Common Name:

General Information

Cypripedium margaritaceum is a herbeceous perennial plant plant spreading slowly by means of a stout rhizome to form a clump. It produces 2 leaves on each erect flowering stem, growing around 7 - 11cm tall[, ].
The plant is harvested from the wild for use as a medicine and is also grown as an ornamental[].
Cypripedium margaritaceum is very rare and very local with a scattered and restricted distribution in south west Sichuan and north west Yunnan. The trend of the population is decreasing, the species often occurs as solitary plants or in very small groups, the abundance of the species has been significantly reduced during the recent decades due to many threats especially collection, trampling, weak recovery, ecological disturbance, deforestation, tourism, exploitation for horticultural and medicine, infrastructure development. There is a continuing decline in the number of mature individuals and the quality of the habitats in both of its known locations. 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 - southern China (southwest Sichuan, northwest Yunnan)

Habitat

Grassy slopes, open forests; at elevations from 2,500 - 3,600 metres[, ].

Properties

Conservation Status	Endangered
Medicinal Rating
Habit	Perennial
Height	0.10 m
Pollinators	Bees, Insects
Self-fertile	Yes
Cultivation Status	Ornamental, Wild

Cultivation Details

Grows on moist well-drained soils, steep places in humus rich or organic soils, from acid to alkaline soils. The species prefers light to deep shaded habitats[].
A difficult plant to grow in cultivation[].
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

The plant is often found in deep shade[].

Medicinal

The plant is used when there is a need to nourish the liver and kidneys. It moderates qi (vital energy) and blood, promotes diuresis and relieves oedema, and improves blurred vision or night blindness. A commonly used folk herb in Yunnan, a decoction is prepared by boiling 9 - 15g of the herb[].

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[].