Hexalectris

Crested coralroot
Hexalectris spicata
Scientific classification Edit this classification
Kingdom: Plantae
Clade: Tracheophytes
Clade: Angiosperms
Clade: Monocots
Order: Asparagales
Family: Orchidaceae
Subfamily: Epidendroideae
Tribe: Epidendreae
Subtribe: Bletiinae
Genus: Hexalectris
Raf.
Type species
Hexalectris spicata
(Walter) Barnhart

Hexalectris (crested coralroot)[1] is a genus of the family Orchidaceae, comprising 10 known species of fully myco-heterotrophic orchids.[2] These species are found in North America, with the center of diversity in northern Mexico.[3] None of the species are particularly common.[4] Hexalectris spicata has a wide distribution and is likely the most abundant member of the genus, but is nevertheless infrequent throughout its range.[4] Other species are rare, and some, such as H. colemanii, are threatened or endangered.[5] All species that have been studied form associations with ectomycorrhizal fungi that are likely linked to surrounding trees.[6] Many Hexalectris species are found in association with oak trees (Quercus), which are ectomycorrhizal.[7]

  1. ^ USDA, NRCS (n.d.). "Hexalectris". The PLANTS Database (plants.usda.gov). Greensboro, North Carolina: National Plant Data Team. Retrieved 14 May 2015.
  2. ^ "Flora of North America".
  3. ^ Kew World Checklist of Selected Plant Families
  4. ^ a b Luer, Carlyle A (1975). The native orchids of the United States and Canada, excluding Florida. New York: New York Botanical Garden. OCLC 1348145.
  5. ^ Kennedy, Aaron H.; Watson, Linda E. (2010). "Species Delimitations and Phylogenetic Relationships within the Fully Myco-heterotrophic Hexalectris (Orchidaceae)". Systematic Botany. 35 (1): 64–76. doi:10.1600/036364410790862489. S2CID 85734959.
  6. ^ Kennedy, Aaron H.; Taylor, D. Lee; Watson, Linda E. (2011-03-01). "Mycorrhizal specificity in the fully mycoheterotrophic Hexalectris Raf. (Orchidaceae: Epidendroideae)". Molecular Ecology. 20 (6): 1303–1316. doi:10.1111/j.1365-294x.2011.05000.x. ISSN 1365-294X. PMID 21255173. S2CID 17740766.
  7. ^ Coleman, Ronald A. (2005). "Populations Studies in Dichromanthus and Hexalectris in Southeastern Arizona". Selbyana. 26 (1/2): 246–250. JSTOR 41760196.