Pacific coralroot

Appearance

''Corallorrhiza mertensiana'' is a leafless, parasitic, perennial orchid that is 6-20 inches tall. The stem is red to brownish purple. The upper petals are pink to reddish pink, with yellow to dark red veins. The lower petals are wider, dark pink to red, and have three deep red veins. Beneath the lower petal the spur is prominent. The flower spikes are visible from May to August. ''Corallorrhiza mertensiana'' has no roots, only hard, branched rhizomes that resemble coral.

Distribution

''Corallorrhiza mertensiana'' grows in shady coniferous forests at low to mid-elevations. It prefers damp soil that is rich in humus, and receives dappled sunlight. ''Corallorrhiza mertensiana'' is found in the Cascades from Alaska to California, and the Rocky Mountains from Alberta to Wyoming. In a survey of the plants found in Glacier Bay, Alaska in 1923, ''Corallorhiza mertensiana'' was reported to be growing beneath the thickets of ''Alnus tenufolia'' along with ''Petasites frigida'', ''Aspidium'', and ''Polystichum''. In British Columbia is has been found to be associated with ''Gaultheria shallon'', ''Hylocomium splendens'', and ''Rhytidiadelphus loreus''.

Habitat

''Corallorrhiza mertensiana'' grows in shady coniferous forests at low to mid-elevations. It prefers damp soil that is rich in humus, and receives dappled sunlight. ''Corallorrhiza mertensiana'' is found in the Cascades from Alaska to California, and the Rocky Mountains from Alberta to Wyoming. In a survey of the plants found in Glacier Bay, Alaska in 1923, ''Corallorhiza mertensiana'' was reported to be growing beneath the thickets of ''Alnus tenufolia'' along with ''Petasites frigida'', ''Aspidium'', and ''Polystichum''. In British Columbia is has been found to be associated with ''Gaultheria shallon'', ''Hylocomium splendens'', and ''Rhytidiadelphus loreus''.