Corallorhiza mertensiana Bong.
western coralroot (Pacific coralroot)
Orchidaceae (Orchid family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
western coralroot (Pacific coralroot)
Orchidaceae (Orchid family)
Introduction to Vascular Plants
Photograph
© Kent Brothers (Photo ID #10186)
Species Information
General:
Perennial, saprophytic herb from coral-like rhizomes; stems (15) 20-55 cm tall, reddish, smooth.
Leaves:
Bractlike, sheathing, 2 or 3.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a terminal raceme of 3 to 25 short-stalked, erect to spreading flowers, the bracts scalelike; sepals usually pink, narrowly oblanceolate, 7-10 mm long, the lower spreading; lateral petals deep pink to red, veins usually yellow or dark red; lip 6-9 mm long, deep pink to red, usually with 3 dark red veins, base with 2 lateral short teeth, tip irregularly fine-toothed; spur 0.5-2.5 mm long; column 5.5-8 mm long, curved over lip.
Fruits:
Capsules, egg-shaped, drooping, 15-25 mm long.
Illustration
If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.
Illustration Source: The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia
Ecology
Ecological Framework for Corallorhiza mertensiana
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)
| Site Information |
Value / Class |
||
|
Avg |
Min |
Max |
|
| Elevation
(metres) |
726 | 1 | 1420 |
| Slope
Gradient (%) |
30 | 0 | 70 |
|
Aspect (degrees) |
192 | 35 | 360 |
| Soil
Moisture Regime (SMR) [0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic; 8 - hydric] |
3 | 1 | 7 |
| Modal
Nutrient Regime
Class |
C | ||
| #
of field plots species was recorded in: |
63 | ||
| Modal
BEC Zone Class |
CWH | ||
|
All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in |
CDF(1), CWH(29), ESSF(1), ICH(17), IDF(3), MH(7), MS(1) | ||
|
Source:
Klinkenberg 2013
|
|||
Habitat and Range
Moist to dry forests in the lowland, steppe and montane zones; frequent throughout BC, especially along the coast, south of 55 degrees N, rare northward; N to SE AK and S to WY, ID and CA.Status Information
Synonyms
Synonyms and Alternate Names:
Corallorhiza maculata subsp. mertensiana (Bong.) Calder & Roy L. Taylor
Corallorrhiza maculata subsp. mertensiana (Bong.) Calder & Taylor [orthographic variant]
Corallorrhiza mertensiana Bong. [orthographic variant]