Orchidaceae FAMILY Least Concern

Cypripedium calceolus

Edibility

0/5

Medicinal

2/5

Safety & Hazards

We have seen no reports for Eurasian members of the genus, but there are reports that the glandular hairs on the leaves and stems of some N. American species can cause a rash, similar to poison ivy rash[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ]. We have no specific information for this species, but it has been stated that the roots of at least one member of the genus may cause psychedelic reactions, and large doses may result in giddiness, restlessness, headache, mental excitement and visual hallucinations[ 2170 Title Herbal Medicines. Third Edition Publication Author Barnes J., Anderson L.A. & Phillipson J.D. Publisher Pharmaceutical Press; London Year 2007 ISBN 978 0 85369 623 0 Description Providing mongraphs on 152 medicinal plants with lots of references to allow further research. A very good book, it can be downloaded from the Internet ].

Botanical Description

Cypripedium calceolus is a herbaceous perennial plant with a somewhat stout, rhizomatous rootstock; it produces 3 - 4 leaves on erect flowering stems around 20 - 45cm tall[ 266 Title Flora of China Publication Author Website http://flora.huh.harvard.edu/china/ Publisher Missouri Botanical Garden Press; St. Louis. Year 1994 ISBN Description An excellent, comprehensive resource in 25 volumes. In addition to the botanical information the flora also gives basic information on habitat and some uses. An on-line version is also available. ]. The plant is harvested from the wild for use as a medicine. It is grown as an ornamental. Cypripedium calceolus is widespread and the population trend is stable now although the species has undergone severe declines in the past, especially due to its collection for horticulture. The population is still declining in parts of its range but is stable or even increasing in other parts due to conservation measures that have been implemented. The plant is classified as 'Least Concern' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2013)[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].

Habitat & Origin

Origintemperate

Native RangeEurasia - almost throughout Europe, east through Russia to the Russian Far East, Mongolia, northern China, Japan, Korea; N. Africa - Algeria

HabitatOpen woodland, scrub under conifers, forest margins, grasslands, fens, including eutrophic tall-herb fens and calcareous flushes and soaks as well as broad-leaved swamp woodland not on acid peat[ 338 Title IUCN Red List of Threatened Species Publication Author Website http://www.iucnredlist.org/ Publisher Year 0 ISBN Description A list of plants under threat and facing possible extinction, usually with brief details of the threats and information on habitat. ].