Corallorhiza odontorhiza facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Corallorhiza odontorhiza
Scientific classification
Genus:	Corallorhiza
Species:	odontorhiza
Synonyms
Corallorhiza micrantha Chapm. Corallorhiza montana Raf. Corallorhiza odontorhiza (Willd.) Nutt. Corallorhiza odontorhiza f. flavida Wherry Corallorhiza odontorhiza var. verna Alph.Wood Cymbidium odontorhizon Willd. Epidendrum odontorhizon (Willd.) Poir. Neottia odontorhiza (Nutt.) Kuntze

Corallorhiza odontorhiza, common name fall coral-root or small-flowered coral-root, is a species of orchid widespread across eastern and central United States, and reported also from Mexico, Central America, Quebec and Ontario. In North America, it occurs in forested areas up to an elevation of 2800 m (9300 feet).

Corallorhiza odontorhiza is a non-photosynthetic species, with no chlorophyll. Hence it relies on fungi in the soil to supply it with nutrients. Stems are yellow to brown, bulbous at the base. There are no leaves. Flowers are typically reddish-purple with a white lip, the lip with small purple spots, though some plants are cleistogamous with non-opening flowers. The plant flowers from August through October in the eastern US.

Infraspecific taxa

Three infraspecific taxa are recognized as of May 2014:

• Corallorhiza odontorhiza var. odontorhiza - Quebec, Ontario, eastern and central United States
• Corallorhiza odontorhiza var. pringlei (Greenm.) Freudenst. - Mexico, Central America, Ontario, eastern United States
• Corallorhiza odontorhiza f. radia Freudenst. - southern Mexico, Guatemala, El Salvador

Images for kids

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  Corallorhiza odontorhiza var. odontorhiza, most flowers are closed in this variation