Common Name: Clustered Lady's-slipper

General Information

Cypripedium fasciculatum is a herbaceous perennial plant spreading slowly to form a clump; it produces 2 leaves towards the middle of each erect flowering stem around 6 - 35cm tall[].
The plant is harvested from the wild for use as a medicine. It is grown as an ornamental.
Cypripedium fasciculatum is scattered widely across western North America. Most of the
ubpopulations are small and large subpopulations occur only occasionally. The species is under numerous threats, especially habitat destruction, tree harvesting, light regime disturbance, alteration of the moisture or temperature regime, browsing, grazing, trampling, road and trail construction, fire suppression and collection which cause a continuing decline of the species on all of the 7 - 10 estimated locations, leading to the destruction of some subpopulations.The plant is classified as 'Vulnerable' 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

Western to central N. America - Washington, Oregon, Idaho, Montana, Wyoming, California, Utah, Colorado

Habitat

Moist to dry coniferous forests and thickets; at elevations up to 3,200 metres[].

Properties

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

Cultivation Details

Cypripedium fasciculatum is not a very cold-tolerant plant, as long as the plant is given a good mulch of leafmold or other organic matter in winter it should withstand temperatures down to about -5 to -10°c[].
Prefers a shady position in dry to cool ultrabasic soils, granitic soils, schist, limestone and quartz-diorite[]. Its natural habitat includes a rich organic layer that supports microflora as the species is strongly connected with mycorrhizal fungi. Populations have been reported from rocky to loamy soils in damp to dry sites but the species is rare in swampy ground and on rocky places[]
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

An extract from the species is used for medicinal purposes[].

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[].