Selenipedium

Selenipedium is a genus of the Orchid family (Orchidaceae) (Subfamily Cypripedioideae). The genus has been given its own tribe, Selenipedieae, and subtribe, Selenipediinae. It is abbreviated Sel in trade journals.

The name of the genus is derived from the Greek selen, which means "moon", and pedium, which means "slipper" (referring to the pouch).

The seed capsules of these Central and South American lady's slipper orchids were formerly used as vanilla substitutes, but selenipediums are now rarely cultivated. Partly this is because of the difficulty of doing so, but is probably also due to the relatively small size of the Selenipedium's flower. The wild flower's Amazonian habitat is also under threat, so extinction is a risk for all species of Selenipedium.

There are only six true selenipedium species known ([1]):

• Selenipedium aequinoctiale (The Equatorial occurring Selenipidum) is a terrestrial orchid found in Ecuador.
• Selenipedium chica
• Selenipedium isabelianum (Found in Brazil)
• Selenipedium palmifolium A dry land flower, its habitat is endangered by deforestation of the Amazon basin for agriculture.
• Selenipedium steyermarkii (Brazil, Venezuela)
• Selenipedium vanillocarpum is a Brazilian species adapted to a mountain habitat, a colony was rediscovered in 2001

Allied genera include Paphiopedilum, Mexipedium, Cypripedium and Phragmipedium - a genus containing several species known by names including "Selenipedium", such as Selenipedium caricinum, and Selenipedium laevigatum.

References

• Pridgeon, A.M.; Cribb, P.J.; Chase, M.W. & F. N. Rasmussen (1999): Genera Orchidacearum Vol.1, Oxford U. Press. ISBN 0-19-850513-2

External links

• Various Selenipedium samples, and the problems of cultivation
• The New York Botanical Garden has removed Selenipedium steyermarkii localities from its on-line record to protect the species from over-collection - data available to researchers on request.
• Slipper Orchid Discussion Forum