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cypripedium

cypripedium definition

cyp·ri·pedi·um (sip′rə pē′dē əm)

noun pl. cypripediums -·di·ums or cypripedia -·dia (-ə)

any of a genus (Cypripedium) of soil-rooted orchids of the North Temperate Zone, with flat leaves and white, yellow, or rosy-purple flowers, each having a pouchlike lip petal; lady-slipper
any of various cultivated species (genus Paphiopedilum) of tropical orchids with fleshy, folded leaves and green, yellow, or brown-purple flowers of waxy texture

Etymology: ModL, lady-slipper < Gr Kypris, Venus (lit., the Cyprian goddess) + podion, slipper, dim. < pous (gen. podis), foot

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