Pankaj ji... Very informative account on Lady's slipper orchids.... these lovely plants have always fascinated me. Wud love to know more about them
Shantanu : ) Shantanu Bhattacharya. B.Sc, M.Sc (Zoology) University of Calcutta. Teaching Faculty. Dept. of Biology. Vivekananda Mission School(ICSE). Joka. Kolkata. On Sep 26, 10:46 pm, Smita Raskar <smita.ras...@gmail.com> wrote: > Interesting.... i wish to know more about orchids..especially about column & > different types of pollinia and stigma of orchid > i have searched for lot but did not find any info. with illustration, wiil > you plz tell us source or add info. with illustrations bcoz many people will > like to know about orchids > > On Sun, Sep 26, 2010 at 10:54 PM, Pankaj Kumar <sahanipan...@gmail.com>wrote: > > > > > > > Lady's slipper orchids, lady slipper orchids or slipper orchids are > > the orchids in the subfamily Cypripedioidea, which includes the genera > > Cypripedium, Mexipedium, Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium and > > Selenipedium. They are characterised by the slipper-shaped pouches > > (modified labellums) of the flowers – the pouch traps insects so they > > are forced to climb up past the staminode, behind which they collect > > or deposit pollinia, thus fertilising the flower. > > > This subfamily has been considered by some to be a family > > Cypripediaceae, separate from the Orchidaceae. The subfamily > > Cypripedioideae is monophyletic and consists of five genera. Their > > common features are two fertile diandrous (that is, with two perfect > > stamens) anthers, a shield-shaped staminode and a saccate (sac-shaped) > > lip. > > The Cypripedium genus is found across much of North America, as well > > as in parts of Europe and Asia. The state flower of Minnesota is the > > Showy Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium reginae). The Lady's Slipper is also > > the official provincial flower of Prince Edward Island, a province of > > Canada. > > > Paphiopedilums are found in the tropical forests of southeast Asia > > reaching as far north as southern China. Paphiopedilum is quite easy > > to cultivate and therefore is popular among orchid enthusiasts. In > > fact, overcollecting of this genus has caused some problems in its > > original habitat. > > Phragmipedium, found across northern South and Central America, is > > also easy to cultivate as it requires lower temperatures than > > Paphiopedilum, eliminating the need for a greenhouse in many areas. > > > The lady's slipper is also known in the United States of America as > > the moccasin flower, from its resemblance to a shoe or moccasin. > > The once thought extinct flower is now legally protected from > > cultivation. This variety of orchid was spotted at a a golf course in > > Lancashire England and daily patrols are made to ensure its safety. > > > Above's source: WIKIPEDIA > > > INDIA > > > In India the subfamily is represented by two genera, namely, > > Cypripedium and Paphiopedilum, which inturn are represented by 5 (C. > > elegans, C. guttatum, C. cordigerum, C. himalaicum, C. tibeticum) and > > 9 species (P. charlesworthii, P. insigne, P. druryi, P. villosum, P. > > fairrieanum, P. spicerianum, P. hirsutissimum, P. venustum, P. wardii) > > respectively. Of these only 3 species of Cypripediums are found in > > Western Himalaya and one species of Paphiopedilum is found in Western > > Ghats, i.e., Paphiopedilum druryi. > > > I will be sharing few pics of this subfamily in my next few mails. > > > Enjoy > > > Pankaj > > > -- > > *********************************************** > > "TAXONOMISTS GETTING EXTINCT AND SPECIES DATA DEFICIENT !!" > > > Pankaj Kumar Ph.D. (Orchidaceae) > > Research Associate > > Greater Kailash Sacred Landscape Project > > Department of Habitat Ecology > > Wildlife Institute of India > > Post Box # 18 > > Dehradun - 248001, India > > -- > Smita raskar > 308 Disha Residency, > Salaiwada,Sawantwadi > Phone (02363) 274153 > Mob.9422379568- Hide quoted text - > > - Show quoted text -
