The genus Calypso takes its name from the Greek signifying concealment, as they tend to favor sheltered areas on conifer forest floors.

Since the orchid seed does not provide any nutrient tissue, germination only takes place when infected by a mycorrhizal root fungus.

The generic name Calypso Salisb, which is still valid today, was described in 1806 by the English gardener Richard Anthony Salisbury (1761-1829) in the work "Paradisus Londinensis", published with the then-director of the Royal Botanic Gardens in London, William Jackson Hooker (1785-1865).

The species names listed here are used as synonyms: Four natural varieties and one nothovariety (variety of hybrid origin but established in the wild) are recognized:[1] This species' range is circumpolar,[4] and includes California, the Rocky Mountain states and most of the most northerly states of the United States; most of Canada; Scandinavia much of European and Asiatic Russia; China, Mongolia, Korea and Japan—see external links for map.

Although the calypso orchid's distribution is wide, it is very susceptible to disturbance, and is therefore classified as threatened or endangered in several U. S. states and in Sweden and Finland.

[6] At least near Banff, Alberta, the calypso orchid is pollinated by bumble bees (Bombus (Pyrobombus) and B. Psithyrus).