Species: Corallorhiza striata Lindl.

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Corallorhiza striata Lindl.

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TAXONOMY

Family:

Orchidaceae

Genus:

Corallorhiza

Species Synonyms:

none

Common Names:

striped coralroot

DISTRIBUTION

Canada:

British Columbia – southern Alberta – southern Saskatchewan – Manitoba – Ontario – eastern Quebec

Saskatchewan:

central – southern Saskatchewan; Meadow Lake – Pasquia Hills – Cypress Hills

Ecoregion:

Cypress Upland, Aspen Parkland, Boreal Transition, Mid-Boreal Upland, Mid-Boreal Lowland

HABITAT

Saskatchewan:

aspen woods

Associated species:

Betula papyrifera, Lathyrus sp., Picea glauca, Populus balsamea

RARITY STATUS

Provincial Status According
to Harms (2003):

Vulnerable

Nature Conservancy Status:

G5 S2S3

Saskatchewan Species at
Risk Status:

None

COSEWIC Status:

None

Corallorhiza striata is vulnerable in Saskatchewan because it is almost always locally sparse and possible threats have been identified for this species. However, this species is apparently secure and occurs in numerous localities in the central and southern part of the province.

SPECIES DESCRIPTION

Height:

15 – 40 cm

Stems:

scapose, stout, not bulbous at base, purplish to yellowish-brown

Leaves:

reduced to sheathing scales

Inflorescence:

5 – 15 cm long, 2 – 35-flowered, dense to lax; bracts tiny, 2 – 3 mm long; pedicels 1 – 3 mm long

Flowers:

perianth spreading to connivent; calyx and corolla 8 – 16 mm long, lanceolate to oblanceolate, reddish-purple or yellow with 3 – 5 darker purple veins, spur absent; labellum tongue-shaped, upturned, thickened, margins deep red with white or yellow at base or yellow throughout, usually purple-striped; column slender, 2 – 5 mm long, yellow, may be spotted with red, curved upward; ovary 3 – 8.5 mm long

Fruits:

capsules 1 – 2 cm long, ellipsoid

CORALLORHIZA KEY FOR SPECIES FOUND IN SASKATCHEWAN

1 Calyx and corolla distinctly striped; labellum with upturned margins	C. striata
1 Calyx and corolla plain or spotted; labellum without upturned margins	2

2 Labellum distinctly purple spotted, calyx and corolla greenish, calyx 3-nerved; stems purplish	C. maculata
2 Labellum plain or lightly red spotted, calyx and corolla yellowish, calyx 1-nerved; stems yellowish	C. trifida