Corallorhiza trifida Chatel.

• Authority

  Gleason, Henry A. & Cronquist, Arthur J. 1991. Manual of vascular plants of northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. lxxv + 910 pp.

• Family

  Orchidaceae

• Scientific Name

  Corallorhiza trifida Châtel.

• Description

  Species Description - Stem 1–3 dm, yellowish to greenish; infl 2–8 cm; fls 5–15; sep and lateral pet yellowish-green, to light purplish, lanceolate, 4–5 mm, 1-nerved (or the pet weakly 3-nerved), the lateral sep extending forward under or alongside the lip; spur none; lip 3.5–5 mm, white, sometimes purple-spotted, with 2 short lateral lobes below the middle and 2 short parallel ridges on the face, the terminal lobe truncate and deflexed, 1.5–2 mm wide; 2n=42. Wet woods; circumboreal, s. in Amer. to N.J., Pa., Ill., Mo., and N.M. May–July. (C. corallorhiza) The more southern phase of the sp. (and the common form in our range), with unspotted lip, has been segregated as var. verna (Nutt.) Fernald from the more northern and circumboreal form with spotted lip.

• Common Names

  northern coral-root