Ram'S Head Lady'S Slipper
Cypripedium arietinum R.Br.
Cypripedium arietinum, known as the Ram's Head Lady's Slipper, is a terrestrial orchid native to North America. It is typically found in shaded habitats with calcareous soils and is a notable species of the alvar ecosystems around the Great Lakes. In Canada, it occurs from Quebec to Saskatchewan and in an isolated population in Nova Scotia, where it grows on gypsum-based soils, distinct from other populations in the region.
Description
Cypripedium arietinum belongs to the Orchidaceae family and is distributed across several regions in North America, including Manitoba, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Quebec, Saskatchewan, and parts of the United States such as Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, New Hampshire, New York, Vermont, and Wisconsin. It was first described in 1813 by Robert Brown. The species is distinguished by its habitat preferences, often found in calcareous or gypsum-based soils. Its isolated population in Nova Scotia is located 330 km from the nearest population in Maine, highlighting its unique geographic distribution.
Other common names
Ram'S Head Lady'S SlipperRam'S-HeadRam'S-Head Lady'S SlipperRam'S-Head Lady'S-Slipper
Distribution
Manitoba · Nova Scotia · Ontario · Quebec · Saskatchewan · Vermont-US · Global · Connecticut · Maine · Massachusetts · Michigan · Minnesota · New Hampshire · New York · Québec · Vermont · Wisconsin
Synonyms
Arietinum americanumCypripedium arietinum f. albiflorumCriosanthes arietinaCriosanthes borealisCypripedium arietinum f. biflorumCypripedium arietinum f. arietinum