Showy lady's-slipper
General poisoning notes:
Showy lady's-slipper (Cypripedium reginae) is a native orchid found in eastern Canada. The plant can cause dermatitis in sensitive individuals. The symptoms are similar to those of poison-ivy (Rhus spp.). See additional information under general notes of Cypripedium acaule.
Description
Plants erect, 21–90 cm. Leaves 3–9, along length of stem, alternate, ascending to spreading; blade broadly elliptic to ovate or elliptic-lanceolate, 10–27 × 5–16 cm. Flowers 1–3(–4); sepals white; dorsal sepal suborbiculate to ovate-orbiculate, 25–45 × 18–42 mm; lateral sepals connate, synsepal 24–42 × 15–37 mm; petals spreading, same color as sepals, oblong to elliptic or ovate-lanceolate, flat, 25–47 × 6–17 mm; lip white, usually suffused around orifice and variably beyond with pale pink to crimson magenta, subglobose-obovoid, 25–53 mm; orifice basal, 18–28 mm; staminode cordiform-ovoid to ovoid-lanceoloid. 2n = 20.
Nomenclature:
Scientific Name: Cypripedium reginae Walt.
Vernacular name(s): showy lady's-slipper
Scientific family name: Orchidaceae
Vernacular family name: orchid
Cypripedium reginae Walt.
Geographic Information
Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec.
Toxic parts:
Leaves, stems.
Toxic plant chemicals:
Cypripedin.
Animals/Human Poisoning:
Note: When an animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993) contained no detailed explanation.
