Corallorhiza mertensiana fma. pallida

Another of the orchids from our Greenwater hikes. This is the Western Coralroot, Corallorhiza mertensiana, and the pale form of that species. It is aptly named the Western Coralroot since it is only found west of the Rocky Mountains. It is leafless and without chlorophyll but variable in color, the stems ranging from grayish-white though yellow, tan, brown, pink and reddish-purple, and the flowers also coming in a range of colors and color combinations. The link below shows many of these different color forms and the picture one of the darkest forms.

nativeorchidsofthepacificnorthwest.blogspot.com/2012/09/c...