Cypripedium calceolus L. ssp. parviflorum (Salisb.) Hultén
Cypripedium hirsutum Mill. var. parviflorum (Salisb.) Rolfe
Cypripedium parviflorum Salisb. var. parviflorum
Small yellow lady’s slipper, yellow lady’s slipper, lesser yellow lady’s slipper
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.
Plants: 6–16″ (15–40 cm) high, smaller in exposed or cold conditions, or in calcium-bearing soil.
Leaves: Egg-shaped, folded lengthwise, 2–6″ (6–15 cm) long and 1–3″ (3–8 cm) wide.
Flowers: 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.
Fruits: Capsules are ellipsoidal, hariy, ¾–1 ⨉ ⅛–½″ (2.2–3 cm ⨉ 6–13 mm).
Habitats: Mesic to dry-mesic upland forests, woodlands with deep humus or layers of leaf litter and shaded boggy habitats.
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Here are some yellow lady’s slippers. Some botanists believe Cypripedium parviflorum var. parviflorum and C. parviflorum var. pubescens are the same species. |
Online References:
Cypripedium calceolus L. var. parviflorum (Salisb.) Fernald
Cypripedium calceolus L. ssp. parviflorum (Salisb.) Hultén
Cypripedium hirsutum Mill. var. parviflorum (Salisb.) Rolfe
Cypripedium calceolus L. ssp. parviflorum (Salisb.) Hultén
Cypripedium hirsutum Mill. var. parviflorum (Salisb.) Rolfe
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) 
6/15/1990 
5/26/2024 · McLaughlin Garden and Homestead, South Paris, Maine 
5/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 8 × 6″ (21 × 15 cm) 
4/15/1979 · Virginia · By Tim Chandler 
5/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts · ≈ 7 × 9″ (18 × 23 cm) 
ID is uncertain 
6/15/1990 
5/15/2010 · Garden in the Woods, Framingham, Massachusetts ID is uncertain 
4/15/1979 · Virginia · By Tim Chandler 
| Kingdom | Plantae | Plants, but not fungi, lichens, or algae (from Stearn's Botanical Latin) |
| 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 | From the Greek parvus, “small,” and flora, “flower,” hence “small-flowered” |
| var. | parviflorum | From the Greek parvus, “small,” and flora, “flower,” hence “small-flowered” |
Cypripedium parviflorum var. parviflorum description by Thomas H. Kent, not updated.
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