Fairyslipper Orchid

Description:

This Calypso found at Murray Lake off the Coquihalla Hwy in BC, shows a marked colour variation from most of the other calypsos we found in that area and also from the ones found in my previous spotting of Calypsos on North Pender Island in BC. The bottom lip in these ones is pure white rather than pink with purples dots like most calypsos in the PNW.

Habitat:

Coniferous forest, mainly spruce and pine, around a mountain lake on the Coquihalla Hwy.

Notes:

Compare to my previous spotting of Calypso: http://www.projectnoah.org/spottings/248... and note the part of Wiki that says that there is only one species in the genus and 4 recognized variations. This is a colour variant possibly to fool the bumblebees that it relies on for pollination. The calypso does not produce any nectar to nourish the bees and they will not return to this same flower if they recognize it. Cool information! I thought it might be a different species of Calypso, but no!