Family: cuckoo orchids (Orchidaceae)
Flowering time: May–July
Size: 20–50 cm
Habitat: bright beech forests, among rubble and settled gravel
The erect stem of the beautiful lady's slipper (Cypripedium calceolus) is leafy with three to five distinctly veined, ovate leaves. They are downy on the underside and toward the top of the stem they become smaller. At the top of the stem, usually two large flowers develop. The yellow honey-coloured lip is sac-shaped, 3–4 cm long. The remaining petals are narrow and brown, up to 5 cm long. It is a rare plant that grows in small groups in higher elevations. In Slovenia it grows in the Alpine region and on the high Dinaric plateaus. In Slovenia it is listed as a vulnerable species on the Red List. In addition, it is protected, so it is not allowed to damage or remove it from its natural habitat.
It has also been recognized in Europe for the necessary protection, as it is one of the qualifying species for the designation of Natura 2000 special protection areas.
