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Friends of Kananaskis Country

Enhance, protect and share the unique natural and cultural experiences of Kananaskis Country through public participation and environmental education.

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  • About K-Country
    • Kananaskis Country
    • Trail Maps
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    • Bite-Sized Advice
    • Trail & Camping Info
    • Kananaskis Conservation Pass
    • Critters of K-Country
    • Flowers of K-Country
    • Plants of K-Country
    • Fungi of K-Country
  • Programs + Events
    • Powderface Creek Trail Project
    • Trail Care
      • Recruiting Crew Leaders & Backcountry Crew
      • Migratory Birds and the Friends
    • Canmore Trail Alliance
    • Trails Fest
    • Environmental Education
    • Chandra Crawford Hut at CNC
  • Engage
    • Sign Up and Join Us
    • Volunteer
      • What are Trail Days like?
      • Trail Day – What to Bring & Expect
      • Volunteer Projects
    • Corporate & Group Trail Days
    • Volunteer Agreement, Release and Waiver of Liability Form
    • Trail Groups and Clubs
  • Library
    • Latest News
    • Annual Reports
    • Great Kananaskis Flood Book
    • Bylaws & Cooperating Agreement
    • Newsletter
      • 2020 Newsletter Archive
      • 2019 Newsletter Archive
      • 2018 Newsletter Archive
      • 2017 Newsletter Archive
      • 2016 Newsletter Archive
      • 2015 Newsletter Archive
      • 2014 Newsletter Archive
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      • Legacy Fund FAQs
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Calypso Orchid

A close up of the stunning Calypso Orchid

In the land of “unique adaptations”, the fabulous Calypso Orchid (Calypso bulbosa) is a kind of a stand out. This lovely little flower (it’s only about 1” tall, on a 4” stem) grows in damp to dry pine forests, sometimes alone but often in little (or large) clumps (the photo to the right is a particularly large clump). It has a single large leaf and a large bulb underground. It is also known as a Venus Slipper or Fairy Slipper on account of the shoe-like shape of the flower. It is very delicate; step on it, and it will probably die.

The flower is lying

This beautiful flower is quite misleading. It has no nectar, and insects can’t get at the pollen very well, because the flower’s bowl is so deep. But it fakes insects out by looking and smelling like something they should visit. In particular, new juvenile queen bees (who don’t know better) climb inside looking for food, and visit a few until they figure out there’s no reason to visit any more. But by then, they have cross-pollenated other flowers. The flower wins; the bee just wastes its own time.

To add to the bee’s confusion, Calypsos change colour and aroma over time and between individual plants. You can see the different colours of the flowers in the photos, yet all of these photos were taken within days of each other. This colour and aroma change further misleads the bees. And… it turns out the Calypso is exactly the correct size to squeeze in the rather large Golden Northern Bumble Bee – who happen to be out at this time of year.

Cool adaptations

So this explains the reason the Calypso blooms so early: to get the young, inexperienced, early emergent queen Golden Northern Bumble Bee who come out in May looking to set up her hive location. And for the Golden Northerns, only the queens survive the winter, so there are no workers around at this time of year.

Sometimes, nature is just too cool for words.

Meet more of the pretty flowers of K-Country here!

“Come visit, Ms. Bee!”

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Contact Us

email: info@kananaskis.org
Phone: 403.678.5593
Mail Address:
Suite 201, 800 Railway Ave.
Canmore, Alberta
T1W 1P1

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For time immemorial Kananaskis Country has connected people to the land and each other.
We acknowledge the Iyhare Nakoda (the Wesley, Chiniki, and Bearspaw), the three Nations of the Blackfoot Confederacy: the Pikani, Kainai and Siksika; the Tsuu T'ina Nation, Metis Nation Region 3 and the Kootenay - the traditional stewards and trail builders who continue to reside, learn and care for this exquisite natural and cultural landscape.
We dedicate ourselves to move forward in partnership in a meaningful way.
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