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Lady Slippers Seeds
Name: Bill
Status: other
Grade: other
Location: OH
Country: USA
Date: Fall 2012
Question:
I have some Yellow lady's slippers seeds. When and how do I plant/grow them, for next Spring?
Replies:
The following may be helpful re. germinating Cypripedium (lady's slipper) seeds:
http://forums.gardenweb.com/forums/load/north/msg101547349230.html?18
http://www.orchidseed.com/Plants/Nat__Am__Orchids/Cypripediums/cypripediums.html
http://www.c-we.com/cyp.haven/cypseed.htm
Anthony Brach Ph.D.
Bill
Googling “Lady Slipper’s Seed Germination” yielded many sites with information.
That is at http://www.google.com
This article is from Wikipedia:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cypripedium_reginae
It says
“Despite producing a large amount of seeds per seed pod, it reproduces largely by vegetative reproduction,[2] and remains restricted to the North East region of the United States and south east regions of Canada.”
Cypripedium reginae grows in calcareous wet lands, open wooded swamps, with tamarack and black spruce.[4] Contrary to many garden tips, C. reginae thrives in neutral to basic soils and prefers growing in fens. Despite growing in mildly acidic environments, its roots can penetrate the mossy layers down to more neutral water sources. It forms clumps by branching of the underground rhizomes. It forms aerial roots in the swampy bog conditions. It is eaten by white-tailed deer.[5]
“C. reginae reproduces sexually, dependent on the intricate relationship between naive syphid flies, beetles and Megachile bees, where the pollinator will pass under the pollen-bearing anthers prior to the female pistil while exiting, only to discover that there was little to no reward for entering the pouch.
“It flowers in early to midsummer, usually with 1 to 2 flowers per stalk, less commonly 3 or 4.”
“Cypripedium reginae contains an irritant, phenanthrene quinone or cypripedin. The plant is known to cause severe dermatitis on the hands and face. The first report of the allergy reaction was first reported in 1875 by H. H. Babcock in the United States, 35 years before the term "allergy" was coined. The allergen was later isolated in West Germany by Bjorn M. Hausen and associates.
Attached is a document from www.ndsu.edu that more directly answers your question. It looks to me like you will almost need a chemistry laboratory with a refrigerator to germinate your seeds.
Sincere regards,
Mike Stewart
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Update: November 2011
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