Cypripedium irapeanum

By Biól. Nat. Eduardo Villegas

May 17, 2025

The name of this orchid comes from Kripis (Venus) and pedilon (shoe). For its part, the term irapeanum comes from the first place where the orchid was found: Irapeo, Michoacán. Although it is also distributed on the Mexican Pacific slope, from Chiapas to Sinaloa, as well as Puebla and Veracruz, as well as some areas of Guatemala and Honduras.

The shape and colors of its flowers make it a truly extravagant and beautiful orchid. Pollinators, attracted by its aroma and peculiar pigmentation, fall into its “trap” for a moment, before managing to escape, but not before having ensured the pollination of the flower.

According to popular medicine, the root of cypripedias has sedative and antispasmodic properties, and is used against toothaches and muscle spasms.