The pink lady's slipper (Cypripedium
acaule) was designated the official state wildflower of New Hampshire in
1991. A unique member of the orchid family, this showy flower is native to North
America (also known as moccasin flower, or simply lady slipper).
The lady's slipper is protected in some areas - its
numbers have been greatly reduced due to loss of habitat. Also, since the lady's
slipper is one of the more eye-catching wildflowers of the northeast,
transplanting attempts have taken a significant toll on their numbers
(transplanting nearly always fails because the lady's slipper has a symbiotic
relationship with a certain fungus in the forest).
A reminder to all forest
visitors - tred lightly - take home only photos and memories - preserve the
delicate ecology of our dwindling woods.
3 comments:
Delightful photos. Sadly people over in the UK try to transplant orchids - both rare and relatively common - and, as you say, they nearly always fail becaue of the relationship with the fungi in the soil.
Lovely post, thank you.
Lovely. Lady's slippers won't be blooming here for a little while yet. I love finding them in the woods, and it makes me so angry that people dig them up!
Beautiful! Thanks for reminding us all to respect the beauty and fragile nature of the woodlands.
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