Pacific Coralroot, Spotted Coralroot, Spotted Coral Root, Summer Coralroot: Corallorhiza maculata (Synonyms: Corallorhiza maculata var. immaculata, Corallorhiza maculata var. maculata, Corallorhiza maculata var. occidentalis)

Inflorescence of spotted coralroot as seen under conifer forest along the Butte Camp Trail #238A, Mount Saint Helens National Monument...........July 9, 2013.

Spotted coralroot is a small flowered orchid which grows to 40 cm tall. The plant is purplish to reddish in color, although it may be a somewhat yellow-tannish color as an albino form. The flowers number up to 30, and may be well spaced to crowded on the upper stem. The sepals are from 8 to 10 mm long, and narrowly oblong to narrowly oblanceolate in shape. The spur found on Corallorhiza mertensiana is absent or greatly reduced on this species.

The petals are slightly shorter than the sepals. The lower petal lip is white, with red spots covering it.

Corallorhiza maculata may be identified from Corallorhiza mertensiana by its generally lighter red coloration, white lower lip with red spots, and greatly reduced or absent spur.

Spotted coralroot is found from British Columbia east to Quebec, and south through Michigan through the western United States to Utah, New Mexico, and northern Mexico.

Spotted coralroot as seen under conifer forest along the Butte Camp Trail #238A, Mount Saint Helens National Monument...........July 23, 2017.

Spotted coralroots in bloom along the Castle Rock Trail #3506, Willamette National Forest.........June 24, 2018.

Spotted coralroots in bloom along the Butte Camp Trail #238A about one-half mile uphill from the meadows at Butte Camp, Mount Saint Helens National Volcanic Monument.......July 12, 2021.

Spotted coralroots (var. occidentalis) spotted in bloom along the McClellan Meadows Trail #157 several miles west of the Indian Heaven Wilderness, Gifford Pinchot National Forest........July 4, 2020.

Spotted coralroots (var. maculata) in bloom in coniferous forest atop the long ridgeline of Monte Cristo, Gifford Pinchot National Forest.......June 18, 2021.

Spotted coralroots (var. occidentalis) with expanded tip of the lower lip petal seen along the Pacific Crest Trail #2000 between the junction of the Cedar Creek Trail #149A and Big Huckleberry Mountain, Gifford Pinchot National Forest......June 23, 2024.