" (3-7 cm) long and ⅛-1" (6-30 mm). Petals are dark reddish brown. Although they are densely spotted, the spots are so small that the effect is uniformly dark, vs. blotchy as with other varieties. The flowers may have a rose-like fragrance. Produces one or two flowers per stem.

Here are some varieties of yellow lady's slippers. Some botanists believe Cypripedium parviflorum var. parviflorum and C. parviflorum var. pubescens are the same species.

5/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts
≈ 9 × 10" (23 × 26 cm)

5/22/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts
≈ 6 × 4½" (14 × 11 cm)

	*Cypripedium parviflorum*	You are here Cypripedium parviflorum var. parviflorum	*Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens*
Common Name	yellow lady’s slipper	small yellow lady’s slipper	yellow lady’s slipper
Plant	6-16" (15-40 cm) high, but much smaller in exposed or cold conditions, or in calcium-bearing soil.	6-16" (15-40 cm) high, smaller in exposed or cold conditions, or in calcium-bearing soil.	8-30" (20-76 cm) high, but much smaller in exposed or cold conditions, or in calcium-bearing soil.
Flowers	Yellow, ¾-1¾" (1.9-4.4 cm) long. The sepals and petals are greenish-yellow to purplish-brown, usually somewhat twisted or wavy, each up to 1¾" (4.4 cm) long.	Yellow, 1-2½" (3-7 cm) × ⅛-1" (6-30 mm). Petals are dark reddish brown. Although densely spotted, the spots are so small that the effect is uniformly dark, vs. blotchy as with other varieties. 1-2 flowers per stem.	Yellow, often with purple veins or red dots, 1-2" (2.9-5.4 cm) long.
Leaves	Elliptical, with roughly parallel veins, 2½-7" (6.3-17 cm) and up to 2½" (7.0 cm) wide.	Elliptical, folded lengthwise, 2-6" (6-15 cm) long and 1-3" (3-8 cm) wide.	6-8" (15-20 cm) long and 2½-3½" (6.3-8.9 cm) wide, elliptical in shape, with roughly parallel veins.
Range/ Zones
Type	Wild	Wild	Wild