General poisoning notes:

Pink lady''s-slipper (Cypripedium acaule) is a native perennial orchid that grows across most of Canada. The plant can cause severe dermatitis in some individuals, as do the other Cypripedium spp., upon contact with the glandular hairs on the leaves and stem (Reddoch and Reddoch 1984).

References:

MaCaulay, J. C. 1987. Orchid allergy. Contact Dermatitis, 17: 112-113.

Mitchell, J. C., Rook, A. 1979. Botanical dermatology. Greenglass Ltd, Vancouver, B.C., Canada. 787 pp.

Reddoch, A. H., Reddoch, J. M. 1984. Warning: Lady's-slippers can be hazardous to your health. Plant Press, 2(1): 10.

Nomenclature:

Scientific Name: Cypripedium acaule Ait.

Vernacular name(s): pink lady's-slipper

Scientific family name: Orchidaceae

Vernacular family name: orchid

Go to ITIS*^ca for more taxonomic information on: Cypripedium acaule

References:

Agriculture Quebec. 1975. Noms des maladies des plantes du Canada/ Names of plant diseases in Canada. , Quebec City, Que., Canada. 288 pp.

Alex, J. F., Cayouette, R., Mulligan, G. A. 1980. Common and botanical names of weeds in Canada/Noms populaire et scientifiques des plantes nuisibles du Canada. Revised. Agric. Can. Publ., Ottawa, Ont., Canada. 132 pp.

Bailey, L. H., Bailey, E. Z. 1976. Hortus third. Revised. MacMillan, New York, N.Y., USA. 1290 pp.

Scoggan, H. J. 1978, 1979. The flora of Canada. Nat. Mus. Nat. Sci. (Ottawa) Publ. Bot. 7(1)-7(4). 1711 pp.

Van Wijk, H. L. 1911. A dictionary of plant names. Martinus Nijhoff, The Hague, The Netherlands. 1444 pp.

Victorin, M. 1964. Flore Laurentienne. 2nd ed. Univ. Montreal, Montreal, Que., Canada. 952 pp.

Geographic Information

Alberta
Manitoba
New Brunswick
Newfoundland
Nova Scotia
Ontario
Prince Edward Island
Quebec
Saskatchewan

References:

Bailey, L. H., Bailey, E. Z. 1976. Hortus third. Revised. MacMillan, New York, N.Y., USA. 1290 pp.

Boivin, B. 1966, 1967. Énumération des plantes du Canada. Provencheria 6. Nat. Can. (Que.) 93: 253-274; 371-437; 583-646; 989-1063. 94: 131-157; 471-528; 625-655.

Image or illustration

pink lady's-slipper:

Images: images.google.com

Notes on Poisonous plant parts:

The glandular hairs on the leaves and stems of the lady''s-slippers contain the dermatogenic chemical that causes dermatitis in some individuals (Mitchell and Rook 1979).

Toxic parts:

leaves
stems

References:

Mitchell, J. C., Rook, A. 1979. Botanical dermatology. Greenglass Ltd, Vancouver, B.C., Canada. 787 pp.

Reddoch, A. H., Reddoch, J. M. 1984. Warning: Lady's-slippers can be hazardous to your health. Plant Press, 2(1): 10.

Notes on Toxic plant chemicals:

The dermatogenic quinone, cypripedin, has been identified in lady''s-slippers (Reddoch and Reddoch 1984).

Toxic plant chemicals:

cypripedin

References:

Reddoch, A. H., Reddoch, J. M. 1984. Warning: Lady's-slippers can be hazardous to your health. Plant Press, 2(1): 10.

Animals/Human Poisoning:

Note: When an animal is listed without additional information, the literature (as of 1993) contained no detailed explanation.

Humans

General symptoms of poisoning:

blisters, weeping

References:

Reddoch, A. H., Reddoch, J. M. 1984. Warning: Lady's-slippers can be hazardous to your health. Plant Press, 2(1): 10.