Orchids or something else?

[twirly]

The Lady's-slippers are suspected to be something more than orchids and scientists think of placing them into a family of their own. They are distinguished by a number of characters, but the most conspicuous difference is the deeply saccate, pouch-like lip of the flower, from which the plants take their name. It's interesting the way pollination takes place ...All lady's-slippers have flowers of a type known as trap or semi-trap blossoms. The flowers temporarily imprison their insect pollinators and force them to follow a prescribed sequence of behaviors in order to obtain their release. The insect, usually a bee, enters the lip through the obvious large opening at its top, but the in-rolled edges and slippery inner surface often prevent it from leaving by the same route. There remains but one way out. A foothold is provided by a row of tightly packed, long hairs on the bottom of the lip. These lead along a pathway toward escape holes at the base or heel of the slipper. The escaping bee may also be attracted along this path by colored lines on the lip's inner surface and by light coming from the escape holes or from translucent window-panes in the side of the lip near its base. In its escape the bee must pass two points where the passageway is narrowed. At the first of these it is forced to squeeze under and rub its back against the surface of the stigma. The second narrow passage is the exit hole itself. One exit hole is located on either side of the base of the flower. An anther is so positioned beside each exit that a bee of the proper size cannot force its way out without contacting the anther and carrying away a mass of sticky pollen on its back. Since the bee contacts the stigma before the anther and usually does not reverse directions, it does not ordinarily transfer pollen to the stigma of the same flower. Rather, pollination is effected when the bee, upon escaping from the first flower, is subsequently trapped again, usually in a different flower, and the escape procedure is repeated. This strategy is often effective in bringing about cross-fertilization.

[twirly]

If you wonder why I started with something else than basics...well, I believe it's much more puzzling to find out about an out'of'common thing related to our Ladies Slippers than the basic notions

Did you know that the root of pink 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.

[Dave]

Did you know that the root of pink lady's slipper has traditionally been used as a remedy for nervousness, tooth pain, and muscle spasms?

I learn something new everyday!

[twirly]

same here

[Sue]

This is an uncredited excerpt from two articles; one written by Charles Argue and the other by an author unknown to me. If you are not Mr. Argue, this posting constitutes plagiarism and copyright infringement. This is rude, illegal, and potentially harmful for those running the forum, as they may be legally liable for providing infringing works.

Original articles can be found here:

http://www.stolaf.edu/depts/biology/...ue1993122.html

and here:

http://ip.aaas.org/tekindex.nsf/2a9c...M1?OpenElement

[orchid.gecko]

Honestly, I've looked at some of the posts, and found them very informative, but at the same time, I had always felt a little strange, because normally forum posts don't sound like text-book articals, and I got the feeling that I was reading a text-book alot of the time. I guess this kind of confirms my feelings.

Thanks for enlightening me, Sue.

Guys - a forum isn't meant to be a textbook, and especially not a place where other's ideas and research is expressed as one's own. It's meant to be a place where people come together to share experiences and ideas. Surely, you could say: "Hey! I found this artical about bla bla" and cite it.

Sue, Twirly was just trying to get some info out. there are 1.000 ways to say something, a less judgmental tone, something more instructional, would be nice. i appreciate T's effort.

[Sue]

Originally Posted by duhhdog

Sue, Twirly was just trying to get some info out. there are 1.000 ways to say something, a less judgmental tone, something more instructional, would be nice. i appreciate T's effort.

I'm certainly not trying to say that Twirly is a bad person, or is meaning to do anything wrong. If I implied anything about Twirly's character or intention, it was unintentional. I was merely trying to impress upon Twirly, and others reading this, that plagiarism is bad, rude, misleading, inconsiderate, immoral and illegal, and that this behavior can cause problems for the forum. I have learned from experience that many perfectly well-intentioned people have no idea that it is morally problematic to present the words of others as one's own. I regularly have to fail students on these grounds.

I should also say that I wouldn't have been quite as stark about it if I hadn't observed several examples of Twirly failing to cite sources, and offering no clue that the words in his posts were not his own.

At any rate, I appreciate your interest in maintaining a civil and affirming atmosphere.

[Bolero]

I agree with Sue, the post should have cited sources and should not have given the impression that the information was his own.

It's a very interesting thread though.