Orchids in Rocky

story and photos by Marlene Borneman

The fossil record indicates that orchids may have coexisted with dinosaurs! The orchid family is the largest family of flowering plants in the world with approximately 30,000 species. Only 26 call Colorado home. Some experts say there may be three species growing in the state yet to be discovered. My dream is to be the one to discover one of these native species in Colorado!

Fairy Slipper or Calypso orchid

Photo by Marlene Borneman

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 going to tell the story of native orchids that grow only in the Park. Like their cousins the epiphytic orchids/tropical orchids (clinging to tree branches with hanging roots) they are extremely pleasing to the eye but on a much smaller scale.

Alluring, mysterious, elusive, fascinating, captivating, glamorous, beautiful, elegant, magnificent, stunning, gorgeous, and delicate are adjectives that have been used to describe native orchids. No doubt, if you are fortunate enough to see 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) and the pistil (female organ) are fused together forming a column. I find this unique flower structure captivating!

Yellow Lady’s Slipper

Photo by Marlene Borneman

How they grow is 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.

Yellow Coralroot

Photo by Marlene Borneman

Families of flowering plants are further divided into genera and species. Genus (genera plural) is a biological classification ranking between family and species. Plants in the same genus share common structures, characteristics, similar properties and evolutionary development.

Species is the biological ranking after genus. The genus and species form the scientific name of a plant. The first name is the genus and the second name is the species—kind of like having a first and last name. Rocky holds fifteen species of orchids within seven genera.

Rare albino Calypso Orchid

Photo by Marlene Borneman

Genus Calypso: Only one species: Calypso or Fairy- Slipper Orchid (Calypso bulbosa). The Fairy Slipper 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 handsome dark purple striping laced with golden hairs which help attract pollinators. These orchids grow 2-6 inches high. Fairy slipper orchids are considered rare orchids by all. A white calypso orchid, albino variety, is considered very rare.

Brownie's Lady Slipper

Photo by Marlene Borneman

Genus Cypripedium: Rocky has two species: Brownie Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium fasciculatum) Yellow Lady's Slipper (Cypripedium parviflorum) 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, slightly clustered together on a short stalk with bright green leaves. This orchid is 2-5 inches high. The Yellow Lady's-Slipper Orchid is a very rare and endangered species. These orchids are threatened by loss of habitat due to development and people digging them up to transplant. The yellow lady-slipper is the largest Colorado native orchid growing to 14 inches high. The yellow lady slipper orchid is thought to be within the park, but I have only seen this orchid edging the boundaries. I keep looking!

Spotted Coralroot Orchid

Photo by Marlene Borneman

Genus Corallorhiza: Rocky has three species: Spotted Coralroot (Corallorhiza maculate) Yellow Coralroot (Corallorhiza trifida) Wister's Coralroot (Corallorhiza wistertiana) 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 maroon-purplish spots. However spotted coralroots have several varieties: orange, yellow with or without spots in addition to the reddish/brown and with dark maroon spots. The spotted coralroot grows 4-14 inches high. The yellow variety of spotted coralroot is often mistaken for the Yellow Coralroot also known as Northern Coralroot. There are subtle differences that distinguish the species. Yellow Coralroot has distinctive greenish-yellow color stems. It is smaller than the spotted coralroot growing only 2-6 inches high. The white lip petal has three lobes and usually lacks spots. ​ Another uncommon orchid in Rocky is the Wister's Coralroot. This is orchid has a brownish slender stem growing about 9 inches tall. The white lip petals have very faint spots, if any. This is a difficult orchid to spot due to its small size and ability to blend in leaf debris. ​

Frog Orchid

Photo by Marlene Borneman

Genus Coeloglossum: Only one species. Frog Orchid (Coeloglossum viride) This is an uncommon orchid in Colorado. It has pale yellow-light-green flowers with the petals forming a hood over the column and a long linear lip petal deeply lobed at the end. It grows 4-16 inches high and is found in wet grassy areas in the upper range of the foothills and subalpine. I have seen this orchid on the boundary of the park so believe it most likely grows within the park as well. This is a difficult orchid to find as it blends in with other plants and grasses.

Giant Rattlesnake Plantain leaves

Photo by Marlene Borneman

Giant Rattlesnake Plantain Orchid blooms

Photo by Marlene Borneman

Genus Goodyera: One species found in Rocky: Giant Rattlesnake Plantain Orchid (Goodyera oblongifolia) There are two species in Colorado the Giant Rattlesnake Plantain and Dwarf Rattlesnake Plantain. The dwarf rattlesnake plantain orchid is very rare. The leaf pattern resembles a rattlesnake skin, thus the name. I have not found this dwarf 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 dark green leaves grow at the base in a rosette with a distinct white mid-rib running down the middle. The flowers are cream colored arranged on a spike. This orchid grows 9-24 inches high and blooms in August.

Heart-Leaved Twalyblade

Genus Listera: Two species found in Rocky: Heartleaved Twayblade (Listera cordata) Broad-lipped Twayblade (Listera convallarioides) 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 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.” These grow 2-6 inches in height. The Broad-leaved twayblade has a translucent shiny green lip petal shaped like a fiddle with an elongated stripe in middle and notched at the end. This orchid grows 4-7 inches high and enjoys wet grassy areas along streams. It is considered a rare orchid.

Genus Platanthera: Four species found in Rocky: Green Bog Orchid (Platanthera aquilonis) White Northern Bog Orchid/Scentbottle Orchid (Platanthera dilatate) Huron Green Orchid (Platanthera huronensis) Bluntleaved Orchid (Platanthera obtusata) In summer months the White and Green Bog Orchids are commonly seen and the most difficult species to identify. 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 located on the back of the lip petal. The spur and lip length and shape help identify the exact species of these orchids. Blunt-leaved Orchid is another uncommon in RMNP. I have only seen this orchid on the west side of the park. Moist spruce-fir forest is the preferred habitat. The blunt-leaf orchid is 3-9 inches high with one leaf at the base of the plant. The white-greenish-yellow flowers are very tiny.

Genus Spiranthes: One species found in Rocky: Hooded Lady's Tresses (Spiranthes romanzoffiana) 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. These orchids prefer the higher elevations in the mountains between 7,500 . and 11,000 feet, growing 3-10 inches high. These bloom late July-September and hold a faintly sweet scent.

A little trivia …Which orchid has the most economic use today? Answer: The vanilla orchid. It does not grow in Colorado; however, some wild orchids found in Rocky were once used as a food source or for medicinal purposes. For example, the bulbs of the fairy slipper orchid 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.

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. Only nature knows where to “plant” these orchids for success as they do not survive transplanting. Appreciate the orchids where you find them and leave them for others to enjoy their magical beauty. I just take a bazillion photos.

My intention is to amplify your curiosity and 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

Marlene has been photographing Colorado's wildflowers while on her hiking and climbing adventures since 1979. Marlene has climbed Colorado's 54 14ers and the 126 USGS named peaks in Rocky. She is the author of Rocky Mountain Wildflowers 2Ed, The Best Front Range Wildflower Hikes, and Rocky Mountain Alpine Flowers, published by CMC Press.