Corallorhiza maculata var. occidentalis

This is the Western Spotted Coralroot, distinguished from the ordinary Spotted Coralroot by the shape of the lip. All the Coralroots are leafless and without chlorophyll, deriving their nourishment via a fungus from decaying plant material in the soil.

As usual we are out orchid hunting at every opportunity and this was photographed during an afternoon walk in Sehome Hill Arboretum in Bellingham, next door to Western Washington University. We found three orchids in the Arboretum that day, including several Fairy Slippers and some Striped Coralroots.

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