Cypripedium arietinum
Ram's-Head Lady's-Slipper
Flower Side Annotated
Eastern Saskatchewan
18-June-2009
The term dorsal usually refers to the lower surface of a structure. This is also the surface that is facing away from the axis, assuming the structure is at least slightly pointing upward. Similarly, ventral usually refers to the upper surface of a structure. However, in many species of orchids (including this one) the ovary twists 180 degrees as it matures, resulting in the dorsal structures being on top and the ventral structures being on the bottom. The annotations in this image are the ones generally encountered in the literature. To remove ambiguity, however, one should refer to developmentally dorsal and developmentally ventral if they are used as above. An orchid whose ovary undergoes this 180 degree twist is referred to as resupinate.
Note that the two ventral sepals are not united (they commonly are united in this genus).
Arietinum: Answers to key questions in Lilies, Irises & Orchids of Saskatchewan by Vernon L. Harms and Anna L. Leighton leading to this species. The answers are in the order you would normally work through the key.
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Cypripedium: Answers to key questions in Lilies, Irises & Orchids of Saskatchewan by Vernon L. Harms and Anna L. Leighton leading to this genus. The answers are in the order you would normally work through the key.
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Orchidaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora leading to this family.
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