 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Description: Pink ladyslipper is a showy, scapos, perennial herb, which may grow to a height of 45 cm. The species exhibits 2 hair basal leaves each characterized by pronounced, raised, longitudinal veins. The upper surface of the leaves are green, while the under surface is grayish in color. Both leaves are approximately 24 cm in length by 14 cm in width. From the center of the leaves, a scape (flower stalk) rises to above the leaves. From April to June, the showy pink (rarely white) slipper (lip petal) develops and is 4 to 6 cm in length by 2.5 to 3.5 cm in width. The slipper also exhibits a single longitudinal fissure the length of the petal. Pink ladyslipper flowers also have two green petals. From May to July, the fruit (an ellipsoid capsule) develops to approximately 3 to 4 cm in length containing an estimated 10,000 dust-like seeds. Soon after flowering and fruiting occur, the plants become dormant till the following year (Patrick et. al. 1995).
Habitat:
Pink ladyslipper inhabits dry to mesic, acidic forests, many times near pine trees or other evergreen trees. Occasionally pink ladyslippers may be found inhabiting mountain bogs or growing along the edges of the bogs (Patrick et. al. 1995).
Range:
Pink ladyslipper may be found from Newfoundland west to Alberta and south through North and South Carolina, Georgia, and Tennessee Radford et. al. 1968).
References
|