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• Calypso bulbosa

Calypso bulbosa — fairy-slipper

Facts

Fairy-slipper is a rare orchid in New England, being found only in northern white-cedar (Thuja occidentalis) dominated swamps in Maine, New Hampshire and Vermont. The generic name (Calypso) comes from Homer's sea-nymph in the Odyssey who kept Odysseus concealed seven years on her island. The Thompson Indians of British Columbia chewed the corms and sucked on the flowers to treat mild epilepsy.

Habitat

Swamps

Characteristics

• Flowers

  Flower petal color

  • purple
  • white

  Flower symmetry

  there is only one way to evenly divide the flower (the flower is bilaterally symmetrical)

  Flowering date

  • June
  • May

  Flowers per inflorescence

  1–2

  Form of lower petal

  the labellum has a pouch-like shape

  Hairs on flower stalk

  NA

  Hairs on inflorescence axis

  NA

  Inflorescence length

  35–50 mm

  Inflorescence type

  the inflorescence has only one flower or a pair of flowers on it

  Inflorescence width

  30–40 mm

  Labellum position

  the labellum is in the lower position on the flower

  Length of narrowed base of lower petal

  0 mm

  Length of peduncle

  100–200 mm

  Lobes at base of lower petal

  0 mm

  Lower petal characteristics

  • the labellum is in the shape of a pouch
  • the labellum is lobed

  Lower petal length

  13–23 mm

  Lower petal outline

  the labellum is lobed but not fringed

  Lower petal strongly red-veined

  no

  Main color of lower petal

  • pink to red
  • white

  Nectar spur

  there are no nectar spurs on the flower

  Nectar spur length

  0 mm

  Number of stamens

  1

  Orientation of side petals

  the lateral petals are angled steeply upwards

  Self-pollinating flowers

  there are no cleistogamous flowers on this plant

  Sepal length

  10–24 mm

  Sepals fused only to sepals

  the sepals are separate from one another

  Shape of viscidium

  the viscidium is another shape than the choices given

  Spots on lower petal

  yes

  Spur opening membrane

  NA

  Spur opening shape

  NA

• Fruits or seeds

  Fruit length

  20–30 mm

  Fruit width

  10–15 mm

  Length of peduncle when in fruit

  0 mm

  Seed capsule orientation

  the capsule points upwards or is angled outwards

• Growth form

  Plant green or not

  the plant is chlorophyllous (it has green parts)

  Roots

  the rhizomes are branched and resemble coral

  Underground organs

  • the plant has one or more swollen storage organs underground, such as bulbs, tubers or corms
  • there are only slender roots on the plant

• Leaves

  Bract relative length

  the bract is shorter than the associated flower

  Features of leaves

  the leaf is pleated or folded back and forth along its length

  Leaf arrangement

  basal: the leaves are growing only at the base of the plant

  Leaf blade edges

  the edges of the leaf blade have no teeth

  Leaf blade length

  10–65 mm

  Leaf blade length to width ratio

  0.8–1.3

  Leaf blade shape

  • the leaf blade is elliptic (widest near the middle and tapering at both ends)
  • the leaf blade is orbicular (roughly circular, as wide as long)
  • the leaf blade is ovate (widest below the middle and broadly tapering at both ends)

  Leaf blade tip

  • the tip of the leaf blade is acuminate (tapers to a long, thin point)
  • the tip of the leaf blade is acute (sharply pointed)
  • the tip of the leaf blade is obtuse (bluntly pointed)

  Leaf blade width

  12–52 mm

  Leaves during flowering

  there are leaves on the plant when it is flowering

  Number of bracts on stem

  2–3

  Number of leaves on stem

  absent

• Place

  Habitat

  wetlands

  New England state

  • Maine
  • New Hampshire
  • Vermont

  Specific habitat

  swamps

Wetland status

Usually occurs in wetlands, but occasionally in non-wetlands. (Wetland indicator code: FACW)

New England distribution and conservation status

From the dichotomous key of Flora Novae Angliae