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.

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