Corallorhiza maculata
North American orchid species
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Corallorhiza maculata, or spotted coralroot, is a North American coralroot orchid.[3] It has three varieties: C. maculata var. occidentalis (western spotted coralroot), C. maculata var. maculata (eastern spotted coralroot or summer coralroot), and C. maculata var. mexicana. It is widespread through Mexico, Guatemala, Canada, St. Pierre & Miquelon, and much of the western and northern United States (though generally absent from the Great Plains and from the lowland parts of the Southeast). It grows mostly in montane woodlands.[4][5][6]
| Corallorhiza maculata | |
|---|---|
| |
| Corallorhiza maculata var. maculata | |
Scientific classification  | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Genus: | Corallorhiza |
| Species: | C. maculata |
| Binomial name | |
| Corallorhiza maculata | |
| Varieties[2] | |
| |
| Synonyms[2] | |
| |
Description
Corallorhiza maculata is a myco-heterotroph; it lacks chlorophyll and obtains energy by parasitizing the mycelium of fungi in the family Russulaceae.[7] The rhizome and lower stem are often knotted into branched coral shapes. The stem is usually red or brown in color, but occasionally comes in a light yellow or cream color. There are no leaves and no photosynthetic green tissues. The stems bear dark red scales and intricate orchid flowers.
Corallorhiza maculata flowers are small and emerge regularly from all sides of the stem. The sepals are dark red or brown tinged with purple, long and pointed. The side petals are reddish, and the lip petal is bright clean white with deep red spots. It is usually scalloped along its edges and 7–10 mm (9⁄32–13⁄32 in). In some varieties, the lip may be plain white without spots.
Taxonomy
Corallorhiza maculata was scientifically described and named by Constantine Rafinesque in 1817. It is classified in the genus Corallorhiza within the family Orchidaceae. It has three varieties according to Plants of the World Online:[2]
- Corallorhiza maculata var. maculata
- Corallorhiza maculata var. mexicana (Lindl.) Freudenst.
- Corallorhiza maculata var. occidentalis (Lindl.) Ames
Corallorhiza maculata has 23 synonyms of the species or one of its three varieties.[8][9][10]
| Name | Year | Rank | Synonym of: | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cladorhiza maculata (Raf.) Raf. | 1828 | species | C. maculata | ≡ hom. |
| Corallorhiza grabhamii Cockerell | 1903 | species | var. occidentalis | = het. |
| Corallorhiza leimbachiana Suksd. | 1906 | species | var. occidentalis | = het. |
| Corallorhiza maculata f. aurea P.M.Br. | 1995 | form | var. maculata | = het. |
| Corallorhiza maculata var. flavida (M.Peck) Cockerell | 1916 | variety | var. maculata | = het. |
| Corallorhiza maculata f. flavida (M.Peck) Farw. | 1927 | form | var. maculata | = het. |
| Corallorhiza maculata var. fusca Bartlett | 1922 | variety | var. maculata | = het. |
| Corallorhiza maculata var. immaculata M.Peck | 1950 | variety | var. maculata | = het. |
| Corallorhiza maculata f. immaculata (M.Peck) J.T.Howell | 1970 | form | var. maculata | = het. |
| Corallorhiza maculata var. intermedia Farw. | 1917 | variety | var. maculata | = het. |
| Corallorhiza maculata f. intermedia (Farw.) Farw. | 1927 | form | var. maculata | = het. |
| Corallorhiza maculata subsp. occidentalis (Lindl.) Cockerell | 1916 | subspecies | var. occidentalis | ≡ hom. |
| Corallorhiza maculata var. ozettensis Tisch | 2001 | variety | var. maculata | = het. |
| Corallorhiza maculata var. punicea Bartlett | 1922 | variety | var. maculata | = het. |
| Corallorhiza maculata f. punicea (Bartlett) Weath. & J.Adams | 1945 | form | var. maculata | = het. |
| Corallorhiza maculata f. rubra P.M.Br. | 1995 | form | var. maculata | = het. |
| Corallorhiza mexicana Lindl. | 1840 | species | var. mexicana | ≡ hom. |
| Corallorhiza multiflora Nutt. | 1823 | species | var. maculata | = het. |
| Corallorhiza multiflora var. flavida M.Peck | 1897 | variety | var. maculata | = het. |
| Corallorhiza multiflora var. occidentalis Lindl. | 1840 | variety | var. occidentalis | ≡ hom. |
| Corallorhiza multiflora var. sulphurea Suksd. | 1906 | variety | var. maculata | = het. |
| Neottia mexicana (Lindl.) Kuntze | 1891 | species | var. mexicana | ≡ hom. |
| Neottia multiflora (Nutt.) Kuntze | 1891 | species | var. maculata | = het. |
| Notes: ≡ homotypic synonym; = heterotypic synonym | ||||
Uses
Several Native American groups historically used the orchid's stems dried and brewed as a tea for such maladies as colds, pneumonia, and skin irritation.
Corallorhiza maculata is also the topic of the poem On Going Unnoticed by Robert Frost.
Gallery
Corallorhiza maculata var occidentalis in Sonoma County.
Detail of the flowers.
First blooms: only a few flowers have opened.
First flower shoot.
