It is not at all easy to correctly identify an orchid species from among the countless native genera. We would like to use the following examples to illustrate how you approach the solution step by step with an identification key.
The lady's slipper orchid is native to us
First step: identify the orchid as such
Before you consult an identification key, you should be certain that you are dealing with an orchid. To that end, take a look at the flowers. An orchid flower is composed of 3 sepals (sepals) as the outer bract circle. The inner bract circle form 3 petals (petals). From this, a leaf forms the lip, the unmistakable feature of an orchid flower.
The lip is optionally equipped with or without a spur and is designed as an easy landing place for pollinators. In lady's slipper orchids, the lip acts as a cauldron trap for curious bees and bumblebees.
How to identify a lady's slipper orchid step-by-step
The yellow lady's slipper orchid is the only Cypripedium native to Germany. Anyone who moves in the field and forest with open eyes can hope for an encounter. Use the following identification key to uncover the identity:
- Key 1 Foliage: Plant with stems fully leafed
- Key 2 Flower Shape: Flowers without a spur
- Key 2a Flower shape: Flowers with a shoe-shaped lip
- Key 3 Flower color: Yellow-brown
- Result: Cypripedium calceolus (Yellow lady's slipper)
If, on the other hand, you come to the conclusion with key 2 that it is a flower with a long spur, the identification key branches off from here in the direction of other orchid species, such as the common orchid (Gymnadenia conopsea) with a flower spur that is up to 20 cm long.
tips
Have you identified a beautiful lady's slipper orchid in the wild using the identification key? Then respectful admiration and detailed photography is allowed. Since the floral treasure is threatened with extinction in Germany, a Cypripedium calceolus is subject to nature conservation. Picking or digging up is punished with heavy fines.