CALYPSO ORCHID

Calypso bulbosa

Orchid Family [Orchidaceae]

June 1998, Northern Finland, near Russian border.

Photo: © Phil And Ann Farrer

Broad, stubby lanceolate basal leaves with three ribs. No stem leaves, but stem has a pale sheath extending a third of the way up the stem. Each stem has but a single flower. Flowers have five mauve to pink sepals; four long narrow sepals which are twisted, and a central upper sepal which is broader, not twisted, and forms a cowl over the flower. The top of the stem droops downwards with the flowers angled ±45° earthwards. Just before the stalk droops, there are a couple of pink to mauve-coloured narrow 'flags' that point skywards.

June 1998, Northern Finland, near Russian border.

The petals are white edged, cupped, and with decorative orange and yellow markings in the centre, where a few yellow hairs also lurk.

Uniquely identifiable characteristics

Distinguishing Feature :

There has been an unconfirmed report of this orchid being found in East Sutherland, Scotland, but it is believed to be unlikely.

Absent from BSBI website, probably because it is absent from the UK.

Calypso

bulbosa

⇐ Global Aspect ⇒

Orchidaceae