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Fairy-slipper

Calypso bulbosa

The Fairy-slipper is a beautiful flower that looks like a tiny slipper! It grows in the forest and has lovely pink and white colors that make it special and magical.

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Fairy-slipper is a small, striking orchid with a single pink to magenta flower. Its lower petal forms a distinctive pouch, often spotted with purple and fringed with yellow hairs. A single green, corrugated leaf appears earlier and withers before blooming.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLiliopsidaOrderAsparagalesFamilyOrchidaceaeGenusCalypso
Fairy-slipper
flowering trait badgeshade_tolerant trait badgespring_blooming trait badgefragrant_flower trait badge
Fairy-slipper

Category

Plants

Rarity

Rare

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

Be the first to snap!

Interesting facts

It takes special fungi to help the tiny seeds sprout and grow into a plant!

Its name comes from a mythical Greek nymph who lived in secret!

This orchid grows a single leaf in fall that survives winter to feed the spring flower!

Unlike most flowers, it offers no nectar, tricking pollinators with its beautiful looks!

Special abilities

Ability

Tricky Temptation

Fairy-slipper flowers mimic nectar-rich plants, tricking bees into pollinating them without offering a reward!

Ability

Underground Hideaway

Fairy-slipper has a bulb-like corm that allows it to survive harsh winters hidden beneath the soil.

Ability

Fungal Foodie

Fairy-slipper depends on a special underground fungus to help it absorb vital nutrients, especially when young.

Measurements & details

Height
5-20 cm
Spread
5-10 cm
Flower Size
2-4 cm
Bloom Season
Spring
Edible
No
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

pollinates

Two-Form Bumblebee

Bombus bifarius

visits flowers, seeking a deceptive nectar reward

eaten by

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus

browses its leaves and flowers when abundant

eaten by

Grey Field Slug

Deroceras reticulatum

may browse its leaves and flowers on the forest floor

Traits

Also known as

Calypso Orchid

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't pick the flowers, so they can keep growing!

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is Fairy-slipper?

5-20 cm

How wide does Fairy-slipper spread?

5-10 cm

How big are the flowers on Fairy-slipper?

2-4 cm

When does Fairy-slipper bloom?

Spring

Is Fairy-slipper edible?

No

Is Fairy-slipper toxic?

None

What is Fairy-slipper's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is Fairy-slipper pollinated?

Insect

Snap Map

Zoom in to split clusters and explore where this object has been snapped.

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Recent Snaps

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Where to spot

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