description Ram's Head Lady's Slipper Overview
The ram's-head lady's-slipper, Cypripedium arietinum, is a small terrestrial orchid native to northern North America. Its distinctive pouch-shaped flower resembles a ram's head and is marked with white, pink, and purplish coloring beneath narrow twisted sepals and petals. The plant grows in specialized habitats such as cool coniferous forests, cedar swamps, and calcareous soils, and many populations are vulnerable to habitat disturbance and collection.
insights Ranking position
Ram's Head Lady's Slipper ranks #8 of 341 in the Wildflower ranking, behind Painted Trillium, ahead of Common Camas.
help Ram's Head Lady's Slipper FAQ
Why is it called the ram's-head lady's-slipper?
The orchid's downward-pointing pouch is white with crimson or purple veining and resembles a small ram's head in profile. Its scientific name is Cypripedium arietinum, with arietinum likewise referring to a ram.
How small is a ram's-head lady's-slipper?
A mature plant is commonly about 5 to 30 centimeters tall and usually carries one flower. It is considerably smaller than the familiar pink lady's-slipper, Cypripedium acaule.
Where can ram's-head lady's-slipper orchids grow?
The species occurs from southeastern Canada through parts of New England and west toward Minnesota. Its habitats include mixed woods, northern white-cedar stands, mossy ground, and calcareous soils.
Why shouldn't a ram's-head lady's-slipper be dug up?
Cypripedium arietinum is rare across much of its range and is legally protected in several jurisdictions. Wild-dug orchids usually fail after transplanting because they depend on particular soil, moisture, and fungal relationships.
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