ORCHIDACEAE

ORCHID FAMILY

Dieter H. Wilken and William F. Jennings

Perennial, terrestrial in CA, some nongreen, generally from rhizomes
Leaves linear to ± round or scale-like, generally sessile
Inflorescence: generally raceme or spike, bracted
Flower bisexual, bilateral, sometimes spurred; sepals generally 3, generally petal-like, generally free, uppermost generally erect; petals 3, lowest different ("lip"); stamen generally 1, fused with style and stigma into column, pollen generally sticky, generally removed as sessile anther sacs; ovary inferior, generally twisted 180° (so lip appears to be lowest perianth segment), 1-chambered, placentas 3, parietal; stigmas 3, generally under column tip
Fruit: capsule
Seeds very many, minute
Genera in family: ± 800 genera, ± 18,000 species: especially tropical (worldwide except deserts). Many cultivated for ornamental, especially Cattelya, Cymbidium, Epidendrum, Oncidium, Paphiopedalum; Vanilla planifolia fruits used as source of food flavoring
Reference: [Luer 1975 Orchids US and Can, NY Bot Garden; Coleman 1995 Wild Orchids of California, Cornell Univ.]
Nongreen plants derive nutrition through fungal intermediates.

CALYPSO

FAIRY SLIPPER

Species in genus: 1 sp
Etymology: (Greek: Kalypso, sea nymph in Homer's Odyssey , from her beauty and secretive behavior)

Native

C. bulbosa (L.) Oakes

Plant 7–18 cm; caudex corm-like, subspheric; rhizome 0
Stem ± scapose
Leaves: basal 1, petioled; blade 3–6.5 cm, elliptic to ovate; cauline 2–4, sheath-like
Inflorescence: flower generally 1; flower bract 1, pinkish to lavender
Flower: sepals free, 15–25 mm, generally pink; lateral petals sepal-like; lip ± pendent, pouch-like in lower 2/3, purplish outside, purple-striate inside, distal 1/3 ± concave, white to pink with white to yellow, hairy, ± red-spotted base; column 8–11 mm, widely ovate, hood-like, arched over pouch, generally pink
Fruit erect
Chromosomes: 2n=28
Ecology: Moist, generally shaded coniferous forest
Elevation: < 1800 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California (except Inner North Coast Ranges), sw San Francisco Bay Area
Distribution outside California: to Alaska, ne N.America, New Mexico, Eurasia
Synonyms: subsp. occidentalis (Holz.) Calder & Roy L. Taylor
Horticultural information: SHD, IRR acidic soil: 1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 15, 16, 17; very DFCLT.