White Lady's-slipper orchid - WAY ahead of schedule

 

Yesterday was a fabulous 14-hour day afield, to Ohio's north country. One primary target was this gorgeous orchid, the White Lady's-slipper (Cypridium candidum). This state-endangered species occurs in a few Ohio locales and is far scarcer EVERYWHERE in its range these days. It is a denizen of moist prairies and fens, and we (people) have wiped out over 99% of Midwestern prairies, and most of the fens (alkaline bogs) too.

I believe the plant in the photo below is of hybrid origin, with its strongly purplish sepals, and in the field (but not showing up in the photo) the white pouch has a distinct very pale yellowish cast. They are also typically taller than the pure White Lady's-slippers (hybrid vigor).

This site is interesting in that it supports small numbers of this hybrid, whose parents are White Lady's-slipper and Yellow Lady's-slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum). The latter parent species is apparently no longer present at this site and probably has not been for a long time. When I first saw these hybrids, which botanists know as Cypripedium x andrewsii, at this locale some 30 or more years ago, there were more of them, and many were more strongly yellowish. I could only find two hybrid candidates yesterday, even though the colony was nearing peak bloom. It also was by far the earliest I have seen White Lady's-slipper in flower. It typically flowers in the 2nd or 3rd week of May.