(Calypso bulbosa)
These delicate pink and white flowers (Calypso Bulbosa) of the Western Lady Slipper, also called fairy slippers, are common orchids found along the carpeted floor of the BC coastal region forests. They have a single flower that has several pink, twisted, sepals, and petals forming a crown.
The flower has a small, pink upper lip above a large lower lip. Looking into the flower, the lower lip is the largest part of the flower. It has deep purple stripes near its base, with some purple spots towards the tip. The purple spots are set off against a pink backdrop. The spots and the pink coloration fade to white as the lip nears its outer margin. There is a single, basal, egg-shaped, or elliptical leaf that slowly tapers to a point.
These orchids are circumpolar in range and found across most of Canada from British Columbia and Alberta, east to Newfoundland, and south to California, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona.
Despite their pretty appearance, they do not contain any nectar to reward inquisitive and hungry bees. Their bright colour attracts the bees anyway. The bees visit, and while not rewarded, will visit several flowers before learning to avoid them. By this time, they have cross-pollinated a few of the orchids.
Luckily for these flowers, there are always enough novice bees who have not yet learned that the flower does not offer any nectar reward.
Lady Slippers that can be found on Vancouver Island come in white to purple. They grow from sea level to mountain habitats, but no matter where you see them, or what colour they are, they are always beautiful. Whenever I see them, they always get me smiling.