Muchas gracias.

On 12/30/03 4:34 PM, in article , "Bill
Landers" wrote:


"Mark Prout" wrote in message
...
Subscribers to National Geographic will find on page 67 a photo of a group
of stunning yellow, red, and white blooms on tiny plants identified as
"sand
lady's slippers." The article is about Patagonia. Except for the crucial
column, which appears to have three prongs, the flower does suggest an
orchid although not a ladyslipper. Is anybody familiar with this species
and
is it an orchid?

Hi Mark-
The plant pictured is a calceolaria, sometimes known as the pocketbook
plant. One can usually find calceolarias sold as houseplants around Easter
time. Calceolarias are in the family Scrophulariaceae (snapdragons). The
plant in the National Geographic photo is most probably Calceolaria uniflora
(synonym C. darwinii), which although listed as hardy in zones 6-9, is
usually grown by rock garden enthusiasts in the protection of an alpine
house. Hope this helps.
Bill Landers