SPECIES: Cypripedium Calceolus

GROWING SEASON:  May to July

HABITAT:  Bogs,  wet woods, and shady swamps

PLANT SIZE:  1 1/2 to 2 1/2  feet

SIGNIFICANT  FEATURES AND CHARACTERISTICS:  I t  has an inflated scale lip or  "slipper" center. It's petals are brown and somewhat twisted.  The "sac" of the flower is yellow and the sepals are twisted and brown colored.  It's double spade shaped leaves are bright green and grow from the base of the stem.

USES:  It was used by the indians for medicine.  They would boil the roots for extract to calm the nerves.

FOLKLORE:  There once was a small indian girl who was playing in the woods when she saw a rabbit with something on its foot.  She put her moccasins on the rabbit and went off to play.  When she became lost and tired,  she laid down to rest.  The animals asked the Great Spirit to help her find her way home.  When she awoke,  there was flowers all around her.  She put them on her feet, since they were magical they helped her find her way back home.