Cypripedium calceolus

The Cypripedium calceolus, commonly known as the Lady's-slipper orchid, is the only European representative of the Cypripedioideae subfamily and an orchid of vital conservation importance in Europe. Its name comes from the Greek (Kypris: Venus) and the Latin (calceolus: slipper) and refers to the shape of its labellum, hollow and inflated like a slipper.

Morphological description: It is a perennial rhizomatous plant (20-60 cm) with ovate-lanceolate leaves, bright green and pubescent. The flowers are large (up to 9 cm) and very showy, with a purplish-brown perianth. The most characteristic feature is its labellum, intense yellow and spurless, which acts as a trap for its pollinators.

Habitat and distribution: With a holarctic distribution, its southwestern limit is in the Pyrenees, where it is only present in the provinces of Barcelona, Girona, and Huesca (Aragon). It grows on calcareous substrates in the semi-shade of forest clearings (beech and pine forests) and damp pastures, generally between 1,200 and 1,600 m in altitude. Its flowering occurs between May and July.

Biology and conservation: Sexual reproduction relies on a highly specialized entomophilous pollination mechanism, where the insect is temporarily trapped. Due to this biological fragility and its historical regression due to collection and trampling, C. calceolus is listed as an "Endangered" species in Catalonia and nationally in Spain. It is protected by the Habitats Directive 92/43/CEE.