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Cypripediums!


        It would be very difficult to argue that cypripediums are not
well-known from culture; indeed, even for being allied with the highly
desirable paphiopedilums and phragmipediums, there is a dearth of information
on germination, propagation, etc.
        Most of the species have been germinated in vitro; this entails
a complex procedure where orchid seed is sterilized and then added to
nutrient agar media, grown much like bacteria until they are capable of
growing outside of flask. This presents many problems, not the least of
which revolve around 1) having the setup to begin with and 2) getting them
to survive once they are de-flasked.
        Most, if not all, of the North American terrestrial orchids are
heavily dependent upon mycorrhizial fungi to germinate, grow and thrive.
If the fungi are not doing well, it is likely that the plant will fail
to thrive, or perish. There _are_ symbiotic techniques for germination of
orchid seed in flask, but they are complex, and rely upon equal parts of
skill and luck.
        There are a couple of labs that sell lab-propagated cypripediums,
including Spangle Creek Labs, and Carson Whitlow's labs in Iowa (whose
name escapes me right now). A web search will bring them up quickly.
        I've read a recent paper (pre-pub material, so I can't go into
detail) about in vitro germination and cloning of Cypripedium reginae;
there is still much more work to do with these species, but this paper
shows that it IS possible.
        In any event, they are wonderful plants, but difficult (at this
point in time) to propagate from seed without considerable expense, as well
as skill. Give it a few years, or, if you are too impatient, buy from one
of these dealers. :-)

        -AJHicks
        Director, Orchid Seedbank Project (ahicks@nmt.edu for list!)
        Socorro, NM
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