Calypso, Fairy Slipper, Fairy Slipper Orchid: Calypso bulbosa var. occidentalis (Synonym: Calypso bulbosa ssp. occidentalis)

Fairy slipper orchids as seen on the Augsburger Trail about one and a half miles west of the Dog Mountain summit, on May 7, 2014.

Lady slipper orchid is a beautiful wildflower with simple stems arising from 5-20 cm from an ovoid corm. The stems are reddish and smooth (not haired). A ovate-elliptic to oblong-ovate leaf from 3-6 cm long and parallel veined may be found at ground level, attached to the top of the corm. The long slender petiole is about as long as the leaf blade. This leaf is produced in the fall and persists to the spring before withering after bloom in the summer.

The single flower is about 2.5 cm long and has a slight fragrance. The 3 sepals and 2 petals are similar in appearance, spreading to ascending, measuring about 15-22 mm long with a lanceolate shape and magenta coloration. The 3rd petal or lip is descending somewhat longer and wider than the other flower parts. It is usually about 10 mm wide, whitish to yellowish or reddish-purple with numerous brownish-purple dots.

The lady slipper should be enjoyed in the forest without picking it. Thoughtless people who do pick it often end up taking the corm with them by accident, which then destroys the plant!

The lady slipper orchid may be found in cool, moist, shady forests in soils rich with decaying leaves, needles, and wood. It may be found from near sea level to fairly high in the mountains.

The lady slipper orchid is found over much of Eurasia and North America. Of the latter continent, it may be found from Alaska to Labrador and southwards to California, Arizona, Colorado, Minnesota, Michigan, New York, and Maine.

In the Columbia River Gorge, it may be found between the elevations of 100'-3300' from about Larch Mt. east to about Lyle, WA.

Close-ups of a fairy slipper as seen in coniferous woods near Rattlesnake Falls, north of the town of Husum, Klickitat County, WA........May 28, 2011.

Fairy slipper orchids as seen on the Augsburger Trail about one and a half miles west of the Dog Mountain summit, on May 7, 2014.

Fairy slipper orchid in bloom along the Memaloose Trail, Columbia River Gorge......April 14, 2018.

The photo above shows a close-up frontal view of the attractive fairy slipper orchid as seen on the southern slopes of Mt. Adams on May 7, 2005.

The photo above shows a close-up of the ovate basal leaf of the fairy slipper orchid as seen on Mt. Adams on May 7, 2005.

A fairy slipper blooming along the Hamilton Mountain Trail at Beacon Rock State Park in the western Columbia River Gorge............April 23, 2011.

A fairy slipper seen (left) along the Memaloose Trail east of Mosier, Oregon..........March 27, 2015. The photo at right shows fairy slipper as seen along the Hamilton Mountain Trail, Beacon Rock State Park........March 30, 2016.

A fairy slipper blooming at left in woods beneath the powerlines atop Mitchell Point several miles west of Hood River, Oregon..........April 19, 2015. The photo at right shows a back and side view of the flower of fairy slipper as seen in oak woods along the Weldon Wagon Road several miles east of Husum, WA.......April 19, 2018.