Corallorhiza

Corallorhiza, the coralroot orchids, is a genus of flowers in the orchid family. Most species are leafless, relying entirely upon symbiotic fungi within their coral-shaped roots for sustenance. Because of this dependence on myco-heterotrophy within their mycorrhizae, they cannot be successfully cultivated.

Most species do not produce chlorophyll, and do not depend on photosynthesis for energy. An exception is the yellowish green species Corallorhiza trifida, which has some chlorophyll and is only partially dependent on its fungal associates for nutrition.^[1]

Except for the circumboreal C. trifida, the genus is restricted to the New World.

List of species

Corallorhiza anandae Corallorhiza arizonica Corallorhiza arizonica Corallorhiza bentleyi Corallorhiza bigelovii Corallorhiza bigelovii Corallorhiza bulbosa Corallorhiza corallorrhiza

Corallorhiza ekmanii Corallorhiza macrantha Corallorhiza maculata Corallorhiza mertensiana Corallorhiza odontorhiza Corallorhiza striata Corallorhiza trifida Corallorhiza wisteriana

Gallery

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  C. maculata

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  C. mertensiana

See also

• Neottia
• Pterospora

References

• Freudenstein, J.V., A Monograph of Corallorhiza. Harvard Papers in Botany 10:5-51, 1997

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