SHOWY LADY'S SLIPPER (Queen Orchid) 



Cypripedium reginae Walt. 



June Showy lady's slipper is the Queen Orehid of America. 



Swamps, bogs Here is an orchid blossom as exciting to see as one 

 from the southern jungles. Here is crisp, waxen per- 

 fection, a minimum of leaves placed exactly right for proper symmetry. 

 Alternately they clasp the furry stem — broadly oval, bright green leaves 

 with parallel veins. From the protection of the topmost clasping leaf 

 there is a white bud which is shaped nuich like a dove's egg. The bud 

 grows, and swells, and in silent dranui opens to become a pouched white 

 flower of great magnificence. Here is a s]ii)per-like pouch marked Avith 

 a splash of vivid purple-pink with white lines. Alcove are two spreading 

 white petals and one large, broad petal curved above. A slight fragrance 

 comes from the center of the flower. The sun gleams on the petals; they 

 actually sparkle with tiny individual lights. 



A small bee a fourth of an inch long fertilizes the orchid; other 

 insects usually fail to get into the complex flower, are caught between 

 the sticky anthers and are held there until they die. The bee knows the 

 way in. It enters the opening in the front of the pouch and finds itself 

 inside and heading up into the back part of the flower. Nectar clings 

 to tiny hairs leading along converging purjile lines. Then the l)ee finds 

 itself near a convenient exit at the ])ack of the flower, and, in pushing 

 through, brushes against sticky pollen grains Avhicli cling to the bee's 

 body. Then it goes to another orchid where the pollen reaches the waiting 

 pistil. Ultimately, the seeds form and are dispersed to create otlier orcliids 

 in other Junes. 



Ill 



