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Glite Dictionary
slipper orchid

slipper orchid

1 9.2
A wild orchid with a pouch-shaped lower petal that is hard to grow in gardens
  • noun
  • /ˈslɪpər ˈɔrkɪd/
translation icon : orquídea zapatilla
  • Gardeners find the slipper orchid challenging to cultivate successfully outside its natural habitat.
  • lady's slipper orchid
  • pink lady's slipper orchid
  • rare lady's slipper orchid

Examples

  • In the damp forest, I spotted a beautiful pink slipper orchid nestled among the ferns.

  • Many species of slipper orchids are protected due to their rarity in the wild.

  • The slipper orchid is prized by botanists for its distinctive pouch-shaped flower.

  • The slipper orchid blooms in the spring.

  • I saw a beautiful slipper orchid at the botanical garden.

  • The unusual shape of the slipper orchid makes it a fascinating plant for wildflower enthusiasts.

  • During our hike, we discovered a patch of rare yellow slipper orchids blooming under the trees.

Synonyms

lady's slipper
vsslipper orchid
  • US
30 9.8

A North American wildflower with a slipper-shaped lower petal

is especially American and harder to cultivate in gardens
lady slipper
vsslipper orchid
  • Specialized
9.9

A wild North American orchid with a pouch-shaped lower petal that is hard to grow in gardens

is the same but uses a different name form
lady's-slipper
vsslipper orchid
  • US
9.6

A wildflower with a pouch-shaped lower petal that grows in shaded woods

is the broader common term stressing American wild forms
ladies' slipper
vsslipper orchid
  • US
9.0

A wild orchid that has a pouch-shaped lower petal like a small shoe

emphasizes that such plants are hard or impossible to grow in gardens
lady-slipper
vsslipper orchid
9.9

A wild orchid with a large pouch-shaped lower petal like a slipper

is focused mainly on American wild forms and cultivation difficulty

Surface Forms

slipper orchid singular
slipper orchids plural

Morphology

slipper + orchid

The compound is directly compositional: 'slipper' (a type of shoe) + 'orchid' indicates an orchid named for a slipper-like shape. A B1 learner who knows both words would reasonably infer it is a kind of orchid with a part resembling a slipper (even if they might not know the precise botanical details).

Etymology

Slipper orchid gets its name from the flower's pouch-shaped lower petal that looks like a small slipper or shoe. That's why the name means a wild orchid with a pouch-like flower and helps you remember the plant's shape.