The Showy Lady’s Slipper is Minnesota’s state flower, and it’s illegal to pick it without permission from the landowner, Esme Murphy reports (2:01). WCCO 4 News At 5 - June 7, 2016
They are the cheapest Cypripedium to get and are offered in abundance by specialist growers in North America. Where I live in Canada they are as common as dandelions in many old growth forests. I get that in many parts of the US they are less common but again why steal this plant. The person who stole it most likely does not know that C. reginae has very long roots and each root only grows from the tip, so probably broke many roots while poaching. This decreases the plants survival even if given good conditions. Very sad to see.
