Wister's Coralroot

(Corallorrhiza wisteriana)

Wister's Coralroot (Corallorrhiza wisteriana  Conrad)

Identification: Plants saprophytes or parasites on tree roots, without chlorophyll or functional leaves. Flowers small, white and dull purple. Lower petal with a rounded, not ragged, outer margin and dark purple spots. Flowers arranged in a terminal spike. Stem dull red. Leaves reduced to sheathing scales at the base of the stem. Root greatly convoluted. Plant 8 to 20 inches in height.

Distribution: Pennsylvania to Ohio and Illinois in the north, southward to Florida and Texas. Also occurs in the central United States and the Rocky Mountain region.

Habitat: Wister's Coralroot is a woodland species.

Flowering period: March to May.

Similar Species: There are several species of Corallorrhiza in eastern North America. The lower petal of Spotted Coralroot has a ragged outer margin. The flower of Striped Coralroot (Corallorrhiza striata) (not treated here) is white with fine green lines. The flower of Northern Coralroot (Corallorrhiza trifida) (not treated here) is white without either spots or lines.