Common Name:

General Information

Cypripedium arietinum is a herbaceous perennial plant with a rhizomatous rootstock, spreading slowly to form a clump; it produces 3 - 4 leaves along each flowering stem, growing 10 - 35cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for use as a medicine. It is grown as an ornamental.
Cypripedium arietinum has a large distribution area and is abundant in some localities, but most known subpopulations are small. The species is declining on most of the sites due to numerous threats; habitat loss, urbanization, clear-cutting and heavy thinning which allow more sunlight to reach the ground and dry the soil, suppression of natural disturbance regimes, logging practices, climate change, soil compaction, hydrological alterations, drainage and collection for medicinal and horticultural use. The population is, however, not severely fragmented and it is known from a large number of locations.
Although neither the number of locations nor the size of the populations fall within any of the thresholds for a threatened category, the species is at high risk as the existing threats for the species and the habitats are most likely to cause the population to decline quickly in the near future if we do not apply various conservation measures. The plant is classified as 'Near Threatened' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2014)[].

Known Hazards

We have no specific reports for this species but, especially during the flowering season, the glandular hairs on the leaves and stems of some N. American members of this genus can cause a rash, similar to poison ivy rash[, ]. The irritation is usually minor, or only lasts for a few minutes[].
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[].

Botanical References

Range

Central and eastern N. America - Saskatchewan to Quebec, south to Minnesota, New York and Connecticut

Habitat

Dry to moist open coniferous and mixed forests, coniferous-forested fens, beach thickets; mostly at elevations up to 400 metres, but occasionally to 1,000 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Near Threatened
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.20 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Cypripedium arietinum is a very cold-tolerant plant, when fully dormant it can withstand temperatures down to about -30°c[].
Prefers growing under a moderately open canopy, thriving in mid-shade to full shade[].
Orchids are, in general, shallow-rooting plants of well-drained low-fertility soils. Their symbiotic relationship with a fungus in the soil allows them to obtain sufficient nutrients and be able to compete successfully with other plants. They are very sensitive to the addition of fertilizers or fungicides since these can harm the symbiotic fungus and thus kill the orchid[].
The flowers of Cypripedium species belong to the group of 'trap' flowers. An insect as it crawls in, can only escape from the slipper-like labellum through a tunnel near the base of the labellum from where it is directed first to the nearby stigma where possible pollinia from another flower on its back are stripped off and while escaping, sticky pollen from the nearby anthers adhere to its back for the pollination of another flower[].

Edible Uses

None known

Medicinal

The plant is used as an analgesic and gastrointestinal aid[].
A decoction of the whole plant is taken as a treatment for intestinal troubles combined with inflammation and pains[].

Other Uses

None known

Propagation

Seed - surface sow, preferably as soon as it is ripe, in the greenhouse and do not allow the compost to dry out. The seed of this species is extremely simple, it has a minute embryo surrounded by a single layer of protective cells. It contains very little food reserves and depends upon a symbiotic relationship with a species of soil-dwelling fungus. The fungal hyphae invade the seed and enter the cells of the embryo. The orchid soon begins to digest the fungal tissue and this acts as a food supply for the plant until it is able to obtain nutrients from decaying material in the soil[]. It is best to use some of the soil that is growing around established plants in order to introduce the fungus, or to sow the seed around a plant of the same species and allow the seedlings to grow on until they are large enough to move.
Division with care in early spring, the plants resent disturbance[]. Remove part of the original rootball, making sure to keep some of the soil around it intact[].
Division is best carried out towards the end of the growing season, since food reserves are fairly evenly distributed through the rhizome[]. Small divisions of a lead and two buds, or divisions from the back (older) part of the rhizome without any developed buds, establish quickly using this method[]. Replant immediately in situ[].