Mertens’ Coral Root (Corallorhiza mertensiana)

Iron Mountain, OR, 7/2014.

Much like Spotted Coral Root, only without the spots, this plant is sometime called “Western Coral Root”.  The leafless  member of the orchid family is common in northwest conifer forests for much of the summer.  We see these and pinesap more than any other saprophytic/mycototrophic plants.

Iron Mountain, OR, 7/2014.