SafePlants

Calypso bulbosa: The Enigmatic Fairy Slipper

Calypso bulbosa, commonly known as the calypso orchid, fairy slipper, or Venus's slipper, is a captivating and elusive member of the orchid family. Its delicate beauty and specific habitat requirements make it a sought-after sight for nature enthusiasts.

Considerations for Pets and Children

• The plant produces a single leaf sprouting from a corm.

Taxonomy and Nomenclature

• Scientific Name: Calypso bulbosa (L.) Oakes
• Common Names: Calypso orchid, fairy slipper, Venus's slipper
• Family: Orchidaceae (Orchid family)
• Note: The text also mentions the synonym Calypso bulbosa (L.) Ames.

Distribution and Habitat

• Calypso bulbosa has a wide, circumboreal distribution.
• It is found across Canada from Alaska to Newfoundland and in western Washington.
• Specific habitats include cool forests, bogs, spruce-balsam-cedar swamps, moist coniferous forests with cool soils, and Great Lakes shoreline forests dominated by spruce, cedar, and fir.
• It is considered rare in New England, specifically found in northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis) dominated swamps in Maine and New England.
• Also native to North America and Eurasia.

Morphological Characteristics

• The fairy slipper orchid bears a single, showy flower on a single, dainty, purple stem.
• Flowers can be pink, purple, or white, often marked with purple.
• The flower is described as having 5 spreading pink to purple rays at the top and a purple.
• In autumn, a single, dark green leaf sprouts from the corm, lasting through the winter.

Quirky Facts

• The shape of the flower resembles a small shoe, hence the common name "Fairy Slipper."
• It has been called the most beautiful terrestrial orchid in North America.