Common Name:

General Information

Cypripedium formosanum is a herbeceous perennial plant plant spreading slowly by means of slender, branched rhizomes to form a clump. It produces 2 leaves on each erect flowering stem, growing around 30 - 40cm tall[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for use as a medicine. It is grown as an ornamental. The species is quiet easy to grow, multiplies very fast and it is frequently seen in cultivation despite its rareness in nature[].
Cypripedium formosanum is rare and very local with a scattered and restricted distribution in Taiwan. The trend of the population is decreasing and the abundance of the species has been significantly reduced during the recent decades due to many threats, especially exploitation for horticultural and medicinal purposes, ruthless collection, trampling, recreation, rapid fires, overgrazing pressure, ecological disturbance, deforestation, tourism and infrastructure development. There is an estimated continuing decline in the number of mature individuals and the quality of habitats in the remaining five known locations where this species grows wild. The plant is classified as 'Endangered' in the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species(2014)[].

Known 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[].
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

E. Asia - Taiwan

Habitat

Forests, thickets; at elevations from 2,400 - 3,000 metres[]. Montane forest, thickets, cool temperate mountains and open, damp places[].

Properties

Conservation Status	Endangered
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.35 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Prefers a shaded to part shaded habitat, growing best in moist well drained soils rich in organic matter[]. Plants succeed in both acid and alkaline soils, in both limestone and peat bogs[].
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 entire plant improves blood flow, regulates the menses, expels gas, stops pain and relieves itching[].

The root and stem expel gas, improve blood flow, and are used to treat malaria, snake bites, traumatic injury and rheumatism[]

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[].