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Smith, R.W.

Cypripedium parviflorum

Cypripedium parviflorum Salisb.

Yellow Lady's-slipper Orchid, Lesser Yellow Lady's Slipper

Orchidaceae (Orchid Family)

Synonym(s):

USDA Symbol: CYPA19

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N), SPM (N)

This orchid is easily distinguished from others by its large yellow lip, or slipper. It grows up to 3 feet tall and has large, strongly veined leaves 6-8 inches long and half as wide. It has a flower, sometimes 2, at the end of the stem, cream-colored to golden-yellow. Flowers have 3 sepals, greenish-yellow to brownish-purple, the upper sepal larger, usually erect, and hanging over the blossom. The upper sepal is 1 1/4-3 1/2 inches long, the lower 2 sepals are united and appear as 1 beneath the lip. There are 3 petals. The 2 lateral petals are long and narrow, purplish-brown to greenish-yellow, and spirally twisted-the shoestrings to the slipper. The lip, or slipper, is creamy or yellow, and about 2 1/2 inches long, and cupped to form the slipper shape. The stamens and pistil hang down toward the opening of the slipper.

From the Image Gallery

19 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 3 feet tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: Yellow , Green , Purple , Brown
Bloom Time: Apr , May , Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AK , AL , AR , CO , CT , DC , GA , IA , IL , IN , KS , KY , MA , MD , MI , MN , MO , MT , NC , ND , NE , NJ , NY , OH , OR , PA , RI , SD , TN , UT , VA , VT , WA , WI , WV , WY
Canada: NB , NL , NS , ON , PE , QC

Growing Conditions

Light Requirement: Part Shade
Soil Moisture: Moist , Wet

Benefit

Use Medicinal: First Nations made a preparation from the roots that was drunk as a treatment for worms(Niering).
Warning: POISONOUS PARTS: Glandular, irritating hairs on leaves. Symptoms include skin irritation after contact.
Conspicuous Flowers: yes

National Wetland Indicator Status

Region:	AGCP	AK	AW	CB	EMP	GP	HI	MW	NCNE	WMVE
Status:	FAC	FACW	FACW		FACW	FACW		FACW	FAC	FACW

This information is derived from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers National Wetland Plant List, Version 3.1 (Lichvar, R.W. 2013. The National Wetland Plant List: 2013 wetland ratings. Phytoneuron 2013-49: 1-241). Click here for map of regions.

From the National Organizations Directory

According to the species list provided by Affiliate Organizations, this plant is on display at the following locations:

Mt. Cuba Center - Hockessin, DE

Bibliography

Bibref 248 - Texas Wildflowers: A Field Guide (1984) Loughmiller, C. & L. Loughmiller

Search More Titles in Bibliography

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Cypripedium parviflorum in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Cypripedium parviflorum in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Cypripedium parviflorum

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-04-24
Research By: TWC Staff

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