Corallorhiza mertensiana, Merten's Coral Root
Columbia Gorge, Oregon
Coralroots are in the Orchid family and, thus - almost by definition, beautiful in form and color. Unfortunately for orchid growers they are extremely difficult to cultivate. The reason for this is both straightforward and fascinating (remembering my opening line). Coralroots are parasitic. They do not produce chlorophyll. They do not perform photosynthesis. A mycorrhizal fungi grows in their rhizomes and they rely entirely on the fungi for their subsistence. They do not have leaves. They do not have roots. The more I see the products of natural selection the more I am in absolute awe of the concept that “given enough time....”.
I have often been heard to say that “all generalizations are false” (a self-refuting idea - you know you are in trouble when someone agrees with you after you make the statement). In the subject case, a nubbin of truth is in that self-negating statement, one species of the genus - Corallorhiza trifida, does have some chlorophyll and is able to produce some of its own food.
