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Cypripedium reginae - (image 1 of 8)

Taxonomy

Family: Orchidaceae

Habitat

Swamps, fens.

Associates

Distribution

Newfoundland and Quebec to ND, south to NC, GA, and MO.

Morphology

Herbaceous perennial; stem leafy, 40-100 cm, hirsute; leaves elliptic-oval, 10-20 cm long and about half as wide, clasping, plicate, hairy; flowers 1-3; sepals white, round-oval, obtuse, the lower two connate for their entire length; lateral petals white, flat, oblong, nearly as long as the sepals but much narrower; lip 3-4 cm, white or pinkish, irregularly streaked with rose or purple outside and marked with purple spots inside (rarely completely white).      

Notes

Flowers mid June to early July

Wetland indicator: FACW

In NY this species seems to do best in openings in northern white cedar swamps, though it can also be found in open fens and more mature conifer swamps. It can be abundant where conditions are favorable but tends to be quite local and has become rare throughout much of its range.

References

Gleason, Henry A. and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second Ed.
The New York Botanical Garden. Bronx, NY

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