Cypripedium kentuckiense

[slipperfreak]

Yesterday was one of the most exciting days ever for me... Glen Decker visited my society and I had the opportunity to blow my wad on a number of his incredible plants... and on top of that, a (kind of) local Cyp vendor showed up with 3 Cyp kentuckiense plants in bloom! This is the first time I've seen a flower of this species in person, and needless to say I would've bought all three of his plants if I had more money. This species is quite hard to come by in these parts! I had to snap a couple quick photos so I could share my happiness .

[John D.]

Very nice

[Zoi2]

WOW that is so cool! Congrats!!
Joann

[natasha]

nice looking flower! too bad i cannot say i want this coz of my hot climate!

[trdyl]

It is lovely.

[billc]

What did you get from Piping Rock?

Bill

[Tindomul]

Very beautiful!

[slipperfreak]

Thanks guys.

Originally Posted by billc

What did you get from Piping Rock?

Bill

I'll show you (please excuse the mess in the background):




From left to right.

Front row:
Paph. micranthum, Paph. delenatii f. semialbum, Phrag. kovachii, Paph. delenatii f. vinicolor

Middle row:
Paph. Harold Koopowitz, Paph. Wossner Vietnam Gold, Phrag. Suzanne Decker, Phrag. Haley Decker, Phal. bellina (not from Glen)

Back row:
Paph. Jade Dragon, Cyp. kentuckiense (not from Glen), Paph. sanderianum

[camille1585]

Very nice! They make very nice clumps once they're well established and happy. But now I'm even more confused about the difference between Cyp kentuckiense and it's european counterpart Cyp calceolus. They look pretty much identical. Anyone know?

[slipperfreak]

Originally Posted by camille1585

Very nice! They make very nice clumps once they're well established and happy. But now I'm even more confused about the difference between Cyp kentuckiense and it's european counterpart Cyp calceolus. They look pretty much identical. Anyone know?

Cyp kentuckiense is a larger plant with a much larger flower than Cyp calceolus. The pouch is distinctly bucket-shaped, and white to cream in color (rarely yellow). It is single-flowered 99% of the time. The petals are very long and very twisted, whereas Cyp calceolus petals are generally less twisted, and of a red or maroon color, as opposed to chestnut brown. Cyp kentuckiense is known only from the southeastern US. It has the largest flower in the genus and is among the most heat tolerant species.