Striped Coralroot Orchid

Additional Flower Resources Pacific Coralroot Types of Orchids Types of Flowers

Striped Coralroot (Corallorhiza striata), or Hooded Coralroot, a fairly widespread North American orchid species, grows at lower elevations on deciduous and evergreen forest floors.

A couple dozen striped flowers can grow on the plant's thin, purple, leafless stem.

Corallorhiza species are saprophytic, growing in association with mychorrizal fungus. The July 2008 Newsletter of the Mycological Society of America reported on recent research, saying:

"An analysis of 82 individual orchids and their associated fungi from 42 populations across North America suggested incomplete host specificity and lack of strict codivergence. Neither morphological groupings nor plastid DNA clades (orchids) could fully explain patterns of fungal host association."

The research suggests that one of the reasons for the plants widespread range is its adaptability to a variety of forest conditions and mychorrizal hosts.

© 2009 Patricia A. Michaels