| Corallorhiza | |
|---|---|
| |
| Corallorhiza trifida | |
Scientific classification 
| |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| Clade: | Tracheophytes |
| Clade: | Angiosperms |
| Clade: | Monocots |
| Order: | Asparagales |
| Family: | Orchidaceae |
| Subfamily: | Epidendroideae |
| Tribe: | Epidendreae |
| Subtribe: | Calypsoinae |
| Genus: | Corallorhiza Gagnebin |
| Type species | |
| Corallorhiza trifida | |
| Synonyms | |
| |
Corallorhiza, the coralroot, is a genus of flowering plants in the orchid family. Except for the circumboreal C. trifida,[1] the genus is restricted to North America (including Mexico, Central America and the West Indies).[2][3][4]
Most species are putatively parasitic, relying entirely upon mycorrhizal fungi within their coral-shaped rhizomes for sustenance. Because of this dependence on myco-heterotrophy, they have never been successfully cultivated. Most species are leafless and rootless. Most species produce little or no chlorophyll, and do not utilize photosynthesis. An exception is the yellowish green species Corallorhiza trifida, which has some chlorophyll and is able to fix CO2. However, this species also depends primarily on fungal associations for carbon acquisition.[5][6]
- ^ Altervista Flora Italiana, Coralloriza, Yellow Coralroot, Corallorhiza trifida
- ^ Flora of North America, Corallorhiza, v 26 p 633
- ^ Freudenstein, J. V. 1997. A monograph of Corallorhiza (Orchidaceae). Harvard Pap. Bot. 1(10): 5–51.
- ^ Gagnebin, Abraham. 1755. Acta Helvetica, Physico-Mathematico-Anatomico-Botanico-Medica 2: 61.
- ^ Zimmer, K., et al. (2008). The ectomycorrhizal specialist orchid Corallorhiza trifida is a partial myco-heterotroph. New Phytologist 178:2 395-400.
- ^ Cameron, Duncan D.; Preiss, Katja; Gebauer, Gerhard; Read, David J. (2009-07-01). "The chlorophyll-containing orchid Corallorhiza trifida derives little carbon through photosynthesis". New Phytologist. 183 (2): 358–364. doi:10.1111/j.1469-8137.2009.02853.x. ISSN 1469-8137. PMID 19402877.