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Pacific coralroot

Corallorhiza mertensiana

Pacific coralroot is a special plant that grows in shady, moist places. It doesn't have green leaves because it gets its food from fungi in the ground, making it very unique!

Habitat: Forests

Appearance

The Pacific coralroot has striking reddish-purple stems that emerge directly from the forest floor, lacking any green leaves. Its small, intricate flowers are usually reddish, often streaked with white or yellow, appearing in a loose cluster along the upper stem.

KingdomPlantaePhylumTracheophytaClassLiliopsidaOrderAsparagalesFamilyOrchidaceaeGenusCorallorhiza
Pacific coralroot
mycorrhizal trait badgenonvascular trait badgeshade_tolerant trait badgesymbiotic trait badge
Pacific coralroot

Category

Plants

Rarity

Common

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Snaps

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Interesting facts

Even though it's an orchid, it's one of the few that never makes its own food from the sun.

It got its name because its roots look like coral at the bottom of the sea!

Its tiny seeds are so small, over a million could fit in a thimble!

This plant can live for many years entirely underground before ever blooming into a flower!

Special abilities

Ability

Ghostly Appearance

This orchid has no green leaves, which helps it camouflage in dark forest undergrowth and saves energy by not needing to photosynthesize.

Ability

Dust Seed Power

Pacific coralroot has super tiny, dust-like seeds that are carried far and wide by the wind, helping it spread to new forest spots.

Measurements & details

Height
20-60 cm
Flower Size
0.5-1.5 cm
Bloom Season
Late spring to late summer
Edible
No
Toxicity
None
Lifecycle
Perennial
Pollination Method
Insect

Ecological connections

depends on

Western Hemlock

Tsuga heterophylla

Pacific coralroot depends on this tree for nutrients, transferred via fungi.

depends on

Douglas-fir

Pseudotsuga menziesii

Pacific coralroot also depends on this tree for nutrients, using shared fungal networks.

pollinates

Yellow-faced Bumblebee

Bombus vosnesenskii

This bumblebee pollinates Pacific coralroot by visiting its small, reddish flowers.

pollinates

Vinegar Fly

Drosophila busckii

This fly pollinates Pacific coralroot, attracted to the plant's unique floral scent.

Traits

Also known as

No aliases listed yet.

Collections

Safety

Danger

1/5 · Very low

Always look but don't touch plants in the wild, as some can be harmful.

Frequently Asked Questions

How tall is Pacific coralroot?

20-60 cm

How big are the flowers on Pacific coralroot?

0.5-1.5 cm

When does Pacific coralroot bloom?

Late spring to late summer

Is Pacific coralroot edible?

No

Is Pacific coralroot toxic?

None

What is Pacific coralroot's lifecycle?

Perennial

How is Pacific coralroot pollinated?

Insect

Where is Pacific coralroot usually found?

Forests

Snap Map

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Where to spot

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