Cypripedium L. (Family- Orchidaceae) generally called the lady’s slipper orchid belong to the tribe; Cypripedieae and sub-tribe Cypripedinae (Rai et al., 2010). They are also referred to as pedilum 'shoe or slipper'. They are identified by their plicate leaves and flowers; having a unilocular ovary, a slipper-shaped lip and a column with two fertile anthers and a sterile apical staminode.
Globally, this genus consists of about 59 species and two varieties (TPL 2017). In Bhutan, five species are recorded (Pearce & Cribb, 2002) of which two are listed Endangered (C. elegans Rchb.f. & C. himalaicum Rolfe) and one Vulnerable (C. cordigerum D.Don) in the International Union of Conservation for Nature (IUCN) redlist.
Cypripedium cordigerum D.Don is known as Heart-shaped Lady’s Slipper and it can be easily distinguished from other species by its typical green and white flower, borne at the apex of a long, glandular peduncle and pedicle. Pearce & Cribb, 2002 in the Orchids of Bhutan, this species is distributed in the Western Himalayas, through Kashmir, North India, and Nepal to China. In Bhutan, the Heart-shaped Lady’s Slipper orchid is recorded from Haa, Thimphu, Wangdue and Bumthang Districts by Gurung (2006) in his Illustrated Guide to the Orchids of Bhutan.
C. cordigerum D.Don like better the transitional litter coverage and shady areas for ideal survival and are distributed or mostly observed in north-east facing gentle slopes. Unrestrained grazing, lopping, timber harvesting and other anthropogenic pressures significantly contribute to degradation of its natural habitat thus leading to decline in its population.
Pic | Cypripedium cordigerum D.Don, a terrestrial orchid found in moist shady grounds of spruce and blue pine forest | Himalayas at elevations of 2100-4000m |Flowering: June -August | +3000m | Bumthang | July 2018 |
References:
Gurung, B.D.(2006). An Illustrated Guide to the Orchids of Bhutan. Thimphu. DSB Publication.
Pearce, R.N., Cribb, J.P (2002). The Orchids of Bhutan. Royal Botanic Garden Ediunburgh & Royal Government of Bhutan.
Rai, I.D., B.S. Adhikari & G.S. Rawat (2010). A unique patch of timberline ecotone with three species of Lady’s slipper orchids in Garhwal Himalaya, India. Journal of Threatened Taxa 2(3): 766-769.
