Thanks to Rob Crosby @rob257 who reminded me with his beautiful picture some days ago, that now, and only now is the right time, to go after the yellow lady slippers. And as you can see, we found some, and 4 more wild orchid species. (They are quite different in colour and shape to lady slippers I have seen in Canada and the US).
The yellow lady slipper (Cypripedium calceolus), is in our region the biggest wild orchid. But also one of the rarest. As the preferred habitat shrink’s, and the reproduction of the flower is extremely slow. From bud to the first green leaf it takes 4 years, for the first flower 16! years.
For me: The type of pollination is quite interesting. Potential pollinators are attracted by the colour and the apricot-like fragrance of the plant. Insects, especially sand bees and other small and powerful insect species pass or fall through the hole on the “slipper” into the pot whose smooth and shiny walls (oily coating) prevent an escape. The only way out of the trap goes over the reproductive system, in the rear wall of the slipper. The structure of the flower creates a tight space through which insects have to squeeze. A pollinating insect first passes by the stigma, and upon exiting the trap rubs against the anther.
Sometimes predatory spiders, such as crab spiders, sit in the slipper and make it deadly trap.
Exquisite flower, and the same adjective applies to your capture. Light and dof are lovely. Fav for me, and thanks also for the very interesting information, Mona.
