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Corallorhiza mertensiana
Corallorhiza mertensiana Bong.
Pacific Coralroot
Orchidaceae (Orchid Family)
Synonym(s): Corallorhiza maculata ssp. mertensiana, Corallorrhiza maculata ssp. mertensiana, Corallorrhiza mertensiana
USDA Symbol: COME17
USDA Native Status: L48 (N), AK (N), CAN (N)
Most orchids (this one included) of genus Corallorhiza are achlorophyllous and are mycoheterotrophic; that is, they utilize fungi to parasitize the roots of other plants. Corallorhiza mertensiana utilizes three species of ectomycorrhizal fungi in the genus, Russula for this purpose.
Bloom Information
Bloom Color: White , Yellow , PurpleBloom Time: May , Jun , Jul , Aug
Additional resources
USDA: Find Corallorhiza mertensiana in USDA PlantsFNA: Find Corallorhiza mertensiana in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Corallorhiza mertensiana
Metadata
Record Modified: 2016-03-04Research By: TWC Staff