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Cypripedium
Also called Lady's Slipper, Hardy Slipper Orchids, Lady's Slippers, Ladyslippers
Cypripedium is a genus of hardy terrestrial orchids (about 58 species and nothospecies) native to much of the Northern Hemisphere, known as lady's slippers. Grow the hardy temperate species in cool, moist, shaded woodland conditions; they are not easy to keep in cultivation.
Cypripedium is a genus of 58 species and nothospecies of hardy orchids; it is one of five genera that together compose the subfamily of lady's slipper orchids (Cypripedioideae). They are widespread across much of the Northern Hemisphere, including most of Europe and Africa (Algeria) (one species), Russia, China, Central Asia, Canada, the United States, Mexico, and Central America.
They are most commonly known as slipper orchids, lady's slipper orchids, or ladyslippers; other common names include moccasin flower, camel's foot, squirrel foot, steeple cap, Venus' shoes, and whippoorwill shoe. An abbreviation used in trade journals is "Cyp." The genus name is derived from Ancient Greek Κύπρις (Kúpris), an early reference in Greek myth to Aphrodite, and πέδιλον (pédilon), meaning "sandal". In China, it is referred to as Chinese: 杓兰, romanized: Sháo Lán, lit. 'Ladle orchid'.
The genus has a long history of use, dating back 2,500 years to the Far East, where they were used medicinally.
Text excerpted from the Wikipedia article Cypripedium by its contributors, under CC BY-SA 4.0; the excerpts and the care summary drawn from them are shared under the same licence.
The care summary was written by AI (Claude, Anthropic) from the sources on this page, with general growing knowledge where they are silent. Check before relying on it.
