Cypripedium candidum Muhl. ex Willd.

White Lady's Slipper

Herb

Perennial

Vascular

White Lady's Slipper is a native herbaceous perennial in the Orchid family (Orchidaceae). It is known to have occurred in 3 Alabama counties, but only two populations (1 each in Dallas and Lowndes County) remain. It occurs in wet prairies, and on the sides and along the margins of near vertical slopes along major rivers. It occurs on limestone derived soils. White Lady's Slipper is a perennial with thick cord-like roots and a short rhizome. Each root crown produces 1 or a few upright stems. The stems are 6-18 inches in height, green in color, and pubescent. The leaves are alternate, elliptic to oblanceolate in outline, pubescent, with entire margins. The leaves are plicate and their bases surround the stem. Each stem produces a single resupinate flower. The flower is subtended by a large leaf-like bract. The flower has 3 greenish-brown mottled sepals, and a white pouch-like inflated lip. The fruit is a capsule with many dust-like seed. White Lady's Slipper is listed as a S1 species in Alabama (typically 5 or fewer occurrences, very few remaining individuals, acres, or miles of stream, or some factor of its biology making it especially vulnerable in the state), and globally as a G4 species (imperiled globally because of rarity (6 - 20 occurrences, or few remaining acres, or miles of stream) or very vulnerable to extinction throughout its range because of other factors).--A. Diamond

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Native OBL (NWPL) S1 (State Rank) G4 (Global Rank)

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