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DISCLAIMER: These pages are presented solely as a source of INFORMATION and ENTERTAINMENT and to provide stern warnings against use where appropriate. No claims are made for the efficacy of any herb nor for any historical herbal treatment. In no way can the information provided here take the place of the standard, legal, medical practice of any country. Additionally, some of these plants are extremely toxic and should be used only by licensed professionals who have the means to process them properly into appropriate pharmaceuticals. One final note: many plants were used for a wide range of illnesses in the past, but be aware that many of the historical uses have proven to be ineffective for the problems to which they were applied.




CALYPSO
ORCHIDACEAE
(Cytherea bulbosa syn Calypso bulbosa)
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A land orchid and rare forest perennial of cool, northern boggy places. The leaves are round-ovate to 3½ inches, which remain attached throught the winter. Scape is upto 9 inches. Petals are lanceolate and narrow to 1 inch long, purple with oblong lip, a whitish to purplish sac streaked with puce, while the upper surface is white and spotted with purple and having a white or yellow beard. Corm is edible.

The small bulbs were eaten raw or cooked by Native Americans of Alsaka and the norwestern United States.





©2005 by Ernestina Parziale, CH

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