familyOrchidaceae
subfamilyOrchidaceae subfam. Cypripedioideae
genusCypripedium
speciesCypripedium californicum
Cypripedium californicum
Proc. Amer. Acad. Arts 7: 389. 1868.
Common names: California lady’s-slipper
Endemic
Plants erect, 25–120 cm. Leaves 5–10, along length of stem, alternate, ascending to spreading; blade elliptic-lanceolate to broadly elliptic, 5–16 × 1.5–6.5 cm. Flowers 3–18(–22); sepals yellow-green to pale brownish yellow; dorsal sepal elliptic, 14–20 × 7–13 mm; lateral sepals connate almost to apex; synsepal 12–20 × 10–12 mm; petals spreading, same color as sepals or more yellowish, linear-oblong to linear-lanceolate, flat, 14–16 × 3–5 mm; lip white, sometimes pinkish, obovoid, 15–20 mm; orifice basal, 11–14 mm; staminode suborbicular-subauriform.
Phenology: Flowering May–Jun.
Habitat: Forest openings, especially on steep slopes, in seeps, springy marshes
Elevation: 0–1600 m
Discussion
Selected References
None.
Lower Taxa
None.