Pink Lady's Slipper
- the flower emblem of PEI.
The following photos show
the first shoots to
the seed pods in the late summer.
May 19, 2011
May 19, 2011
Yes, this is a seed pod - from the previous summer!
New shoots of Lady's Slipper
This is a Yellow Beadlily - the leaves are similar to
Lady's Slipper, but appear well before
the Lady's Slipper in the spring.
The flowers are not far from blooming.
Beadlilies are much more commonly seen
than Lady's Slippers.
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May 31, 2011
Lady's Slipper, but appear well before
the Lady's Slipper in the spring.
The flowers are not far from blooming.
Beadlilies are much more commonly seen
than Lady's Slippers.
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May 31, 2011
Lady's Slipper leaves -
note the three vertical veins,
as compared to the one central vein of the Beadlily.
note the three vertical veins,
as compared to the one central vein of the Beadlily.
Lady's Slipper with flower bud.
The stalk is thicker than that of the Beadlily.
More buds!
These are beginning to turn pink.
In the middle is a fern beginning to open its leaves
- it's taller than the Lady's Slippers.
- it's taller than the Lady's Slippers.
Coming from the base of the Lady's Slipper
and leaning to the left,
is last year's flower stalk with the seed pod.
and leaning to the left,
is last year's flower stalk with the seed pod.
Growing through a tangle of dead spruce branch,
leaves, moss and new shoots of other plants.
They grow where the trees are a little more open,
allowing in some sunlight,
and where the undergrowth is not too thick.
leaves, moss and new shoots of other plants.
They grow where the trees are a little more open,
allowing in some sunlight,
and where the undergrowth is not too thick.
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June 3, 2011
Yellow Beadlily in bloom.
The often form large thick patches,
also where sunlight comes through and
where there is not
too much undergrowth.
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The often form large thick patches,
also where sunlight comes through and
where there is not
too much undergrowth.
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June 7, 2011
The flowers stalks are taller and the bud is more developed.
This one is white before turning pink...
...and these are well on their way to pink.
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June 14, 2011
In full bloom.
A side view.
The Lady's Slipper is an Orchid .
Two by two, back view.
A nice patch with ferns behind.
The small white flowers in front
are False Lily-of-the-Valley.
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The small white flowers in front
are False Lily-of-the-Valley.
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June 20, 2011
Seed pods of Yellow Beadlily
The flower stamens will
dry up and fall off
Lady's Slipper in full bloom and colour.
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July 7, 2011
Their colour is fading and turning brownish.
The flower stalks have grown longer
and the leaves are flatter and closer to the ground.
The dead flower hangs on to the tip of the new seed pod...
...still with the little green leaf...
....above the pod.
Meanwhile, the seed pods of the
Yellow Beadlily have grown larger.
They will turn a dark blue -
for this reason this plant is also named
Blue Beadlily, or Yellow Blue Beadlily.
July 20
The fruit is well on its way to the dark blue colour.
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Yellow Beadlily have grown larger.
They will turn a dark blue -
for this reason this plant is also named
Blue Beadlily, or Yellow Blue Beadlily.
July 20
The fruit is well on its way to the dark blue colour.
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October 4, 2011
They still look quite green, but the leaves
are being eaten, and are breaking down.
are being eaten, and are breaking down.
The old flower hangs on, sticky and gooey.
The seed pod is fuller and developed...
...and the stalk is longer and leaning to one side.
Some stalks are turning brown, as are the ferns,
from the colder temperatures and the frost.
When the pod is mature and opens, the seeds
are very fine, like a dust,
that blow away in the wind.
They must land on a fungus to be able to germinate.
The Lady's Slipper seed and the fungus have a
symbiotic relationship
- this means that each plant helps
the other out in some way.
For this reason only a few of the many seeds
will grow into new plants.
For more detailed information click on this link below.
It explains the
symbiosis
with the fungus,
germination
of the seed,
growth
and
fertilization
of the flower
by bumble bees
(very unique!)
...and other interesting things about this plant
http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/pink_ladys_slipper.htm
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from the colder temperatures and the frost.
When the pod is mature and opens, the seeds
are very fine, like a dust,
that blow away in the wind.
They must land on a fungus to be able to germinate.
The Lady's Slipper seed and the fungus have a
symbiotic relationship
- this means that each plant helps
the other out in some way.
For this reason only a few of the many seeds
will grow into new plants.
For more detailed information click on this link below.
It explains the
symbiosis
with the fungus,
germination
of the seed,
growth
and
fertilization
of the flower
by bumble bees
(very unique!)
...and other interesting things about this plant
http://www.fcps.edu/islandcreekes/ecology/pink_ladys_slipper.htm
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