At the solstice

Orchids such as the one in my photo are increasingly rare in this area. Many colonies are nibbled and eaten by our runaway population of deer. Although a colony I visit gets nibbled at the fringes, many plants are safeguarded by a network of tree branches.

Among the common names for this orchid are “squirrel’s shoes,” “whippoowill’s shoes” and “Indian slipper” (in New England), “Venus’ slipper” (in the South) and “moccasin flower,” which originated with Native Americans.

Mark Catesby, an English naturalist who painted North American plants and wildlife in the 18th century, wrote, “This plant produces the most elegant flower…and is of great esteem with the North American Indians for decking their hair, etc. They call it the moccasin flower, which also signifies in their language, a shoe or slipper.”

The scientific name, Cypripedium acaule, was bestowed by William Aiton, also an 18th century naturalist. Two Greek words, “Kypris,” the name of the goddess Venus, and “pedilon,” for slipper, supply the generic name of “Cypripedium,” which translates literally as “Venus’ slipper.” “Acaule,” meaning “stemless,” refers to the twin basal leaves, which lack stems.

The beautiful pouch, which resembles a shoe or moccasin, is actually a specialized petal that encloses the plant’s male and female parts.