User:Casssmill/Corallorhiza maculata

Corallorhiza maculata
Corallorhiza maculata, commonly known as the spotted coralroot, large coralroot, or many-flowered coralroot, is a species of terrestrial orchid native to North America. Its scientific name is derived from the latin word Maculata, meaning “spotted,” in reference to its distinctive spotted markings on its petals. It has three recognized varieties: C. maculata var. occidentalis (western spotted coralroot), C. maculata var. maculata (eastern spotted coralroot), and C. maculata var. mexicana. The genus Corallorhiza is comprised of 11 species that are widely distributed across North America all of which are non-photosynthetic mycotrophic orchids who derive their nutrition through fungi. Each species develop rhizome structures that resemble coral, hence the plants’ common name. Spotted coralroot grows primarily in montane woodlands across Canada, the United States, and parts of Mexico. C. maculata is likely the most common orchid species in New Mexico, being documented in at least 20 counties and likely can be found throughout more counties that contain suitable habitats.

Description
Callorhiza maculata, is a species of non-photosynthetic mycotrophic orchid native to North America. The plant has a slender, unbranched stem that can grow between 10-51 cm tall. Due to its lack of photosynthetic capabilities, the stem typically appears in shades of tan, pink, red, yellow, or purple. The leaves are reduced to sheaths around the stem, and the plant produces a raceme of many small, tubular flowers. The plant is technically “rootless,” and grows from coral-like rhizomes under the soil. The rhizomes are mycotrophic, meaning that they depend on a symbiotic relationship with fungi for the plants survival. The fungi attach themselves to the rhizomes and provide the orchid with necessary nutrients such as carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus. The fungal associates of C. maculata are primarily from the Russulaceae family.

Flowers
The flowers of Corallorhiza maculata are relatively small, typically measuring less than 2 cm in length. Plants usually produce 15 to 30 flowers per plant, but up to 50 flowers per stem have been documented. Each flower is tubular in shape and has three petals, with a charismatic lip typical of many orchid species that is three lobed and stark white. Flowers emerge directly from the sides of the stem. Sepals and petals, like the stem, are usually lightly veined and spotted, brown, tan, pink, red, yellow or purple. Flowers are dotted in reddish-brown spots, giving the plant its common name. Blooming season extends between late May to mid-July.

Taxonomy
Corallorhiza maculata was first identified in 1817 in the Amer. Monthly Mag. & Crit. Rev. 2: 119 (1817). Additionally, after debate, C. maculata has three recognized varieties, all of which converge and are present in the southwestern United States. C. maculata var. maculata can be identified by the parallel sides on the middle lobe of the lip, as the other varieties lack the noticeable symmetry. C. maculata var. occidentalis has spots that speckle across its entire lip, whereas C. maculata var. mexicana has spots that gather near the lamellae at the edges of the central and lateral lobes. There is some debate in the literature regarding the classification of the varieties within C. maculata. Some authors argue that the morphological differences between the varieties are not significant enough to warrant separate classification, while others recognize them as distinct varieties based on their geographic distribution and subtle differences in flower structure. Additionally, there have been discussions around the taxonomic placement of certain populations of C. maculata, with some suggesting that they may represent distinct species or subspecies. Overall, however, the taxonomic classification of C. maculata is generally accepted within the scientific community.

Distribution & Habitat
Corallorhiza maculata is fairly ubiquitous across North America, occurring in many regions from Alaska and Canada down to parts of Mexico. It is commonly found in montane woodlands, including subapline habitats, coniferous forests, mixed deciduous-coniferous forests, and riparian woodlands at elevations between 6900 and 10,000 feet. Within these habitats, C. maculata typically grows in leaf litter or fallen logs, and needs bright light to medium shade. The species is generally absent from the Great Plains and lowland parts of the Southeast, but is otherwise widespread and common.

Pollination
Corallorhiza maculata portrays morphological evidence of being a self-pollinating orchid. This is because the pollinia are rotated 270 degrees onto the stigma and rapid withering of the flowers. Prior to withering, outcrossed pollination may be possible.

Mycorrhizae
Unlike other orchid species, C. maculata, is dependent on mycorrhizal associations throughout the duration of its lifetime. Since the mycorrhizal associations provide all key nutrition to the plant and does not receive a detectable benefit, Corallorhiza orchids are sometimes referred to as "cheating orchids ." Mycorrhizal associations are not random, and show both species and geographic specificity. Using specialized molecular techniques that use ITS restriction fragment length polymorphisms, 20 mycorrhizal species from the Russulaceae family were found to be the sole associates with C. maculata across 104 plants from 21 unique geographic populations. Differences in mycorrhizal fungal species associates were found to correlate strongly with geography and flower characteristics, suggesting that there is a non-random genotype-fungal relationship occurring.

Conservation status
Corallorhiza maculata is widespread and able to adapt to varied habitats. Thus, it is not currently threatened in any of its range. Much of C. maculata 's range resides within current protected wilderness areas, protecting the species from anthropogenic habitat loss and threat.

Uses
Several Native American groups historically used the orchid's stems dried and brewed as a tea for such maladies as colds, pneumonia, and skin irritation.

Corallorhiza maculata is also the topic of the poem On Going Unnoticed by Robert Frost.