Hello everybody and welcome to the third annual installment of, "Where the heck is Ross this spring?" Well, I'm glad you asked. I have mostly been stuck in school, but with the end of spring term, I am official a math master. If any of you wish to read my thesis, it's on roots of rational matrices as an approach to Galois theory. I am free now, and can finally catch up on 6 months worth of orchid stuff. Replates here I come!

As always, please excuse the length & number of photos. For those of you still stuck in the iron age with dial up modems, please start to load the page, use your cell phone to call your local internet provider, sign up for DSL or Cable internet, and come back 20 minutes later to see the photos ;)

In early May, the first Cyps to start blooming are Cyp fasciculatum. I visited this location in South Central Washington which is quite atypical for a Cyp fascic population. Most populations throughout the west consist of many single stemmed plants spread over a large area. Here a plant from what a typical population would look like.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/SingleStem02.jpg

However, this population has only a few plants, but three of them are enormous. The plant below has more than 20 stems and more than 80 flowers! This is truly extraordinary for Cyp fasciculatum. I can't verify that every stem comes from the same rhizome, of course.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Clump03.jpg

This species comes in several color forms. This population has both the Red form and the Green form.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/CypfasciculatumRedFlowers02.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/CypfasciculatumRedFlowers01.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/CypfasciculatumGreenFlowers07.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/CypfasciculatumGreenFlowers04.jpg

Thanks to the poison oak and mosquitoes, we were a quick at this site. I did get to tell one family that they had just been walking through a thicket of poison oak... I hope they were ok. None the less, I did manage to find a few stems of Corallorhiza striata.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Corallorhizastriata.jpg

Across the river in Oregon, the Balsamroot and lupine were fantastic along Highway 30.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Balsamroot02.jpg



On to Southern Oregon, Memorial Day weekend: my favorite weekend of the year :)

We had a lot of places to visit this year! I'll start with an unlikely event.

We first drove to the most northernly location of our trip, where we were visiting another Cyp fasciculatum population. Instead, I found a log that had fallen directly on top of the center of the population! I counted only 6 or 7 plants left, down from 13.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Cypfasciculatum02.jpg

... I was a little disappointed, but hopefully the new light will help Cyp seedlings to develop and refresh the forest 5 years from now. Oh well... circle of life. Here's a photo of the Rogue river to lighten the mood.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/RogueRiver01.jpg

Next, we drove to my favorite place in the Pacific NW: Southern Oregon Serpentine! Here's a photo of prime Cyp habitat. There are few places like this on Earth. The bog is dominated by Darlingtonia (the west coast pitcher plant) and in the drier areas Rhododendron occidentale, pines and red cedar. Outside of the bogs, the landscape is pines, fir, manzanita and many species of small oak.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Bog02.jpg

Here is another bog. You can see the abundance of pitchers in the center and the masses of fragrant Azaleas around the periphery. Smelling them always makes me want to have a yard just full of Azaleas!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/AzaleasDarlingtonia.jpg

Now for the Cyps. To start out, here is an unflattering picture of me with a large Cyp californicum.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/RossCypcal.jpg

The size of this plant is atypical. On average, most plants are smaller with 5-15 stems, each with 5-15 flowers; however, the few that are large are amazing! Here is a plant that I have informally named "Thousands." Guess why.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Thousands01.jpg

I counted 85 stems and took a quick average of flowers per stem to estimate 700+ flowers on this one clump! This is the biggest clump I have ever heard of or seen. It was Awesome! Here are a two more photos from Thousands including one with my friend David, for scale...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/DavidThousands.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Thousands02.jpg

Just 15 feet away from Thousands was a plant I have named "Tall Sepals". At first, I thought it could be a hybrid with Cyp montanum because it has such unusually tall dorsal sepals.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/TallSepalsDouble.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/TallSepals09.jpg

This area around these plants was the most prolific Cyp habitat I have ever seen. All around me were dozens of unusually large plants with unusually large numbers of flowers! I was swimming in a sea of tiny green and white flowers. Amazing. I definitely saw WAY more Cyp flowers this year compared to last year...

Out in the main area of the bog where it is much sunnier, the plants are shorter with smaller flowers. By carefully examining a few plants, I found an example of an abnormality that I haven't yet seen: a flower with two stigmas & two dorsal sepals.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Cypcaltwostigmas.jpg

Down the valley, there are many bogs, but none are this big or amazing! Here is an out of place Cyp cal that you might recognize from last years pictures. Needs to be cropped, but I'm too lazy.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Bridge02.jpg

Before moving on, a few random photos.

An unusually nice Iris bracteata. Wish I had these in my garden instead of the regular blue flag iris!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Irisbracteata.jpg

The moon. It was nearly full during our trip... it made star gazing hard!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Moon.jpg

Last, two very nice guys from Corvallis area. Brothers Elias and Aaron (sorry spelling?) were doing surveys for BLM on Lomatium cookii, a FE plant. Wish that I knew more people like them!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/AaronElias.jpg

On one of our many day trips from our campsite, we drove to another population of Cyp cal, near a mountain stream. This population was much smaller, holding less than 50 adult plants; however, the increased shade from above and increased open land below makes this one special. The shade makes the plants Big and tall on average with very large flowers.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Cypcal01.jpg

Unlike the previous bogs which have grass & Darlingtonia almost everywhere, this spot had earth, and soil is where seedlings start!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Cypcalseedlings.jpg

This patch had more seedlings than I have ever seen at all the other bogs combined, and it was just 30 feet by 20 feet.

Cyp cal seedlings grow fast in the right conditions. Back in the valley, here are two photos: one from last year, and one from this year of the same seedling.

2006
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Cypripediumcalifornicumseedlings.jpg

2007
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Cypcalseedling.jpg

Hopefully, those from flask will grow this fast!

On Another day trip, we went to visit a tiny population of 10 stems, 3 blooming, of Cyp montanum.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Cypmontanum01-1.jpg

This trip was made very special by the discovery of an all green Cyp montanum! Can you imagine a hybrid of this with Cyp californicum "Tall Sepals"... Unfortunately, I didn't. But I will next year!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/GreenCypmontanum01.jpg

That pretty much wraps up Southern Oregon's Cyps.

Back in Northern Oregon, I went to visit my population of Cyp montanum on Mount Hood. There was a hot spell known as May here in Oregon and temps were 10 to 15F over the average almost every day. By June, we are now 10F below average almost every day. None-the-less, the Cyp montanum were ahead of schedule by about a week and I missed peak flower quality. I still got a few shots.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Cypmont28.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Cypmont14.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Cypmont09.jpg

Notice the wasp coming in for a landing.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Cypmont06.jpg

There was an abundance of spiders this year!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Cypmont11.jpg

My favorite plant. He always is a single nice stem with a good round flower. Last year, the flower was eaten by a deer.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Cypmont22.jpg

And, before you go crazy from my exceedingly long post, two pictures from back at home.

Cyp pubescens
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Cyppubescens.jpg

Cyp makasin
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Cypmakasin02.jpg

Hope you enjoyed. I sure did.

Best,
Ross

Well, where do I begin after such an outrageous post! You really should make a blog of your material Ross. It would be a great addition to online (or published) material about these rare plants.

The californicum plants are beyond words. Still, I think the fasciculatum shots are the most valuable and impressive since this species is so unknown outside of very small circles of scientists. I don't think anyone has publicly shown more detailed photos of this species than you. The "alba" montanum was just icing on the cake!

Man, what great content! Thanks a million!

Tom

Nice Observation and post!!! Good work:thumbsup:

Ramon:D

Probably one of the best posts in the history of the internet. Thank you, Ross!

wow..............

It is fantastic. I enjoyed seeing them, and I'm not even a cyp grower. It is like going on a travelog, except I can spend as much time looking at each photo as needed to digest it.

Thanks for posting this.

Wow, I'm just speechless! Beautiful Cyps and exellent photos! Thanks for sharing! :thumbsup:

very very beautyfull :heart::heart::heart:ty.

HOLY TOLEDO!!
I wish I was there! That is simply breathtaking! Especially the californicum! I wish that was in my backyard! LOL! :thumbsup:

Thank you so much for this fabulous post!

Thank you for posting such beauties!

WOW...FANTASTIC flowers and pics!!! thnx

Yes. Wow. Speechless. Thank You.
J.

Yes more - :drool: :jawdrop: :ohmy: - great post, great photos, wish I was there!

Those are great pics!! Especially the one with flying insect going toward the flower.:cool:

John

:Party:excellent cyps "Thousands." puts on a stunning display!

Marcus,
What more can I say to what already has been said - and more succinctly than I could. Wonderful to know that those places still exist in the nature where the nature is thriving!!
Also, congratulations on your degree. Will you be teaching?

Best regarads
Charlotte

Oh Ross, those pics were to die for! How lucky to live where so many slippers are native. Thanks for sharing!

Bravo! I'm most impressed with this thread! There's nothing like seeing orchids in their native habitat.

Now I will have to dig up my Wisconsin trip photos, as there were as many Cyp acaule as there were californicum in your posts (except they don't clump like the californicum).

I do have one question on the Cyp pubescens you pictured. Being that it is native here in MN, I've seen many, but never with petals as yellow as that. Was there any trace of brown, or were they truly golden yellow throughout? It looks as if it could be classified as Cyp pubescens flavum!

My best,

Jason

Thanks everyone for your comments! I work hard all spring to bring home these photos & I'm always happy to know that they are appreciated :)

Tom: "You really should make a blog of your material Ross."
I'm planning on it! That way, my posts will be available to people all the time, without the constant turnover associated with message boards. In addition, I can reach a bigger audience and I won't be limited to a specific genus. Hopefully it'll be started next week.

"I think the fasciculatum shots are the most valuable and impressive since this species is so unknown outside of very small circles of scientists."
I'm glad you mentioned that. So few people know it even exists, let alone where to find them! Let alone, have detailed pictures of them. The may not be as showy as other species, but they are still very cute plants. I'm hoping that seedlings from this clump might have more vigor than your average Cyp fasciculatum... we'll see in 2009ish. Also, I mentioned last year that I was hoping to see 500 stems of this species in Spring 2007. While I did see a lot (probably between 200 and 300), most were finished blooming by the time I got there because of the warm weather.

Nick: "I wish I was there!... I wish that was in my backyard!"
Me too and me too! It's a long drive from Portland to Southern Oregon (6hrs) and I don't get to spend a lot of time once I'm there. After I got back, I looked at my tiny 1inch tall californicum seedlings in the backyard and said, "GROW!" It'll probably be 15-20 years before they're as big as some of those in the photos. Unfortunately, they grow in such a specific habitat, that cultivation will be difficult for a lot of people! I fear that one of the biggest barriers to cultivation is the nightly temperature swing. During the day in July and August, the average high is 92F, but the average low is 56F! That change just doesn't happen in most places in the world, without being a total desert!

John: "...Especially the one with flying insect going toward the flower."
That was a total accident. I was trying to get a photo of the bugs hovering around, but I thought that I missed them all... until I got home! I like that photo a lot.

Charlotte: "Wonderful to know that those places still exist in the nature where the nature is thriving!!"
Unfortunately, the spots where Cyp californicum is thriving are few and far between. I can't imagine what climate change could do to this plant. Since we've cut off a lot of escape routes, if the temperature forced the plant north, it might have no where to go...
Here's a photo of a "dense" area of Cyp californicum out in the main section of the open bog. These plants are much more typical than the very very unusual monsters that I have posted before. (It took me 3 years to find such amazing plants!)

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Bog03.jpg

In addition, the Cyp montanum location on Mt Hood is *Dangerously* close to a campground where people bring their motor bikes, ATVs and children. It would take just a few careless ATVers to destroy major sections of this population! So far, they seem to stay on the other side of the stream... so far...
Also in addition, years of fire suppression may take their toll on all 3 species above. I can see some of the bushes getting taller around certain plants, and without a burn, they will be overtaken. The Cyp fasciculatum populations have tall trees and new saplings taking over. It is so dark that sometimes they are hard to photograph!

"Also, congratulations on your degree. Will you be teaching?"
Thanks! I will be. I was recently hired at Portland Community College as full time faculty. How nice it is to finally have benefits!

Todd: "Oh Ross, those pics were to die for! How lucky to live where so many slippers are native."
It is great to have these plants nearby to enjoy. There is only one other Cyp species native to Oregon: Cyp pubescens. Here in OR & WA, Cyp pubescens is extremely rare and exists in less than 10 places in the OR. Needless to say, no one is giving out info about these plants... yet!
And if you were willing to drive to the mainland of Newfoundland, you have Cyp acaule, makasin, pubescens and reginae within a short drive.

Jason: "Now I will have to dig up my Wisconsin trip photos, as there were as many Cyp acaule as there were californicum in your posts (except they don't clump like the californicum)."
Sounds neat! I've seen large patches of acaule in WV, but never even close to as many Cyp flowers per area as in the californicum patches ;)

And what do you mean Cyp acaule doesn't clump... ;)
http://www.uslink.net/~scl/cacaule2l.jpg

Re Cyp pubescens: "Being that it is native here in MN, I've seen many, but never with petals as yellow as that. Was there any trace of brown, or were they truly golden yellow throughout."
The pubescens above is actually legal salvage from Northern WI. In the first photo, the plant was backlit, making the darker parts just look like veins... here is a front lit photo: it shows some brownish spots along the veins.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Cyppubescens01.jpg

Also, I have a comment to add.

With regard to seedlings, I remarked that there was exceedingly low seedling production (especially when you take into account the 80%+ capsule production of Cyp californicum and 2000-3000 seeds per capsule and thousands of flowers!) in the main bog. I think that fire suppression has had a negative influence on seedling production, since there is too much grass. In one bog, the grass was choking out the Darlingtonia, which is much tougher than Cyp californicum. None the less, I have been collecting seed and distributing it across the world for the past 2 years, with good success. I myself produced hundreds of seedlings from the first batch of 4 capsules. I hope to use these as stud plants and also, in due time, both plant out some seedlings back in the wild and to distribute some seedlings to devoted members of the SOF who live in an appropriate climate.

Moreover, my point is that scientific method Drastically improves germination and if we can master cultivation, then this specie's chances will be greatly improved! I would like to continue this work for many years with hopes of simply increasing the number of plants worldwide, both wild and cultivated, from a variety of sources. So far, it seems to be going well!

Last, I'd like to post a couple more photos that I scanned from my film camera. I edited them to the best of my ability, but the color & grain is a bit off. Bear with me.

An in your face photo of Cyp cal "Thousands".
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Thousands.jpg

A full body shot of Cyp cal "Tall Sepals". It is a large specimen as well.
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/TallSepals.jpg

And two photos that don't belong on the SOF, so I'll post them as links:
My Wife at Crater Lake. We'd never been there before & it was beautiful!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/LisaatCraterLake.jpg

And some Brodiaea, which grew in giant fields of purple!
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Brodiaea.jpg

Best,
Ross

Thank you for such a wonderful thread! :clap:

Unfortunately, the spots where Cyp californicum is thriving are few and far between. I can't imagine what climate change could do to this plant.

That is a good question. Unfortunately, even if we "protect" appropriate habitat many species will perish. With the exception of a very few species the whole genus of Cypripedium have relict distributions, making them even more vulnerable.

Also in addition, years of fire suppression may take their toll on all 3 species above. I can see some of the bushes getting taller around certain plants, and without a burn, they will be overtaken. The Cyp fasciculatum populations have tall trees and new saplings taking over. It is so dark that sometimes they are hard to photograph!

Who owns the land that these populations exist on? I know you mentioned BLM in an earlier post. Such significant populations should not only be protected, but a management program should be written, approved, and implemented toot sweet.

I saw the same thing in Florida with fire suppression in sandhill ecosystems. After years with no fire (in some cases 50 or more years) hardwoods took over killing off the herbaceous layer in time. A friend of mine worked in one state forest there and after prescribing and conducting over a hundred burns in the area (it was a big forest), the place began to spring to life. I remember one seepage bog in particular that was overrun with bay trees transformed after just one June burn. The next year the wiregrass flowered like mad, and three species of orchid "magically" appeared: Cleistes divaricata, C. bifaria, and Plantenthera cristata.

Anyway, is there someone you can contact about these places to find out the status of these populations? Certainly someone must be studying them.

Finally, thanks again for all the great shots. The one with the Brodiaea is particularly inspired. Also, good luck with the new job and congrats!

Tom

Wow! I still wish I was there! LOL!
Oh, what is the appropriate climate for californicum? I just simply love it, and may have to purchase one from somewhere! I just love the color, and how they are shaped, and the flower placement on the stem. It is so unique!!

You'll have to post the link to your blog you are making!!! :thumbsup:

"Who owns the land that these populations exist on?"
The Cyp californicum plants are in the Siskiyou NF, barely (less than 1 mile away is unprotected land). A lot of good areas are BLM, including the green montanum patch, but the vast majority of the interesting stuff in Southern Oregon is "safely" inside the Siskiyou NF or the Kalmiospsis wilderness. These areas are mostly quite remote. It would take months of backpacking to see even a good portion of the Siskiyou NF. It's taken 14 days of weekends, over 3 years, to even begin to understand a tiny stretch of road in S OR less than 5 miles long!

"Such significant populations should not only be protected, but a management program should be written, approved, and implemented toot sweet."
I don't even know who to contact to see what's going on WRT conservation of this main bog! I guess I'd start with the NF district botanist. I'll write that on my list of things to do.
Apparently, these main populations have endured signifigant poaching in the past. Fortunately, I have yet to see a hole where there once was a Cyp! This year, I did see a very large hole where a very nice azalea was last September not 100 feet from the californicums! Its a dangerous world out there for rare and interesting plants.

Moreover, "toot sweet"?

"Oh, what is the appropriate climate for californicum? I just simply love it, and may have to purchase one from somewhere!"
It certainly is a unique and amazing Cyp. First off, there are very few places that sell it. You will be stuck with a seedling since adult plants aren't available for sale. In addition, Cyp californicum is very shy to flower, taking some Cyp experts 8 years from flask for its first bloom which is usually just a single flower on one of the many stems!

Unfortunately, the natural habitat is about as reasonably far away from Ohio's and the Northeast's climate as one can get. As I mentioned before, average daytime temps over the summer are 85 to 92F (records near 110F), lows 52-56F (records near 40). There is little to no rain from May to October, so there is very low humidity. It has zone 9 winters with some rain and snow. Here is a photo of the native hillside in late May... By September, 4 months without a drop of rain, you would swear it should be a desert!

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v249/nankeen/Mountain02.jpg

However! The areas in which the Cyp californicum plants grow are where the ground water hits the surface of the hillside, creating a constant 1/8in deep stream running down the hillside. The groundwater is Cold!, even when it's 100F out. This water runs all through the summer, lessening until the October rains begin. They grow in serpentine muck, which has strange chemistry.

Meeting all of these characteristics is Impossible, and unfortunately we don't know yet which aspects are the essential ones!... So far, I have grown Cyp californicum in Portland with some winter protection and, of course, summer water! I grow them in my standard mix of pumice/perlite/turface/sand and so far so good. Here in Northern Oregon, we have cooler summers (average 82F) and wetter winters. We still don't get a drop of rain from June to September, usually, so we have naturally low humidity. And we get the nightly cool off, though not as drastic as down south. It usually goes from the mid eighties during the day to about 60F every night. There have also been successes growing this species, off the top of my head, in Germany, England and the wet side of British Columbia. Go figure.

I'm guessing that vigorous Cyp cal hybrids produced in the next 10 years will be the best bet for anyone in love with Cyp cal but just in the wrong place... No harm in trying a few, in the mean time, though.

"You'll have to post the link to your blog you are making!!!"
I will if I ever get around to starting one ;)

Thanks again,
Ross

Awesome pics! thnx!:cool:

You gonna come out and lead tours of the East coast? ;) I go in a heart beat. Great post! Thanks for taking the time to share the pictures and info. :thumbsup:

Probably one of the best posts in the history of the internet. Thank you, Ross!

Yes!

Ron

:iagree::iagree::great::bravo:

Just have to add that I thought it was great and stunning too.

I commend your efforts in getting out to these plants, photographing them, and especially presenting all these images and information to us. Often it is hard to get out there when one has a job, family responsibilities, and a house to take care of, much less write it all up as superbly as you have! I'm often reduced to frenetic lurking on discussion lists and forums in the spring and summer, not even getting enough time to finish all my "chores" outside in the garden daily or weekly. (I think at this time a prescribed burn might help!!) In winter is when I become a shut-in and arm chair gardener and ruminate over the past years experiences.

Ross, how about producing a West Coast hybrid series? Californicum x montanum x fasciculatum (especially flavinistic form). That's three hybrids, six crosses if you do the reciprocals. Use as many superior clones as you can and (in some way) save the genetic material. I'm sure these will be much more garden hardy, just as Ulla Silkens and Andrewsii are easier to grow than reginae and candidum.

How about a whole alba series? Throw in reginae alba and acaule alba into the mix. Later there may be time for the album japonicum and candidum or Andrewsii.

Well soon I have to get out to the pod I made on acaule with Andrewsii. (Question: if you cross acid-loving acaule with alkaline growing candidum, how will it grow?) I hope it took, as it was a yet totally unopened flower that suffered the ravages of having its pouch and pollen masses snipped of with fingernail scissors and then the intrusion of my toothpick! (Yes it does work)
On the flip side pollen collected from "raspberry" acaule, from my pictures, went on the youngest of my four captive Andrewsii flowers and luckiliy it is the only one that set a pod.

Finally, a week later after getting tired of my Ulla Silken blooms and before they started to fade, both got the nail clipper treatment and had stored "raspberry" pollen put on them. The stigmas were clean upon observation, virgin with no prior contamination, no cross-pollination had occured. It worked (reminds me of my college days, please don't call Family Services).

Ross, how'bout sending some pollen out my way around Mther's Day next year? Much appreciated and I will spread seedlings around to you, the flasker, and whoever else can grow them. I don't take money, but in time will lay claim to one or two mature crowns as the deal.

For Gd's sake, will someone send irapeanum pollen up our way north next spring?

Whew, that was hard... I'm late!

Bonaventure

Hi All,
First, thanks again for the nice comments. :)

Second, I edited a couple of pictures. The green montanum was washed out, and now isn't as much. And I finally cropped that Cyp cal by the boulder.

Third:
Ty: "You gonna come out and lead tours of the East coast?"
I'm afraid I don't know any good spots on the east coast, except the very few that I knew of when I was in High School in WV. You'd best either buy a plane ticket or bug Ron & Paul to start giving tours... Which, why don't you guys?

Bonaventure: "Ross, how about producing a West Coast hybrid series?"
Working on it. I'll let you know how it's going in 2 years.

"How about a whole alba series?"
Again, working on it. The reginae alba and acaule alba are good ideas.

"if you cross acid-loving acaule with alkaline growing candidum, how will it grow?"
Purportedly, it will grow in any range of the parents mixes, hence why hybrids are so much easier to grow than species. I asked the same thing about montanumXcalifornicum (dryXwet grower), and the answer I got was that it will probably take any treatment in between.

"Ross, how 'bout sending some pollen out my way around Mother's Day next year?"
Sorry, nothing is in bloom that early. How's your Memorial day?

Last, I contacted several people regarding Cyp conservation. One NF botanist summed up several of my concerns:
"California ladyslipper is not a forest service sensitve and therefore forest service botanists aren't involved in active restoration... Active threats are most likely logging, mining and collecting... fire suppression might be a threat... during the Biscuit fire, a large portion of suitable habitat across the range of California ladyslipper did burn and the burns were beneficial... The best thing we can probably do is keep motorized vehicles out of suitable habitat & prevent logging and mining from occuring through wetlands."

So, it looks like no one is actively doing anything, aside from politely asking people to stay out. Again, the Cyps are fortunate to have such a large and very remote section of great potential habitat protected in the Siskiyou NF, so perhaps this species is under no real threat of extirpation. It seems that there are just too many plants to get areas monitored more closely. None the less, I will continue my attempts to grow these plants from seed, from as great a variety of plants as I can find, in case of the unforseen...

Best,
Ross

I keep seeing these and the photos are fantastic.:cool:

John