This is an orchid native to Britain. Cyripedium calceolus, is very endangered. There is only one individual left on a nature preserve in the Dales in Yorkshire. It is kept under armed guard and visitors can only come by invitation to protect it from plant collectors. Kew gardens has bred others and is attempting to reintroduce the plant in its native habitat. (It takes ten years for the plant to flower from seed.) The plant is not as endangered on the continent and some grow the European or American forms in British gardens, but the desire is to have the British form reintroduced.
It was once widespread but was over collected in the 19th and early 20th century.
I like the plants story especially the guards. Since I write about Neville who is supposed to be from Yorkshire and is a plant nut I like to use it as my icon. (I'm a plant nut too.) I once wrote a little ficlet where he has some seeds of this plant and is very proud to have grown it but no one else understands because they've never seen it flower. He thinks of it as a Hannah plant because it has Hufflepuff colors and is special. She is a bit unimpressed because it doesn't look like much before it flowers.
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Date: 2009-02-15 11:58 pm (UTC)It was once widespread but was over collected in the 19th and early 20th century.
I like the plants story especially the guards. Since I write about Neville who is supposed to be from Yorkshire and is a plant nut I like to use it as my icon. (I'm a plant nut too.) I once wrote a little ficlet where he has some seeds of this plant and is very proud to have grown it but no one else understands because they've never seen it flower. He thinks of it as a Hannah plant because it has Hufflepuff colors and is special. She is a bit unimpressed because it doesn't look like much before it flowers.