Slipper Orchid Research Articles

New data on distribution of Cypripedium macranthon sw. on the territory of Altai krai

The Family Orchidaceae Juss. –occupies an important place among the plants, which were highlighted related to their biology and ecology. The total number of species of the family in the Altai region – 27 (ruberoidny -13, rhizomatous – 14), 10 species of orchids are rare and protected. Among the many flowering plants highlights one of the most beautiful and the most noticeable because of its large flowers Orchid – lady's slipper large-flowered Cypripedium (Cypripedium macranthon Sw.). This species is rare and listed in the regional Red book, as residential landscape areas suffers from collecting in bouquets and digging out the gardeners for the introduction into the culture. Exterminated Orchid in the procurement of herbal raw materials in traditional medicine. The Shoe form a plurality of decorative forms that is of interest to collectors of plants, promotes the collection and implementation in connection with the market demand. Increasing anthropogenic load on the territory of the region, which also adversely affects the number and state of coenopopulations of C. macranthon Sw. For the Altai territory, the modern updated data on the habitat of the Orchid. Four previously unknown local populations of C. macranthon Sw. it is noted in the upper basin of the river Angara in the virgin area.

The wild origin dilemma

The sustainable production and trade of plants, animals, and their products, including through artificial propagation and captive breeding, is an important strategy to supply the global wildlife market, particularly when the trade in wild specimens is restricted by CITES or other wildlife trade legislation. However, these production methods can become a potential mechanism for the laundering of material illegally collected from the wild, leading to recent calls for the development of traceability methods to determine the origin of traded products. Currently, identifying wild origin can be complex and may require expert knowledge and/or resource intensive molecular techniques. Here we show, using CITES Appendix I slipper orchids as a model system, that production times can be used as a threshold to identify plants in trade that have a high likelihood of being of wild origin. We suggest that this framework could be used by enforcement officers, online vendors, and others to flag material of potential concern for orchids and other high value plants in trade. Specifically, this knowledge combined with nomenclature and the list of CITES Trade Database species could be used to construct a species watch list and automate online searches. The results suggest that had this been applied, questions would have been raised regarding online sales of three recently described species.

Tree removal as a management strategy for the lady’s slipper orchid, a flagship species for herb-rich forest conservation

In boreal herb-rich forests, the dominance of Norway spruce (Picea abies) decreases light availability for understory species, many of which depend on canopy gaps for reproduction. Here, we explored the response of a rare clonal understory herb, the lady’s slipper orchid (Cypripedium calceolus), to tree removal. We used demographic data spanning 16 years from ten unharvested control sites and ten harvest sites which were divided into three treatments with differing harvest intensity: (1) dense spruce forests, where half of the total tree basal area (TBA) was cut, (2) sparse spruce forests, where one-fourth of the spruce TBA was cut and (3) sparse broadleaf forests, where one-fourth of the total TBA was cut. The effects of harvesting on different demographic rates (ramet density, reproduction, survival, and dormancy) were studied with generalized linear mixed models with harvest intensity, time since harvest and the starting level of the response variable as explanatory variables. Tree removal sites had 2.2 times higher orchid ramet density, 2.4 times higher odds of survival, and 2.1–3.1 times higher odds of flowering and fruiting than the control sites, but these effects were not seen at all treatment levels at all times. Tree removal had no effect on dormancy or seedling or flower density. Orchid flowering and fruiting probabilities increased only at the most intensively harvested sites (both spruce forest sites, and dense spruce forest with 50% TBA removal, respectively), while survival and ramet density increased at the moderately harvested broadleaf forest sites. The effects on flowering and fruiting probabilities and survival disappeared quickly (after three years) when the canopy gaps closed, whereas ramet density responded only with a lag of over three years and was maintained to the end of the study. Our results thus demonstrate that for the lady’s slipper orchid, selective tree harvest might be a suitable management method that increases population size at the ramet level.

European Skipper Butterfly (<i>Thymelicus lineola</i>) Associated with Reduced Seed Development of Showy Lady’s-slipper Orchid (<i>Cypripedium reginae</i>)

It has been suggested that European Skipper butterflies (Thymelicus lineola) trapped in the lips of the Showy Lady’s-slipper orchid (Cypripedium reginae) may interfere with pollination. This could occur through blockage of the pollinator pathway, facilitation of pollinator escape without pollination, and/or disturbance of the normal pollinators. A large population of the orchid at an Ottawa Valley site provided an opportunity to test the interference hypothesis. The number of trapped skippers was compared in 475 post-blooming flowers with regard to capsule development and thus seed development. The presence of any skippers within flowers was associated with reduced capsule development (P = 0.0075), and the probability of capsule development was found to decrease with increasing numbers of skippers (P = 0.0271). The extent of a negative effect will depend on the abundance of the butterflies and the coincidence of flowering time and other factors. Counts of skippers trapped in flowers were found to follow closely a negative binomial distribution (P = 0.8656).

Asymbiotic germination and seed storage of Paphiopedilum insigne, an endangered lady's slipper orchid

The present scenario of urbanization and commercialization has adversely affected orchid's population; as a consequence they are diminishing from the nature very rapidly. Paphiopedilum insigne (lady's slipper orchid) is one such orchid of horticultural importance. Apart from being listed as endangered in IUCN red data list; it finds a place in Appendix I of CITES in the global platform. In the present study, capsules <180days after pollination (DAP) were found to be immature and 180 DAP was found optimal for seed germination. Capsules >240 DAP were found to have mature seeds that were treated prior to germination and TTC tested for viability. Seeds derived from 180 DAP capsules showed the highest germination of 88.5% in modified Burgeff medium (BG1) with initiation in 26days. Incorporation of plant growth regulators like 5μM kinetin (KN)+10μM indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) in 1/2 MS medium influenced the stage-wise development of the seedlings in a short duration. Mature seeds stored at −196°C for 360days followed by pre-treatment with 3% NaOCl showed viability of 70.5% and recorded germination of 79.2%. Sixty-nine percent of the plantlets were successfully hardened and acclimatized in the green house.

Interpopulation variation in pollinators and floral scent of the lady\u2019s-slipper orchid Cypripedium calceolus L.

Floral scent is a key mediator in many plant–pollinator interactions. It is known to vary not only among plant species, but also within species among populations. However, there is a big gap in our knowledge of whether such variability is the result of divergent selective pressures exerted by a variable pollinator climate or alternative scenarios (e.g., genetic drift). Cypripedium calceolus is a Eurasian deceptive lady’s-slipper orchid pollinated by bees. It is found from near sea level to altitudes of 2500 m. We asked whether pollinator climate and floral scents vary in a concerted manner among different altitudes. Floral scents of four populations in the Limestone Alps were collected by dynamic headspace and analyzed by gas chromatography coupled to mass spectrometry (GC/MS). Flower visitors and pollinators (the subset of visitors with pollen loads) were collected and identified. Preliminary coupled gas chromatographic and electroantennographic measurements with floral scents and pollinators revealed biologically active components. More than 70 compounds were detected in the scent samples, mainly aliphatics, terpenoids, and aromatics. Although several compounds were found in all samples, and all samples were dominated by linalool and octyl acetate, scents differed among populations. Similarly, there were strong differences in flower visitor spectra among populations with most abundant flower visitors being bees and syrphid flies at low and high altitudes, respectively. Pollinator climate differed also among populations; however, independent of altitude, most pollinators were bees of Lasioglossum, Andrena, and Nomada. Only few syrphids acted as pollinators and this is the first record of flies as pollinators in C. calceolus. The electrophysiological tests showed that bees and syrphid flies sensed many of the compounds released by the flowers, among them linalool and octyl acetate. Overall, we found that both floral scent and visitor/pollinator climate differ among populations. We discuss whether interpopulation variation in scent is a result of pollinator-mediated selection.

Floral Mass per Area and Water Maintenance Traits Are Correlated with Floral Longevity in Paphiopedilum (Orchidaceae).

Floral longevity (FL) determines the balance between pollination success and flower maintenance. While a longer floral duration enhances the ability of plants to attract pollinators, it can be detrimental if it negatively affects overall plant fitness. Longer-lived leaves display a positive correlation with their dry mass per unit area, which influences leaf construction costs and physiological functions. However, little is known about the association among FL and floral dry mass per unit area (FMA) and water maintenance traits. We investigated whether increased FL might incur similar costs. Our assessment of 11 species of Paphiopedilum (slipper orchids) considered the impact of FMA and flower water-maintenance characteristics on FL. We found a positive relationship between FL and FMA. Floral longevity showed significant correlations with osmotic potential at the turgor loss and bulk modulus of elasticity but not with FA. Neither the size nor the mass per area was correlated between leaves and flowers, indicating that flower and leaf economic traits evolved independently. Therefore, our findings demonstrate a clear relationship between FL and the capacity to maintain water status in the flower. These economic constraints also indicate that extending the flower life span can have a high physiological cost in Paphiopedilum.

SENSITIVITY OF PIGMENT CONTENT OF BANANA AND ORCHID TISSUE CULTURE EXPOSED TO EXTREMELY LOW FREQUENCY ELECTROMAGNETIC FIEL

&lt;p&gt;Natural exposure of extremely low frequency electromagnetic field (ELF-EMF) occurs in the environment and acts as one of the abiotic factors that affect the growth and development of organisms. This study was conducted to determine the effect of ELF-EMF on the tissue cultured banana and slipper orchid chlorophyll content as one of the indicators in measuring plant photosynthetic capacity. Four days old banana (Musa sp. cv. Berangan) corm and seven days old slipper orchid (Paphiopedilum rothschildianum) cultures were exposed to 6 and 12 mT ELF-EMF generated by controllable ELF-EMF built up machine for 0.5, 1, 2 and 4 hours. After exposure, the banana and orchid cultures were incubated at 25° C for 8 and 16 weeks, respectively. The results showed that the ELF-EMF exposure had different effects on banana and slipper orchid cultures though both plant species belong to monocotyledon. The highest increase in chlorophyll content on banana was resulted by the high intensity and long duration of ELF-EMF exposure (12 mT for 4 hours), whereas on slipper orchid the modest and short duration of ELF-EMF exposure produced the most excessive chlorophyll content. Different ELF-EMF exposures (12 mT for 4 hours and 6 mT for 30 minutes) had potential to be applied on each plant to improve in vitro plant (banana and slipper orchid, respectively) growth. The increased chlorophyll and carotene/xanthophyll content on banana indicated that the banana was more tolerant to ELF-EMF exposure compared to slipper orchid. &lt;/p&gt;

Effects of altering medium strength and sucrose concentration onin vitrogermination and seedling growth ofCypripedium macranthosSw.

The genus Cypripedium, known as lady's slipper orchid, has been considered to have a considerable marketability as a potted and garden plant with beautiful flowers; however, this species is becoming endangered and, in some places extinct, due to habitat destruction and illegal collections. As such, an optimized artificial propagation system is necessary for its conservation and horticultural cultivation. For the establishment of the in vitro proliferation of the endangered Cypripedium macranthos Sw., native to Korea, the effects of medium strength and sucrose concentrations on germination, protocorm formation and seedling growth were investigated through asymbiotic seed culture. The highest germination rate and protocorm formation rate were obtained with a 1/4 MS medium; higher MS medium strengths did not generate the favorable conditions required for germination and protocorm growth. The overall growth characteristics of roots and buds developed from protocorms were best in cultures of 1/4 MS medium. On this medium containing 10 g·L -1 sucrose, both the germination rate and protocorm formation rate increased significantly. The general growth properties of seedlings developed on the medium with 10 g·L -1 sucrose were best, showing the highest bud formation rate and root number. Our results demonstrate that the 1/4 MS medium, supplemented with 10 g·L -1 sucrose, could improve in vitro germination, and facilitate the growth of seedlings developed from the protocorms of C. macranthos Sw.

Improvement of asymbiotic seed germination and seedling development ofCypripedium macranthosSw. with organic additives

To find the optimal propagation condition for endangered Cypripedium macranthos Sw., also known as lady's slipper orchid, the effect of various organic additives on in vitro germination, protocorm formation and seedling growth was investigated during asymbiotic seed culture. When 100 ml·L -1 coconut water was added to the basal medium, the highest germination rate and protocorm formation rate were achieved, with 70.8% and 74.2% respectively. Supplementation of phloem sap from birch tree or maple tree also showed a facilitating effect to improve the germination and protocorm development. With 100 ml·L -1 birch sap or maple sap, both the germination and protocorm formation rates were roughly more than 65% and 68%. The roots and buds of the seedlings grew vigorously in the medium containing 100 ml·L -1 coconut water or phloem sap, in particular, their bud formation rates increased by more than 70%. Addition of banana powder and peptone could not create a more significantly favorable culture condition, and non-addition had the worst results. Our results demonstrated that proper organic amendments such as coconut water and phloem sap might be preferred to in vitro germination and the growth of seedlings developed from the protocorm of C. macranthos Sw. during asymbiotic seed culture.

Symbiotic seed germination of an endangered epiphytic slipper orchid, Paphiopedilum villosum (Lindl.) Stein. from Thailand

Paphiopedilum villosum (Lindl.) Stein is a native epiphytic slipper orchid in Thailand. This species is now being threatened and endangered. Propagation of this species is essential for conservation and reintroduction purposes. In this study, the propagation of P. villosum was achieved through the in vitro asymbiotic and symbiotic seed germination. Seeds of P. villosum sown on asymbiotic media, Murashige and Skoog (MS), Vacin and Went (VW) and Thomale GD (TH), did not germinate within 16weeks. Seven different fungal strains were isolated from roots of this orchid species. The germination rate index (GRI) and the development rate index (DRI) of P. villosum seeds in treatments inoculated with fungal isolates PVCP01, PVCP05, and PVCP06 was significantly higher than uninoculated control treatments. Fungal isolate PVCP01 significantly increased the GRI and DRI of every stage of protocorm development, whereas fungal isolates PVCP05 and PVCP06 were only able to promote seed germination and protocorm development to stage 2. As for the wild orchid species, P. villosum, a compatible fungus is therefore required for promoting seed germination and protocorm development. Based on analysis of morphological characters and sequences of the nuclear ribosomal transcribed spacer (ITS), fungal isolates PVCP01, PVCP 05, and PVCP06 were identified as Tulasnella sp., Ceratobasidium sp., and Flavodon sp., respectively. The information obtained from this study will be used to propagate other threatened Thai orchids for conservation and reintroduction programs.

Effect of plant growth regulators on the seed germination of the lady’s slipper orchid Paphiopedilum dianthum

The environment has a strong influence to the germination of seeds. In this study, seeds of lady’s slipper orchid at 200 days old were cold treatment (at 5 ± 1 0C) and cultivated on ¼ MS medium combined with different concentrations of GA3 in the darkness. In these conditions, seeds began swollen on the second day, and after one week, seeds were transparent coat. The embryos appeared maximum at the fourth week but not yet rupturing the seed coat. The combination of cold treatment and 0.001 mg/L GA3 stimulated the growth of embryo from the seed. Buds were found on ¼ MS medium supplemented with 0.1 mg/L IAA and 2.0 mg/L BA. The combination of 2.0 mg/L IAA with 0.1 mg/L BA strongly induced rooting from the shoots. Especially, making wounds on the surface allowed white protocorms to form seedlings and roots on the ¼ MS medium combined with 2.0 mg/L BA.

Molecular identification of endangered Korean lady’s slipper orchids (Cypripedium, Orchidaceae) and related taxa

Reliable and accurate species identification is essential to establish a strategy for monitoring and manipulation of plant populations for conservation biology. However, identification of nonflowering plants is difficult. Based on recent advances in molecular biological techniques, various molecular identification methodologies have been proposed and applied in plant science, with a focus on medicinally valuable species. Lady’s slipper orchids (Cypripedium) are a representative terrestrial orchid group that includes many endangered species. Of 46 species, 3 (Cypripedium japonicum Thunb., Cypripedium macranthos Sw., and Cypripedium guttatum var. koreanum Nakai) were reported from Korea and categorised as endangered species or at risk of becoming endangered because of the rapidly decreasing population. We generated an accurate molecular identification system for these species using the sequence variation and species-specific SNPs of two plastid loci, rpoC2 and the IGS region between atpF and atpH. We selected the atpF-H region for molecular identification of the Korean Cypripedium and related Taiwan-endemic taxon Cypripedium formosanum Hayata. Cypripedium guttatum var. koreanum contained large deletions of over 300 bp, and could be distinguished by electrophoresis. For the other three species, we designed new primers based on a specific insertion (C. macranthos) and SNPs (C. japonicum and C. formosanum). We confirmed that molecular identification enables detection of each species using species-specific primers.

Dynamic distribution and the role of abscisic acid during seed development of a lady's slipper orchid, Cypripedium formosanum.

Although abscisic acid (ABA) is commonly recognized as a primary cause of seed dormancy, there is a lack of information on the role of ABA during orchid seed development. In order to address this issue, the localization and quantification of ABA were determined in developing seeds of Cypripedium formosanum. The endogenous ABA profile of seeds was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Temporal and spatial distributions of ABA in developing seeds were visualized by immunohistochemical staining with monoclonal ABA antibodies. Fluoridone was applied to test the causal relationship between ABA content and seed germinability. ABA content was low at the proembryo stage, then increased rapidly from 120 to 150 days after pollination (DAP), accompanied by a progressive decrease in water content and seed germination. Immunofluorescence signals indicated an increase in fluorescence over time from the proembryo stage to seed maturation. From immunogold labelling, gold particles could be seen within the cytoplasm of embryo-proper cells during the early stages of seed development. As seeds approached maturity, increased localization of gold particles was observed in the periplasmic space, the plasmalemma between embryo-proper cells, the surface wall of the embryo proper, and the inner walls of inner seed-coat cells. At maturity, gold particles were found mainly in the apoplast, such as the surface wall of the embryo proper, and the shrivelled inner and outer seed coats. Injection of fluoridone into capsules resulted in enhanced germination of mature seeds. The results indicate that ABA is the key inhibitor of germination in C. formosanum. The distinct accumulation pattern of ABA suggests that it is synthesized in the cytosol of embryo cells during the early stages of seed development, and then exported to the apoplastic region of the cells for subsequent regulatory processes as seeds approach maturity.

The role of CITES Rescue Centers in orchid conservation: concerns and questions raised by the collaboration on an endangered slipper orchid (Paphiopedilum vietnamense O. Gruss &amp; Perner)

The Convention on the International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) is an international treaty currently adopted by 169 member countries to regulate international trade in over 30,000 species of animal and plants. Plants that are not transported in accordance with CITES requirements may be either denied entry, and sometimes abandoned, or subject to seizure by enforcement officials in importing coun- tries. Instead of being destroyed, abandoned or con- fiscated plants may be returned to the range countries or sent to CITES Rescue Centers, which are public museums or botanical gardens in member countries where the plants are cared for and cultivated.

Desarrollo de cápsulas y germinación in vitro de Phragmipedium humboldtii, P. longifolium y P. pearcei

Slipper orchids belonging to the genus Phragmipedium (subfam. Cypripedioideae) are seriously threatened and therefore listed in Appendix I of CITES. Less research has been conducted in this genus than in others belonging to the same subfamily. In this work, we evaluated development of capsules (seed pods) from Phragmipedium humboldtii, P. longifolium and P. peaarcei from the time of pollination until opening. Moreover, seed viability was tested with the tetrazolium method in each of the capsules that were subsequently used to evaluate the effect of light and two culture media (Knudson C vs. Murashige and Skoog half concentrated) on in vitro asymbiotic germination and seedling growth. 100% of the pollinated flowers developed capsules, which differentiated in terms of length and diameter among species. While the length of the capsules remained constant during development, their diameter increased during the first 6-8 weeks and then stopped. Time required for maturity and opening of the capsules also varied among species (31 weeks in P. humboldtii, 16 weeks in P. longifolium and 9.5 weeks in P. percei). Seed viability differed among species as well, averaging 34.3% in P. humboldtii, 44.7% in P. longifolium and 82.3% in P. pearcei. Furthermore, seed viability of each capsule was used to adjust the germination rate measured in each case. While very few P. humboldtii viable seeds germinated under the conditions tested (2.9%), better results were observed in the other two species (close to 40% germination). No significant effect of light/darkness regime or of culture medium was observed on germination. However, better growth of the germinated embryos was observed with the Knudson C medium and darkness conditions. Further subculture of the gro- wing plantlets under light conditions induced development of roots and allowed successful acclimatization of seedlings in the greenhouse.

&lt;em&gt;Osmia&lt;/em&gt; species (Megachilidae) pollinate &lt;em&gt;Cypripedium parviflorum&lt;/em&gt; (Orchidaceae) and &lt;em&gt;Packera paupercula&lt;/em&gt; (Asteraceae): a localized case of Batesian mimicry?

The pollinator-non-rewarding Large Yellow Lady's-slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum var. pubescens [Willdenow] Knight) and the rewarding Balsam Ragwort (Packera paupercula [Michaux] Á. Löve &amp; D. Löve) exist together in some eastern Ontario alvars where they share a group of medium-sized, dark blue metallic pollinators in the bee genus Osmia (Mason Bees, Megachilidae). I provide evidence of floral mimicry of the ragwort by the orchid based on several observations: (1) Osmia visiting P. paupercula also visit C. parviflorum var. pubescens; (2) Osmia are more frequent visitors to P. paupercula than to other co-blooming plants; (3) Osmia are the primary pollinators of C. parviflorum var. pubescens; (4) the behaviour of Osmia on the flower of C. parviflorum var. pubescens involving landing on the staminode suggests mimicry; and (5) the largest populations of C. parviflorum var. pubescens in Ontario are in alvar landscapes where P. paupercula is abundant. Pollination in Large Yellow Lady's-slipper may vary geographically from non-model to species-specific Batesian mimicry, which is rare in orchids. This latter pollination mechanism may have evolved in ice-front environments during the Pleistocene, but then became isolated to unusual partial analogues of ice-front habitat during the Holocene with pollination in most of the current range appearing to be a generalist strategy.

Reticulate evolution and sea-level fluctuations together drove species diversification of slipper orchids (Paphiopedilum) in South-East Asia.

South-East Asia covers four of the world's biodiversity hotspots, showing high species diversity and endemism. Owing to the successive expansion and contraction of distribution and the fragmentation by geographical barriers, the tropical flora greatly diversified in this region during the Tertiary, but the evolutionary tempo and mode of species diversity remain poorly investigated. Paphiopedilum, the largest genus of slipper orchids comprising nearly 100 species, is mainly distributed in South-East Asia, providing an ideal system for exploring how plant species diversity was shaped in this region. Here, we investigated the evolutionary history of this genus with eight cpDNA regions and four low-copy nuclear genes. Discordance between gene trees and network analysis indicates that reticulate evolution occurred in the genus. Ancestral area reconstruction suggests that vicariance and long-distance dispersal together led to its current distribution. Diversification rate variation was detected and strongly correlated with the species diversity in subg. Paphiopedilum (~80 species). The shift of speciation rate in subg. Paphiopedilum was coincident with sea-level fluctuations in the late Cenozoic, which could have provided ecological opportunities for speciation and created bridges or barriers for gene flow. Moreover, some other factors (e.g. sympatric distribution, incomplete reproductive barriers and clonal propagation) might also be advantageous for the formation and reproduction of hybrid species. In conclusion, our study suggests that the interplay of reticulate evolution and sea-level fluctuations has promoted the diversification of the genus Paphiopedilum and sheds light into the evolution of Orchidaceae and the historical processes of plant species diversification in South-East Asia.

Ecology of Paphiopedilum rothschildianum at the type locality in Kinabalu Park (Sabah, Malaysia)

Rothschild’s slipper orchid (Paphiopedilum rothschildianum), originating from Kinabalu Park in the Malaysian state of Sabah, on Borneo Island, is one of the most famous orchid species in the world. It caused a sensation when it was first discovered in the nineteenth century, and the precise details of its habitat were long kept a (trade) secret. The species is now widely available as a result of artificial propagation in culture, but the ecology of this species in the wild remained largely unknown. An expedition was organised by the authors to collect detailed habitat information, and to perform chemical analysis on P. rothschildianum leaves and associated rhizosphere soils. The species occurs on serpentinite (ultramafic) landslides at 500–1800 m asl on slightly acidic (means ranging from pH 5.8–6.7) soils with a cation exchange complex dominated by magnesium. The nutrient status (rhizosphere soil concentrations of phosphorus and potassium) is low, both the plant-available fraction and the total concentrations. The extreme soil chemistry was also reflected in the P. rothschildianum leaf chemistry with low concentrations of these elements and low foliar nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Reciprocal transplantation of P. rothschildianum on non-ultramafic soils has proven successful, which shows that soil chemistry is not limiting its growth, at least in culture. Rather, P. rothschildianum is restricted to open vegetation with a lack of competition brought about by a very unusual combination of factors: recurring landslides setting back vegetation succession, and extreme soil chemistry limiting plant establishment. Finally, the IUCN Red List status of P. rothschildianum and other Paphiopedilum-species of Kinabalu Park was provisionally assessed.

801. CYPRIPEDIUM CALCEOLUS

SummaryCypripedium calceolus L., the lady's slipper orchid, is described and illustrated. Details of its distribution, relationships, pollination, patterns of hybridization and its history and conservation in England are provided. Notes on propagation and cultivation are also included.