Orchid Care OrchidTalk Orchid Forum Links Nursery

Welcome to OrchidTalk Orchid Forums


The Friendliest Orchid Community on the Internet!


  •  » Learn to Repot your Orchids
  •  » Learn Orchid Care Tips and Secrets
  •  » Find the perfect Orchid for your Growing Environment
  •  » Chat with Orchid Growing Professionals

OrchidTalk - "Bringing People Together to Grow Orchids Better!"


Let us help you grow your Orchids better; Join our community today.


YES! I want to register an account for free right now!


Register or Login now to remove this advertisement.

Results 1 to 10 of 10

Thread: orchids in the subfamily Cypripedioideae (Slipper Orchids)

Click here to increase the font size Click here to reduce the font size
  1. #1
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Saratoga Co. New York
    Posts
    6,922

    Default orchids in the subfamily Cypripedioideae (Slipper Orchids)

    Thought some might find some slipper information interesting.

    The subfamily Cypripedioideae consist of five genera

    1. Cypripedium - which are found across much of North America, as well as in parts of Europe and Asia.

    2. Paphiopedilums - These are found in the tropical rainforests southeast Asia extending into China

    3. Phragmipedium, - Are located in Central and Northern South America

    4. Mexipedium - Containing a single species, Mexipedium xerophyticum, which is endemic to Mexico.

    5. Selenipedium - there are 6 species accepted. I believe all are from South America.

    The flower structure of "slipper Orchids" vary from other orchids in that the labellum (lip) is modified into a pouch-like structure. This pouch traps bugs, which then have to crawl out past the anthers and this leads to fertilization. (there are two separate anthers in cypripedioids, unlike other genera which only have one anther).

    Cypripedioids lateral sepals are totally or partially fused and called the Synsepal. The uppermost sepal is called the Dorsal Sepal.

    Name:  Copy of PhragLesDairoulles.jpg
Views: 13206
Size:  42.7 KB

  2. #2
    My Grow Area
    Outside 24/7.
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Houston, Texas
    Posts
    1,236

    Default

    I didn't know the later two genus, thank you for the informtion.

    Based on the distribution, I suspect that Cypripedium appeared before North America plate was separated from Europe, and about the same time, Asia plate joined Europe to form Eurosian. Other genus evolved from from Cypripedium after this continental event, so they have regional distribution of each genus. I wonder if anyone ever has done the search to trace the genetics of them.

  3. #3
    Real Name
    Katherine
    My Grow Area
    Under Lights
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Too new to tell
    Join Date
    Oct 2012
    Gender
    Female
    Location
    Newport, Oregon
    Posts
    984
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Thank you for an interesting description of the slippers. This is a wonderful flower. Love the yellows and bronzes

  4. #4
    Real Name
    ed
    My Grow Area
    Outside 24/7
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    vanda,
    Join Date
    Jul 2012
    Gender
    Male
    Location
    south florida
    Posts
    2,429

    Default

    thanks never heard of the last 2 either

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Saratoga Co. New York
    Posts
    6,922

    Default

    Selenipedium is the more primitive of the genera. They are tall reed-like plants. I saw a picture of a plant that was at least 3x the height of the guy standing next to it. To date, there has never been a hybrid in this genus. It is very rare in cultivation and they are threatened in their existence because of habitat loss.

    Mexipedium is readily found in culture. I had one at one time. The plant is small, about 6 inches in height. The flower is about the size of an American dime. It is a lithotrop, growing on cliff faces, in the shade. The plant spreads by runners.

  6. #6
    My Grow Area
    Outside 24/7.
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Houston, Texas
    Posts
    1,236

    Default

    Interesting. Is there any information on the timing of orchid family evolution?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2007
    Location
    Saratoga Co. New York
    Posts
    6,922

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Lizgeo View Post
    Interesting. Is there any information on the timing of orchid family evolution?
    Orchidaceae may be one of the oldest families of flowering plants. There was found preserved in amber a bee with orchid pollen mass stuck to it's back. It was dated from the Late Cretaceous Period, some 76-84 million years ago million years old. So orchids were here during the age of dinosaurs.

  8. #8
    Real Name
    Bruce Brown
    My Grow Area
    Greenhouse
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Cattleyas & Slippers
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Gender
    Male
    Location
    Arkansas
    Posts
    35,136
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Thanks Ron! PS- updating this to an article in the orchid article library. Orchids in the subfamily Cypripedioideae

    cheers,
    BD

  9. #9
    Real Name
    Geoff Hands
    My Grow Area
    Greenhouse
    Favorite Orchid(s)
    Cattleya ?
    Join Date
    Oct 2010
    Location
    England, South coast.
    Posts
    4,366
    Member's Country Flag

    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by Lizgeo View Post
    I didn't know the later two genus, thank you for the informtion.

    Based on the distribution, I suspect that Cypripedium appeared before North America plate was separated from Europe, and about the same time, Asia plate joined Europe to form Eurosian. Other genus evolved from from Cypripedium after this continental event, so they have regional distribution of each genus. I wonder if anyone ever has done the search to trace the genetics of them.
    Are you a palaeontologist ? Or merely an orchidist getting sucked into all that jazz as a result of thinking about orchid distribution ( like me). However, one of my e-mail mates is a proper palaeontologist ( retired Professor) involved in orchids as dogsbody in his wife's collection, and he has been putting me right on some of my deductions in this sort of area. It seems that there is a major difference in sea level today, as compared to the time in the late Cretaceous when the relevant evolution probably happened - of course the absence of fossils for soft tissue plants makes it almost all a matter of deduction only ! But there were land links in places which are not entirely obvious most(all ?) of the continents are surrounded by continental shelves where the water is very shallow, and the phenomena of isostasy also has an effect . It seems that these land bridges where they seem unlikely to us , enabled transmission of genetic material across what we think of as seas, and this is the explanation for some genera ( not Cyprepedioidiae) being present on both sides of the South Atlantic although probably evolved at a time when it is thought the South Amnerican plate was well on its way towards North America.
    A fascinating subject - rapidly becoming my hobby horse... must stop !

  10. #10
    My Grow Area
    Outside 24/7.
    Join Date
    Apr 2008
    Location
    Houston, Texas
    Posts
    1,236

    Default

    I did have a BS on palaeontology, but I mainly work as geologist these days without spending that much time on paleo any more.

    The idea of continental drift and its possible on orchid distribution and evolution came to me when I saw Cypripedium in both America and Asia, then read from other poeple's post that it also grows in Europe. But, I can't find that much publication on orchid evolution. I guess geologists and orchidist haven't really come together on this topic.

    Do you know other orchid genus that spread over two continents?

    Maybe this can be my phD topic someday after I retire:-)
    Quote Originally Posted by Dorsetman View Post
    Are you a palaeontologist ? Or merely an orchidist getting sucked into all that jazz as a result of thinking about orchid distribution ( like me). However, one of my e-mail mates is a proper palaeontologist ( retired Professor) involved in orchids as dogsbody in his wife's collection, and he has been putting me right on some of my deductions in this sort of area. It seems that there is a major difference in sea level today, as compared to the time in the late Cretaceous when the relevant evolution probably happened - of course the absence of fossils for soft tissue plants makes it almost all a matter of deduction only ! But there were land links in places which are not entirely obvious most(all ?) of the continents are surrounded by continental shelves where the water is very shallow, and the phenomena of isostasy also has an effect . It seems that these land bridges where they seem unlikely to us , enabled transmission of genetic material across what we think of as seas, and this is the explanation for some genera ( not Cyprepedioidiae) being present on both sides of the South Atlantic although probably evolved at a time when it is thought the South Amnerican plate was well on its way towards North America.
    A fascinating subject - rapidly becoming my hobby horse... must stop !
    Last edited by Lizgeo; March 25th, 2013 at 09:54 AM.

Similar Threads

  1. Pink Slipper Orchids in bloom
    By orchid-eric in forum Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium, Cypripedium IN BLOOM
    Replies: 6
    Last Post: April 28th, 2012, 11:13 AM
  2. Some of my slipper orchids
    By blrnut in forum Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium, Cypripedium IN BLOOM
    Replies: 12
    Last Post: October 28th, 2011, 12:30 AM
  3. Bournemouth Show – slipper orchids
    By Dorsetman in forum Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium, Cypripedium IN BLOOM
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: March 2nd, 2011, 08:32 AM
  4. Phragmipedium Twilight and other slipper orchids
    By kfir from israel in forum Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium, Cypripedium IN BLOOM
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: January 7th, 2010, 07:20 PM

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •  
OrchidTalk --An Orchid Growers Discussion Forum brought to you by River Valley Orchidworks. A World Community where orchid beginners and experts talk about orchids and share tips on their care, cultivation, and propagation.