Cypripedium montanum
Cypripedium californicum
mountain lady slipper
California lady slipper
alternate, 4–6, 8–17 × 4–10 cm.
alternate, 5–10, 5–15 × 2–6 cm, grading into bracts in the inflorescence.
elongated, 1–3-flowered.
elongated, 3–20-flowered.
dorsal sepal lanceolate to ovate, 3–6 × 1–1.5 cm, green suffused with purple;
lateral sepals connate almost to tip, similar in color and shape to dorsal sepal;
petals linearlanceolate and twisted, 4–7 × 0.3–0.6 cm, purple;
lip 2–3 × 1.2–1.7 cm, white with purple spots inside.
dorsal sepal elliptic, 1.5–2 × 1–1.5 cm; yellowish green to pale brownish yellow;
lateral sepals connate nearly to tip, similar in color and shape to dorsal sepal;
petals lanceolate, 1–2 × 0.3–0.5 cm, yellow to yellowish green;
lip 1.5–2 × 1–1.5 cm, white occasionally with pink.
Cypripedium montanum
Cypripedium californicum
Mixed conifer forests, open shrubby woodlands, roadsides. Flowering Apr–Jul. 50–2200m. BW, Casc, Col, CR, ECas, Sisk, WV. CA, ID, WA; north to AK. Native.
Small streams, riversides, seepage slopes, usually on serpentine soils. Flowering Apr–Jul. 200–1600m. CR, Sisk. CA. Native.
Usually endemic to serpentine-derived soils, California lady slipper is often found growing with the carnivorous plant Darlingtonia californica in seepage slopes and small streams.
James Riser
James Riser
- Local floras:
BC, 
CA, 
OR, 
WA - Local Web sites: CalFlora, CalPhotos,
Flora NW, 
PNW Herbaria, Turner Photog. 
WildflowerSearch
iNaturalist (observations)
USDA Plants Database- LBJ Wildflower Center
- SEINet
- Plants of the World Online
- Encyclopedia of Life
- Wikipedia
- Google Image Search
