Wednesday, June 22, 2011

Coralroot

My neighbour came over to say she found a neat plant back in the bush and wanted me to come see. As we walked she described it to me. I said it sounds like coralroot and it was. I have had them grow in one general area of my front yard over the years we've been here. This year I have only one shoot. I went to email her the link to my site regarding Coralroot only to find I've never written anything up on it. So I'm about to rectify that!

Coralroots cannot be cultivated as they are parasitic and grow in a symbiotic relationship with soil fungi. As a result, they can be found in a place one year and not the next. I notice the one growing in my yard this year isn't in quite the same place as in other years. The coralroot growing in my yard is the Ozette Coralroot but I have also found Spotted Oralroot growing in the woods not far away.


Ozette Coralroot (awaiting confirmation on this)
Corallorhiza maculata var. ozettensis


2009 June 7

2008 June 11

2008 June 14

2008 June 12

2008 July 2


Spotted Coralroot
Corallorhiza maculata var. maculata

2010 June 14

Link: http://www.wanativeorchids.com/Corallorhiza/index.html

4 comments:

jozien said...

oh my! this is wonderful!
why do you think you have only one shoot this year, is that concerning, or do they show up other places, did they walk to your neighbour:)?

Ron said...

This certainly looks like the Ozette Coralroot. What a great find - so far away from any present record of it.

Chelsea said...

Yes! I agree with Ron, these sure look like Ozettes!

Anonymous said...

Wow! ... this is a rare find ...

..... beautiful!!! ... hope to see it here - but the sighting may need to be protected...

a hidden treasure ... e