Orchidaceae – Cypripedioideae or Lady Slipper Orchid

Lady’s slipper orchids (also known as lady slipper orchids or slipper orchids) are orchids in the subfamily Cypripedioideae, which includes the genera Cypripedium, Mexipedium, Paphiopedilum, Phragmipedium and Selenipedium.^[1] They are characterised by the slipper-shaped pouches (modified labellums) of the flowers – the pouch traps insects so they are forced to climb up past the staminode, behind which they collect or deposit pollinia, thus fertilizing the flower. Unlike other orchids, Cypripedioideae have two fertile anthers — they are “diandrous”.  wikipedia

Alright, who came up with the name “Lady Slipper” for this orchid? I mean I know women’s shoe fashions can get pretty interesting but does this look like anything any woman in any century would even remotely have worn? But aside from an interesting name, this flower is a true example of form being functional.  I tend to anthropomorphize orchids because I see in them certain “features” like little faces or aliens, tongues sticking out, pig snouts, or in the case of this  Paphiopedilum,  whiskers in the middle of its face.

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F5.0 – 1/320 – ISO100 – 100mm – Canon 5D