Striped Coralroot (Bruce Peninsula Orchids)

Striped Coralroot

Corallorhiza striata

Summary ⁵

Corallorhiza striata is a species of orchid known by the common names striped coralroot and hooded coralroot. This flowering plant is widespread across much of southern Canada, the northern and western United States, and Mexico. It lives in dry, decaying plant matter on the ground in pine and mixed coniferous forests, and it obtains its nutrients from fungi via mycoheterotrophy.

Description ⁶

Stem ± strongly thickened, base not bulbous. Inflorescences: racemes lax to dense, 10–67 × 1.2–4.5 cm. Flowers 2–35, chasmogamous, conspicuous to showy; perianth open and spreading to connivent; sepals and petals salmon reddish purple with darker veins or pure yellow, lanceolate to oblanceolate, 3–5-veined; lip obovate, unlobed, 3.2–16.5 × 2–6.2 mm, thickened, margins deep red with white or yellow at base, or pure yellow, upturned, giving boat-shaped appearance especially toward apex; callus formed by partial connation of 2 basal lamellae, less than 1/3 length of lip; column pure yellow or yellow spotted with red, curved toward lip, 3–6 mm, base without auricles or ridges; ovary 3–8.5 mm; mentum absent. Capsules ellipsoid, 11–30 × 5–10 mm.