It has been a few years since I spotted a single calypso orchid in Rocky Mountain National Park on a shady forest floor.
Yesterday, with the help of my sharp-eyed boys, I spotted perhaps a hundred, in various small dense groups, on the Raccoon trail in Golden Gate Canyon state park. The Calypso orchid is also called “fairy slipper” because the lower petal is modified into a pouch shape like a fairy’s slipper. Perhaps only good children can verify this because they see fairies. My boys didn’t see the slipper. My son did ask if they were related to pitcher plants because of the pouch-like petal. I had to look that up: No, there are no carnivorous orchids.
These unique flowers grow on a single stalk and oddly have only a single basal leaf. I read that they rely on “deceptive pollination”. They attract pollinators with their beautiful yellow, purple, and pink display, but offer no nectar. Pollinators may only be fooled once, but that is enough for the plants to produce seeds. The seeds rely on a particular fungus in the soil to germinate. So several guide books caution against attempting to transplant.
Calypso orchid, Calypso bulbosa, Orchidaceae (orchid).
And on the topic of fairies: Here is my son’s enormous finger pointing out a fairy candelabra.
Northern Fairy Candelabra, Androsace septentrionalis, Primulaceae (Primrose Family)
Another new flower for me:
White River coraldrops, Besseya plantaginea, Plantaginaceae (plantain). Also called kittentails.
Pinedrops, Pterospora andromedea, Monotropaceae (Pinesap). Last year’s seed capsules.
Pinedrops, Pterospora andromedea, Monotropaceae (Pinesap). A tall stalk from a previous season.
Anemone, Anemone multifida, Ranunculaceae (Buttercup)
buttercup, Ranunculus sp. (note shiny petals.) Probably R. inamoenus.
False Solomon’s Seal, Maianthemum stellatum, Convallariaceae (Mayflower). This is a tiny flower maybe 1/4 to 1/2 inch.
Golden smoke, Corydalis aurea, Fumariaceae (Fumitory). I have never seen so many large patches of this plant. This is growing all along the trail.
Kinnikinnick, Arctostaphylos uva-ursi, Ericaceae (Heath).
And more: Click on photos for captions.
View from panorama point. The Raccoon trail goes through aspen stands, open meadows, and pine/juniper forests.
Boulder wildflowers 