On the moist soil in the forests of the Changbai Mountains in northeast China, some brightly-colored flowers sway in the wind, carrying unique-shaped pouches.

The pouches resemble lady's slippers and nod elegantly from the top of the plant, which are closed tightly except for a small opening in the front.

The lady's slipper orchid belongs to a subfamily of orchids.

A stubborn plant, it can take many years to grow and develop from seed to mature plants.

A picky plant, it grows in open forests or on mountain slopes, or even in rock cracks, but too much sun exposure would burn it, while too little sunlight would slow its growth.

A smart plant, it has a special way of pollination. Its sweet scents lure bees into the pouch, and the pouch's slippery inner side forces the bee to climb out of the trap through the column, where the pollen grains are stored. In this way, the pollen grains are deposited on the bee's body, and delivered to the next flower.

The plant used to be quite widespread around the world but has suffered severe decline due to poaching and habitat destruction. The International Union for Conservation of Nature has listed the plant on its threatened list.

The orchid has around 50 subspecies around the world, of which six find home in the Changbai Mountains, Jilin Province.

China's Flora Tour

From the wetlands along the coast to the dense rainforests hidden in the southwest of China, all boast an array of plant species. In this series, we will go on a tour to learn about some of the most representative flora in different provinces and see how they live in harmony with the local geography and climate.

Read more:

China's Flora Tour: The pale flower that gleams in dark

China's Flora Tour: A purple medusa living on the rocky mountain slopes

China's Flora Tour: The harbinger of spring on Mount Fanjing

(Cover image via VCG, designed by CGTN's Li Jingjie)

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at nature@cgtn.com.)