Eastern Fairy Slipper

Photographed in late spring in eastern Washington, this is the Eastern Fairy Slipper, Calypso bulbosa var. americana, distinguished by the yellow beard and unspotted lip margin. This variety does not bloom west of the Cascades and blooms later than variety occidentalis which is found west of the Cascades and which has a white beard and a lip with mahogany spotting along the margins. Both varieties have the single leaf shown here and grow to about 15-25 cm tall.