Other common names:
Fairy Slipper Other scientific names: Calypso borealis, Cypripedium bulbosa, Cythera bulbosa French names:
Calypso bulbeux Family: Orchid Family (Orchidaceae) Group: Orchids Flowers: Spring; White, Red/Pink, Blue/Violet; Irregular flowers Leaves: Basal Only, Simple, Entire; Single round basal leaf which may not be present when plant is flowering. Height:
5-10 cm (2-4 in) Habitat: Wet Areas; Deep coniferous woods. Books: Newcomb's Wildflower Guide: 20 Peterson's Field Guide to Wildflowers: 214 ROM Field Guide to Wildflowers of Ontario: 86 Native/Non-native:
Native Status:
Rare.
Notes:
This is quite a rare orchid. It is easily overlooked due to its small size.
Origin and Meaning of Names:
Scientific Name: bulbosa: bulbous; swollen For more information visit: Ontario Wildflowers Photographs:
407 photographs available, of which 11 are featured on this page. SCROLL DOWN FOR PHOTOGRAPHS.
Calypso has spectacular flowers. They can be white, as shown here.
The flowers can also be blue or purple.
Side view of Calypso flowers.
Yet these spectacular flowers are very small!
Calypso are easily missed while walking in the woods. Here is a human eye view of a Calypso plant. Small!
The flowering stalk is sometimes accompanied by a single leaf.
This leaf grows during the fall, stays over the winter under the snow, and dies off after or during flowering.
A nice view of the flower along with the single leaf.
