Early Coralroot Corallorhiza trifida This interesting little orchid is common and can be found in most woodland environments as well as in wet meadows. I have seen it in ditches and in an acid bog near East Braintree, along the trails in Birds Hill Park, off the #203 near Woodridge and in the cedar bog at Gull Lake.

It grows about 15-30cm high and blooms May to July. Like all the Coralroots it has no roots or leaves. The rhizome is a branched lump of tissue with hairs. This is the reason for the name "coralroot". The plant is saprophytic and absorbs nutrients produced by fungi in the soil. For this reason, it is impossible to transplant. In place of leaves, there are a few overlapping bracts on the lower part of the greenish-yellow stem.

The flowers have greenish-white petals and a white three-lobed lip. The name "trifida" refers to the lip. There is a variety in Manitoba that has purple spots on the lip. The green color in this plant leads one to believe that it may be getting some of its energy from photosynthesis.

The pods produced in August are large for the size of the flowers. They hang down and away from the stem at an angle. This orchid often grows in clumps and their glowing yellow stems stand out against a wooded background.