COLORADO’S NATIVE WILD ORCHIDS

“The orchid is Mother Nature’s masterpiece. “
Robyn

The fossil record indicates that orchids may have coexisted with dinosaurs!
The orchid family is the largest family of flowering plants in the world, approximately 30,000 species. So, it is only fair that approximately 26 species get to call Colorado home. Colorado’s native orchids are terrestrial orchids, referring to growing from the ground in soil. They range from a few inches to over a foot high.  Since Rocky Mountain National Park is my backyard, I’m only going to tell the story of orchids that grow in the Park and the Front Range.

Fairy Slipper Orchid, Calypso bulbosa. Photo D. Rusk

Alluring, mysterious, elusive, fascinating, captivating, glamorous, beautiful, elegant, magnificent, stunning, gorgeous, delicate are adjectives that have been used describe native orchids. No doubt, if you are fortunate enough to lay eyes on a wild orchid it does take your breath away. What makes this so? Maybe it is the intricate design of their flower structure. They have three petals and three sepals. One modified petal is called a “lip.”  In some it is referred to as a “slipper.” Two petals often fuse together forming a “hood.” The hood usually covers the column. What is the column? In orchids, the stamen (male organ of the flower) and the pistil (female organ of the flower) are fused together forming a column.  For me, this remarkable flower structure is captivating.

I also find how they grow mind-boggling!  I will attempt to keep this simple, but remember native orchids are anything but simple! Orchid seeds are extremely minute and can number into the thousands in one single capsule.  Because orchid seeds are so minute, they have no food reserves to germinate and are totally dependent on fungus for nutrients during the early stages of growth. Native orchids need a relationship with a variety of fungi to germinate and grow, for some orchids through maturity. ​

Mycorrhizae refers to the relationship between a variety of fungi and roots of plants, in this case orchid roots. Most native orchids, as they grow, are able to obtain nutrients by photosynthesis and develop chlorophyll; however, it is thought all native orchids retain their fungal relationship to some extent. Coralroot orchids are the exception. Coralroots do not photosynthesis and require the relationship with fungi as mature plants to survive. Coralroots are now thought to be parasitic plants.

Spotted Coralroot. Corallorhiza maculata. Photo D Rusk

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​The Fairy Slipper Orchid, also called calypso orchid, is Colorado’s earliest flowering orchid. It blooms from mid-May until mid-June, depending on altitude and weather variables. Blooming time is very short, no more than ten days. This orchid prefers north/northeast facing slopes where soils remain cool and moist. Fairy slipper orchids boast shades of pink to magenta. They have a slipper-shaped lip with magnificent dark purple striping laced with golden hairs which help attract pollinators. Fairy slipper orchids are considered rare orchids by all. A white calypso orchid, albino variety, is considered very rare

Fairy Slipper Orchid Calypso bulbosa. Photo M. Borneman

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Brownie Lady Slipper. Cypripedium fasciculatum. Photo M. Borneman

​Brownie Lady’s Slipper Orchid, also known as Clustered Lady’s Slipper, is found in moist sub-alpine forest from mid-June-early July. This orchid also prefers north-northeast facing slopes. The flowers are greenish/brown/purplish and tightly clustered together on a short stalk with bright green leaves.

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The Yellow Lady’s-Slipper Orchid is a very rare and endangered orchid species.  They are threatened by loss of habitat due to development but also folks digging them up to transplant.   More later on molesting orchids. The yellow lady-slipper is the largest native Colorado orchid growing to 14” high.

Yellow Lady Slipper Cypripedium parviflorum. Photo M. Borneman

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Spotted Coralroot. Corallorhiza maculata. Photo M. Borneman

​Spotted Coralroot orchids are common and bloom late May to early August. They grow on spikes (flowers elongated on unbranched stem). The typical spotted coralroot is reddish/brown stem, white flowers with wine-purplish spots. However spotted coralroots have several colors: orange, yellow in addition to the reddish/brown and with spots or without.

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The yellow variety of spotted coralroot is often mistaken for the Northern Coralroot also known as Yellow Coralroot.  There are subtle differences that distinguish the species apart.  One is northern coralroot (Little Yellow) has a  greenish-yellow tint to the stems. It is smaller than the spotted coralroots. The white lip petal is three lobed and usually lacks spots.  I have only found this orchid on the west side of the Park. ​

Northern Coralroot (Little Yellow Coralroot). Corallorhiza trifida. Photo M. Borneman

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Wister’s Coralroot Corallorhiza wisteriana. Photo M. Borneman

​An uncommon orchid in Rocky is the Wister’s Coralroot which is a slender plant only growing  about 9” tall. Mostly brown stem, white lip petal with faint spots if any. A difficult orchid to spot in leaf debris due to its small size.  ​

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​Twayblade orchids are very small plants with greenish flowers. Heart-leaved Twayblade orchids are common and where you see one you will see several.  A very famous Colorado botanist, Joyce Gellhorn, nicknamed this orchid “Dancing Ladies.”  If you look very closely at the flower with a hand lens you can see the lip petal is deeply split forming “legs” and the base has two “arms” appendages giving the appearance of a “dancing lady.” 

Heartleaf Twayblade Orchid Listera convallarioides. "Dancing Ladies". Photo M. Borneman

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Blunt-leaf Orchid is uncommon in RMNP.  It is another orchid I have only seen on the west side.   3”-9” high with one leaf at the base of the plant.  The flowers are small and white-greenish in color.

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White Bog Orchid (Scentbottle). Platanthera dilatata. Photo M. Borneman

​In summer months the White and Green Bog Orchids are commonly seen and the most difficult to identify species.  There are several species of green and white bog orchids.  Bog orchids are characterized by having a special addition, a spur. The spur is long and strap-like terminating on the back of the lip petal.  The spur and lip length help identify the exact species. ​

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​Later in summer rattlesnake plantain orchids bloom. There are two species in Colorado:  Giant Rattlesnake Plantain and Dwarf Rattlesnake Plantain. The dwarf rattlesnake plantain orchid is rare.  The leaf pattern resembles a rattlesnake skin, thus the name.  I have not found this species in Rocky. The giant rattlesnake plantain orchid is commonly seen and once you recognize its leaf you will see it everywhere from the montane to sub-alpine in conifer forest.  The leaves are at the base, dark evergreen with a distinct white mid-rib.  The flowers are cream colored on a stalk.  ​

Western Rattlesnake Plantain Orchid, Goodyear oblongifolia, before blooming with distinctive leaf pattern. Photo M. Borneman

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Hooded Lady’s Tresses Spiranthes romanzoffiana. Photo M. Borneman

​Hooded Lady’s Tresses are found in moist sub-alpine forest. The hooded lady’s tresses are exquisite with their spiraled column of brilliant white flowers. The Ute Lady’s Tresses are rare on the Front Range and found mostly in Boulder County. ​

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A little trivia …What orchid has the most economic use today? The vanilla orchid.  Of course, it does not grow in Colorado!  However, some wild orchids found in the Rockies were once used as a food source or for medicinal purposes.  For example, the bulbs (corm) of fairy slipper orchids were cooked by Native Americans for their rich buttery taste.  The Paiutes made tea from the dried stems of coralroot orchids which was thought to build up the blood.  

Yes, believe it or not, there are folks out there who read flower guidebooks/websites and social media to locate native wild orchids to dig up in an attempt to transplant. For this reason, the location of orchids should never be made public.  It is a rite of passage for anyone truly dedicated to observing and preserving  native orchids to search habitats on their own and earn finding orchids.  Only nature knows where to “plant” these orchids for success, so don’t even think of transplanting. Appreciate the orchids when you find them and let others enjoy their magical beauty, too.  I just take a bazillion photos.

My intention is not only to amplify your curiosity but also your respect for these vulnerable plants. Protect them.

Suggested reading: 
The Orchid Thief by Susan Orlean 
Those Elusive Native Orchids of Colorado by Scott F. Smith