DESCRIPTION

Herbaceous plant from 20 to 70 cm high. Alternating oval stem leaves up to 12 cm long and parallelized. At the tip of the stem, usually a single flower 5 to 9 cm long with a yellow labellum inflated in a domed pocket and thin reddish-brown petals. Each flower has three sepals and three petals. The sepals, 5 cm long, are lanceolate in shape. Their colour varies from red brown to chocolate brown. The two lateral sepals are welded and point downwards under the labellum while the central sepal that extends vertically upwards takes the opposite position. Two fairly narrow and often slightly twisted petals are of the same colour and shape as the sepals. These are arranged on both sides and surround - well apart like the sepals - the yellow hoof. This one is born by a transformation of the third petal, the labellum. It is a straw yellow belly-shaped hoof with brown spots and reaches a length of 4 cm. The lady's slipper is one of the largest flowers of Western European flora, and has the largest flower among European orchids.

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HISTORY

The yellow and swollen labellum is reminiscent of a slipper, hence its name "lady's slipper".

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HABITAT

Very rare in the limestone regions of the Alps; light-woods with deciduous and coniferous, brush; on nutrient-rich limestone soils; up to 2000 m altitude.

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PARTICULARITIES

The labellum inflated in the lady's slipper's pocket is an insect trap, especially a fly trap. They fall into the trap, and as they seek to escape, they pollinate the flower.

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THREAT

This flower is protected, do not pick it !

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