J. RENZ

Cypripedium cordigerum Image/JPEG

Herbs with short or ± creeping rhizomes and leafy stem. Leaves 2-5(-8), cauline or basal, papyraceous, usually large. Inflorescence short, with one or few flowers. Bracts herbaceous. Flowers large, attractive. Sepals spreading, the dorsal erect; laterals ± fused or free. Petals similar to sepals, narrower. Labellum calceolate or saccate-inflated. Fertile anthers 2 at sides of column, third modified into large, shield-like staminode, overlapping anthers and stigmas. Pollen granulose, in viscous secretion. Fertile stigmas 3, ± confluent on minutely stipitate disc. Ovary unilocular.

About 35 species mainly concentrated in temperate and cold regions of East Asia and N. America. In Europe and tropical Middle America one in each area. Represented in Pakistan by 1 species.

Lower Taxon

• Cypripedium cordigerum D. Don