Native Plants

Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Enter a Plant Name:
Or you can choose a plant family:

Glase, Terry

Calypso bulbosa var. americana

Calypso bulbosa (L.) Oakes var. americana (R. Br.) Luer

Fairy Slipper

Orchidaceae (Orchid Family)

Synonym(s): Cytherea bulbosa

USDA Symbol: CABUA

USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N)

Calypso bulbosa is chlorophyllous but also hemi-mycoheterotrophic; that is, it makes it own food, but also utilizes at least one fungus species to provide some of its carbon intake. The known fungi involved is Thanatephorus ochraceus, a saprotroph.

From the Image Gallery

2 photo(s) available in the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Leaf Complexity: Simple
Leaf Venation: Parallel
Fruit Type: Capsule
Size Notes: Up to about 9 inches tall.

Bloom Information

Bloom Color: White , Pink , Yellow , Purple
Bloom Time: Mar , Apr , May , Jun

Distribution

USA: AK , AZ , CO , ME , MI , MN , MT , NH , NM , NY , SD , UT , VT , WI , WY
Canada: AB , BC , MB , NB , NL , NS , NT , NU , ON , QC , SK , YT

Web Reference

Webref 38 - Flora of North America (2019) Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis, MO & Harvard University Herbaria, Cambridge, MA.
Webref 23 - Southwest Environmental Information Network (2009) SEINet - Arizona Chapter

Additional resources

USDA: Find Calypso bulbosa var. americana in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Calypso bulbosa var. americana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Calypso bulbosa var. americana

Metadata

Record Modified: 2023-04-24
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back