The Calypso Orchid (Calypso bulbosa)
… also called Fairy Slipper, is a beautiful native orchid of the northern and montane forests of north america that’s already starting to bloom in the south of its range; in the north it will begin blooming later, in May. This tiny flower is easy to miss - only about 4-6 inches (10-15 cm) tall, the blooms are often unaccompanied by foliage.
The plant puts out a single leaf in the fall which remains evergreen under the snow and allows the plant to start photosynthesizing as soon as the days lengthen and start to warm, a trait often seen in early-bloomers. Once the flower is present the leaf dies back.
Photo by Mount Rainier National Park | NPS
(via: Peterson Field Guides)
