Cypripedium cordigerum D. Don

Cypripedium cordigerum D. Don

Family: Orchidaceae.

Description: Glabrous erect terrestrial herb. Stem solitary, slender to stout, 22‑60 cm tall. Leaves 2‑5, spreading, elliptic to broadly elliptic (ovate‑lanceolate to elliptic), acute to acuminate, glabrous. Flower solitary (rarely two), terminal; sepals and petals greenish‑white to pale green (occasionally white or pale lemon‑yellow), lip (pouch) white (with inner spotting) often with pinkish markings; staminode yellow with red spots. Pedicel/ovary densely glandular. Flowering & Fruiting period: May‑October (main flowering in July‑August)

Distribution (World & India): Global / general: Himalayas (from northern Pakistan, Nepal, Bhutan, South Tibet, and northern India). Altitude range: ~ 2,100 m to ~ 4,000 m asl. In India: Found in the north‑western Himalayas; recorded in Uttarakhand (Kumaun, Garhwal), Himachal Pradesh, districts like Kullu, Shimla, Sirmaur etc. Often in subalpine to alpine temperate zones, shady moist woods, forest margins, open glades, under shrubs.

IUCN Status / Conservation: Listed as Vulnerable (VU) in Indian assessments. Described as “Rare” in the Indian Red Data Book of plants. Threats: Habitat loss (deforestation, land-use change), overgrazing, shrinkage of suitable habitat, anthropogenic pressures. Populations restricted / fragmented.

Medicinal Properties & Traditional Uses (in India / region): Roots are used as tonic in Nepal. Young leaves are cooked and eaten as vegetable in some areas. Elsewhere, believed to act as a nervine tonic; used in treating mental disorders in traditional herbal formulations.

How it’s Used (Preparation, Parts, Varieties): Part used: Roots; young leaves. Preparation: Leaves cooked as vegetable; roots taken as tonic or in herbal formulations. Specific traditional processing methods not well documented. Varieties: No well‑documented botanical varieties or color forms in sources consulted. Taste / Potency: Not much detailed info; though considered strong tonic / nervine; locals may regard it carefully (some consider it poisonous). Dose / caution: Use is limited; locals treat with caution; not widely documented in classical texts for dose. High‑altitude orchids may accumulate specific compounds (but toxicological studies are few).