Spotted Coralroot Corallorhiza maculata
Other Common Name(s):
Previously known as:
- Cladorhiza maculata
- Phonetic Spelling
- koral-lor-ize-ah mak-yuh-LAY-tuh
- Description
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Spotted coralroot is a native herbaceous perennial wildflower widely distributed across Canada and the United States; however, it is not found in Florida or the lower Mississippi River region. The only variety found in North Carolina is Corallorhiza maculata var. maculata, and it was located in the southwest mountains. This species is a member of the orchid family (Orchidaceae), and is typically found in woodland and forest areas. It grows as an erect scape, measuring from 4 to 24 inches tall, and has no leaves. It has exotic-looking, tiny orchid flowers and coral-shaped roots. This plant is mycoheterotropic and receives its nutrients from mycorrhizal fungi rather than by photosynthesis. The genus name, Corallorhiza, is Greek and is derived from two separate words: corallion, meaning coral, and rhiza, meaning root; hence the common name coralroot. The specific epithet, maculata, is Latin for "spotted" and refers to the purplish spots on the flower's lip.
Thrives in partial shade and moist to occasionally dry soil. This plant does not produce chlorophyll and receives it nourishment from the fungi in the soil via its rhizomes.
The scape of the spotted coralroot varies from yellowish-brown, reddish-brown, or reddish-purple. The sheaths encircle the scape and are yellow-green, yellowish-tan, or reddish-purple. Ten to thirty flowers are arranged in a raceme. Each flower has three sepals, two lateral petals, and a lip. Their colors may be reddish to purple or yellow-green, and they often have red-purplish spots on the petals. The lip of the flower may be white and spotted reddish-purple. Blooming occurs from July to August. The fruits appear in August and September and consist of an ovoid capsule.
Spotted coralroots are difficult to cultivate and will not survive if transplanted. In fact, it is illegal to collect these wildflowers from our National Forests according to the USDA. In North Carolina, this plant has been declining over recent years and is rarely found.
- See this plant in the following landscape :
- Cultivars / Varieties:
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- Corallorhiza maculata var. marculata (Spotted Coralroot)
white lip and always unspotted - Corallorhiza maculata var. mexicana
native to Guatemala and Mexico - Corallorhiza maculata var. occidentalis (Western Spotted Coralroot)
flowers 2 weeks earlier than var. maculata, the middle lobe of the lip is wider
- Corallorhiza maculata var. marculata (Spotted Coralroot)
- Corallorhiza maculata var. marculata (Spotted Coralroot), Corallorhiza maculata var. mexicana, Corallorhiza maculata var. occidentalis (Western Spotted Coralroot)
- Tags:
- Cultivars / Varieties:
-
- Corallorhiza maculata var. marculata (Spotted Coralroot)
white lip and always unspotted - Corallorhiza maculata var. mexicana
native to Guatemala and Mexico - Corallorhiza maculata var. occidentalis (Western Spotted Coralroot)
flowers 2 weeks earlier than var. maculata, the middle lobe of the lip is wider
- Corallorhiza maculata var. marculata (Spotted Coralroot)
- Corallorhiza maculata var. marculata (Spotted Coralroot), Corallorhiza maculata var. mexicana, Corallorhiza maculata var. occidentalis (Western Spotted Coralroot)
- Tags:
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Attributes:
- Genus:
- Corallorhiza
- Species:
- maculata
- Family:
- Orchidaceae
- Uses (Ethnobotany):
- Native Americans dried the stems and brewed them as a tea. The tea was used to treat colds or skin irritation.
- Life Cycle:
- Perennial
- Recommended Propagation Strategy:
- Seed
- Country Or Region Of Origin:
- Portions of Canada, portions of the United States, and Mexico
- Distribution:
- Native: United States--AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, DC, GA, ID, IL, IN, IA, KY, ME, MD, MA, MI, MN, MT, NE, NV, NH, NJ, NM, NY, NC, OH, OR, PA, RI, SC, SD, TN, TX, UT, VT, VA, WA, WV, WI, and WY; Canada--Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, New Brunswick, Newfoundland, Nova Scotia, Ontario, Prince Edward Island, Quebec, and Saskatchewan; Guatemala, Mexico Central, Mexico Gulf, Mexico Northeast, and Mexico Southwest;
- Wildlife Value:
- Pollinated by flies and bees.
- Dimensions:
- Height: 0 ft. 4 in. - 2 ft. 0 in.
- Width: 0 ft. 1 in. - 0 ft. 2 in.
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Whole Plant Traits:
- Plant Type:
- Herbaceous Perennial
- Native Plant
- Wildflower
- Habit/Form:
- Erect
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Cultural Conditions:
- Light:
- Dappled Sunlight (Shade through upper canopy all day)
- Deep shade (Less than 2 hours to no direct sunlight)
- Soil Texture:
- High Organic Matter
- Soil pH:
- Acid (<6.0)
- Neutral (6.0-8.0)
- Soil Drainage:
- Moist
- Occasionally Dry
- Available Space To Plant:
- Less than 12 inches
- NC Region:
- Mountains
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Fruit:
- Display/Harvest Time:
- Fall
- Summer
- Fruit Type:
- Capsule
- Fruit Length:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Width:
- < 1 inch
- Fruit Description:
- The fruit is an ovoid capsule and measures up to 0.75 inches long. Fruit is seen in August and September.
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Flowers:
- Flower Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Green
- Purple/Lavender
- White
- Flower Inflorescence:
- Raceme
- Flower Bloom Time:
- Summer
- Flower Shape:
- Irregular
- Flower Petals:
- 2-3 rays/petals
- Flower Size:
- < 1 inch
- Flower Description:
- The flowers are arranged in a raceme on a leafless stalk. There are ten to thirty dull, red to purple or sometimes yellowish-green orchid-like blooms that grow on short pedicels. Each flower has 3 sepals and 3 petals. The three sepals are narrowly oblong to lanceolate and are 8 to 10 mm long. Two of the petals are short and appear pink with reddish-purple spots. The third petal or lip is white and spotted with red. The stamens and style are fused, forming a column. The flowers can self-pollinate but are also pollinated by insects. In North Carolina, blooms from July to August.
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Leaves:
- Leaf Type:
- Sheath
- Leaf Description:
- This plant has no leaves.
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Stem:
- Stem Color:
- Brown/Copper
- Gold/Yellow
- Purple/Lavender
- Red/Burgundy
- Stem Is Aromatic:
- No
- Stem Form:
- Straight
- Stem Surface:
- Smooth (glabrous)
- Stem Description:
- The stem is an upright, smooth scape that grows 4 to 24 inches tall, and may be yellowish-brown, reddish-brown, or reddish-purple. It has no leaves, but consists of sheathing bracts. The sheaths are yellowish-green, yellowish-tan, or reddish-purple.
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Landscape:
- Attracts:
- Bees
- Pollinators
- Specialized Bees
