Native Orchids that Bloom in Nova Scotia this Month

Nova Scotia's earliest native orchids begin blooming in June. The Dragon's Mouth, Arethusa bulbosa, Pink Lady's Slipper, Cypripedium acaule, Yellow Lady's Slipper Cypripedium calceolus and Early Coral Root, Corallorhiza trifida, bloom.

• Arethusa bulbosa, Dragon's Mouth, grows in bogs. You might find this species at Peggy's Cove or in Porter's Lake Provincial park. Although small, it's bright pink colour is hard to miss. It begins to flower before other vegetation in the bog shows much growth.

• The Pink Lady's Slipper or Moccasin Flower, Cypripedium acaule grows primarily in woodland areas. It can be found throughout the province. Unlike our other Lady Slippers it will grow in acidic calcium poor soil. It can be readily found within the metro Halifax area. It's been a bit late in blooming this year at my home in the South Shore. The Pink Lady's Slipper is the Provincial Flower of Prince Edward Island.

• Corallorhiza trifida, Early Coral Root, blooms in deep woods. This species is thought to be saprophitic i.e. living off dead material. It has no green leaves. Some say it's actually a parasite, living off a fungus host. Parasitic or not, its bright red colour makes it distinguishable on the forest floor. Look in intervale forests with beech trees.

• Our rarest and smallest lady slipper the Ram's Head Lady Slipper Cypripedium arietinum will have finished blooming this month. In Nova Scotia it seems to only occur in calcium rich soils where gypsum rock outcroppings occur. This species is typically rare over its range and requires cool forest habitat. The blooming period is considerably shorter than for our other native Cypripedium species.

• Cypripedium calceolus may be found in bloom at the end of May in sunny locations and well into July in shadier locations. It too grows where gypsum rock reaches the surface. June is when the species is at its best.

Other good places to enquire about the native orchids of Nova Scotia is with the The Nova Scotia Wild Flora Society and the Halifax Field Naturalists.

Another good sources of information on native orchids is the Orchids of Wisconsin page. Information on the native orchids of Wisconsin USA is applicable to Nova Scotia's native orchids. Another source is information on the native orchids of Michigan.

The Canadian Orchid Congress is currently trying to document with slides the different native orchids of Canada and their habitat. Contact Marilyn Light 009211@acadvm1.ottawa.ca

To leave a comment for the person who maintains this file E-mail osns@ns.sympatico.ca