Cypripedioideae

Lady's slipper orchid
Slipper orchid of the genus Paphiopedilum
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Cypripedioideae
Kostel.
Genera

See text and Taxonomy of the orchid family.

Cypripedioideae genera range

Cypripedioideae is a subfamily of orchids commonly known as lady's slipper orchids, lady slipper orchids or slipper orchids. Cypripedioideae includes the genera Cypripedium, Mexipedium, Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium and Selenipedium.[1] They are characterised by the slipper-shaped pouches (modified labella) of the flowers – the pouch traps insects so they are forced to climb up past the staminode, behind which they collect or deposit pollinia, thus fertilizing the flower. There are approximately 165 species in the subfamily.[citation needed]

  1. ^ Cash, C. (1991). The Slipper Orchids. Timber Press. ISBN 0-88192-183-1.