C. debile
is a small plant from Japan. Although the flower is attractive, it is normally
held below the leaves so that it is hardly visible from above. For the
photo, the flower was artificially lifted above the leaves. The plant in
the picture was lab-grown from seed.
C. fasciculatum
is a very rare species from the western U.S. It is classed as "threatened"
by most of the states where it is found. The specimen here was photographed
in Washington State and is holding its flowers higher than most examples
of the species.
This Chinese species,
C.
flavum, is a plant quite similar to C. reginae from North America
except for flower color and cultural requirements.
The lovely C.
formosanum is endemic to northern Taiwan. Note the fan-like leaves.
Once considered
a separate species, C. froschii from the Yunnan Province of China
is now lumped into C. tibeticum.
C. kentuckiense
is the largest-flowered of all the Cyp species. It was not properly identified
in the scientific literature until 1981. Native to the southeastern U.S.,
the species has been grown successfully outdoors as far north as Vermont.
For people familiar
with C. reginae, comparison demonstrates the size of the flower
of C. kentuckiense.
C. macranthos
is a highly variable species from Asia. Varieties are known with pink,
red, maroon, yellow, and white flowers. This particular specimen is from
China.
C. macranthos
var. hotei-atsumorianum is a particularly showy form from Japan.
C. montanum is
a beautiful plant from the mountains of western North America. Although
not common, the plant, fortunately for hikers, is not particularly rare.
It is difficult to grow in a wet climate.