***NY- Vulnerable***

    A very pretty flower that grows in rich woods.  They stand 1 to 2 feet tall and have one (rarely two) large yellow flowers at the top of each stalk.  There are two varieties.  The Larger Yellow Lady's Slipper (var. pubescens) is shown, and grows in woods.  The Smaller Yellow Lady's Slipper (var. parviflorum) grows in boggy places, is smaller, and has purple sepals.  Orchids have three sepals and three petals, the lowest petal modified, and in Lady's Slippers the lower petal forms the pouch.  In the Pink Lady's Slipper the pouch is split into two parts.  Lady's Slippers are perennial plants that can be consistently found blooming in the same spot year after year, provided the plant hasn't been poached by collectors.  Orchids are rare plants in New York and although this is more common than many, they are all protected by state regulations.  Native orchids do poorly in gardens because of their strict habitat requirements.