Cypripedium acaule Ait. is a species in the Orchidaceae widely distributed across the eastern United States and eastern to central Canada. Plants often grow in fairly dry pine woods, but also in mixed deciduous forest and occasionally in bogs or swamps. Known commonly as the pink lady's slipper or moccasin flower, it has two opposite basal leaves with conspicuous parallel veins that sit flat on the ground and a solitary flower with purplish brown to green petals and sepals. The labellum is a distinctively inflated pouch, magenta to white, often light pink with darker pink venation. Rarely the flower may be all white. This plant grows 6 to 15 inches (15 to 38 cm) tall and flowers generally between May and July. The plants are tolerant of varied moisture levels, and their main requirement is for very acidic soil. Photos below were taken by Nicholas Plummer. The first photo was taken in late April in North Carolina. The second photo was taken late summer in eastern Maine of leaves he believes are of this species.
