[MPWG] Fw: Pink Lady's Slipper cultivation

[Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov]

Forwarding a question from someone about Pink Lady's Slipper cultivation. 

Please respond directly to Gary Crivellone: <gary1star at comcast.net> 


----- Forwarded by Patricia De Angelis/ARL/R9/FWS/DOI on 04/25/2007 01:38 
PM -----

"Pacific Federal Resources /Gary Crivellone" <gary1star at comcast.net> 
04/23/2007 04:29 PM

To
<Patricia_DeAngelis at fws.gov>
cc

Subject
Pink Lady's Slipper






Patricia
 
Green Medicine published this incomplete info on pink lady’s Slipper. What 
I am looking for is what fungal mycelia is required for the cultivation.
 
If you could be of assistance.
 
THANKS
 
GARY CRIVELLONE
 
 
 
Pink Lady's Slipper

Photo Copyright 2000 www.stevenfoster.com 
(Cypripedium acaule)
Pink lady's slipper is a large, showy wildflower belonging to the orchid 
family. The root of lady's slipper has traditionally been used as a remedy 
for nervousness, tooth pain, and muscle spasms. In the 1800's and 1900's 
it (and other species of the genus) were widely used as a substitute for 
the European plant valerian (also a sedative). 
Because this plant has an extremely long life cycle, taking many years to 
go from seed to mature, seed-bearing plant, and because it will grow only 
in very specific circumstances, the harvest of wild lady's slipper root is 
often not sustainable. Cultivation is challenging, and the plant has not 
been widely grown for the medicinal herb market. Cypripedium, along with 
other orchid species, is listed in Appendix II of CITES, making it illegal 
to export any part of the plant without a permit. In 1988, the American 
Herbal Products Association issued a self-regulatory initiative for its 
members requiring them to refrain from trade in wild-harvested 
Cypripedium. 
Today, there are only a few companies selling lady's slipper or products 
containing lady's slipper. The plant is still occasionally gathered from 
the wild for private use by individuals, and is sometimes picked as an 
ornamental. Perhaps the greatest threat to this plant, however, is habitat 
loss, since it grows only in a very selective habitat 
Cultivation: Pink lady's slipper grows in calcium-containing soils, in 
forested areas. It has thus far proven nearly impossible to cultivate in a 
way that would make it feasible as a cash crop. It requires that certain 
fungal mycelia be present in the soil, so it is almost necessary to grow 
it in a forested area which either does contain wild lady's slipper, or is 
at least the type of environment where it is normally found. Usually this 
means a wet forest area, with dappled shade. Success has been reported in 
growing lady's slippers in a controlled laboratory environment, but the 
cost of this generally makes it unprofitable as a medicinal herb.
 
 
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