Slipper orchid
| Lady's slipper orchid | |
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| Slipper orchid of the genus Paphiopedilum | |
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Cypripedioideae |
| Genera | |
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See text and Taxonomy of the orchid family. |
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| Cypripedioideae genera range | |
See text and Taxonomy of the orchid family.
Lady's slipper orchids (also known as lady slipper orchids or slipper orchids) are orchids in the subfamily Cypripedioideae, which comprises 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 fertilizing the flower.
Unlike most other orchids, slipper orchids have two fertile anthers — they are "diandrous". For that reason, experts have debated whether this clade should be classified within the orchid family (Orchidaceae), or whether they should compose a separate family altogether called Cypripediaceae. Around the year 2000, molecular phylogenetics and DNA sampling have come to play an increasingly important role in classification. This has led to the conclusion that recognition of a distinct Cypripediaceae family would be inappropriate.
The subfamily Cypripedioideae is monophyletic and consists of five genera:
The province of Prince Edward Island, Canada adopted the lady's slipper as its floral emblem in 1947.
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