Lady Slippers in Bloom

On our last trip outside for the year, my Maine Fish and Wildlife students came across a good number of pink lady slippers (Cypripedium acaule) growing throughout the T.A. Forest. The "slipper" structure on the flower serves to attract pollinators such as bees. The slipper is actually a modified petal commonly seen in members of the orchid family. Once inside the pouch, a bee has only one way out at the top and leaves covered in pollen, presumably destined for another nearby flower.

 A pink lady slipper in bloom along the railroad tracks behind T.A. 

These wildflowers are found all along the eastern seaboard and well into Canada. They require acidic soil and thrive in the partially shaded understory of a pine or mixed deciduous forests. The lady slipper is challenging to cultivate due to its need for an acidic environment and reliance on a symbiotic fungus for germination. Without the fungus present, lady slipper seeds lack the energy required to germinate on their own. The discovery of lady slippers in bloom was exciting and reinforced the need to get outside as a class at least every couple of weeks in the spring. There are such rapid transformations in the forest this time of year that skipping a week or two can mean missing some really cool teachable moments!

More lady slippers found growing throughout the T.A. Forest