Cypripedium calceolus
Cypripedium calceolus is a Lady’s Slipper orchid.
It is a widespread plant worldwide, found from Europe east through Asia to the Pacific Ocean. It is found in open woodland on moist calcareous soils. It has declined over much of the European part of its range, and as a result is legally protected in a number of countries.
In Britain it was formerly a reasonably widespread plant across northern England; however, by the late 20th century, it had declined to just a single population in Yorkshire.
The Norwegian municipality of Snåsa has a Cypripendium calceolus in its coat-of-arms.
Cypripedium calceolus sensu stricto (”in the strict sense”) does no occur in North America. The closely related Cypripedium parviflorum and C. pubescens are often still referred to as subspecies or variety of C. calceolus.