The range of C. maculata in Manitoba extends from the US border in the south, to a line drawn in an east-west orientation approximately 850 km to the north. Habitats vary from deciduous forests and mixed coniferous/deciduous forests to predominantly coniferous forests - usually jackpine. A reasonably dry substrate is the one element that is common through all habitats. Provincial parks like Turtle Mountains, Duck Mountains and Birds Hill provide excellent habitat for this orchid.

C. maculata, like other coralroot orchids, does not produce green leaves like most plants. They are "mycoheterotrophic" receiving their nutrition from other plants by way of specific mycorrhizal fungi. The plant lives underground as a rhizome, sending leafless flowering stems above ground during appropriate seasons.

Although it was noted that there were distinct differences in blooming times between populations of this species, it wasn't until 1997, that Dr John Freudenstein completed a comprehensive study of this species. In his published report, he described two distinct varieties of Corallorhiza maculata: variety occidentalis (western spotted coralroot) and variety maculata (spotted coralroot). He noted that var maculata bloomed from one to four weeks later than var occidentalis.

Morphologically these varieties can be separated by careful examination of the flowering stem with a magnifying glass or loupe. The distinguishing features are found primarily in the floral bracts and the labellum (lip) of the flower.

The floral bracts of var occidentalis are 1 to 4mm long, 1 to 2 mm wide and are usually forked. The floral bracts of var maculata are 0.5 to 1 mm long, 0.5 to 0.9 mm wide and are usually entire. The labellum of var occidentalis is strongly dilated with the ratio of widest width to base width greater than 1.5. The labellum of var maculata may be slightly dilated or non-dilated having parallel sides with the ratio of widest width to base width less than 1.5.

Both varieties of C. maculata are found in our province. Variety occidentalis is considered common, while variety maculata is very rare. The author has found only one location for variety maculata in Manitoba. In contrast, more than 50 sites of variety occidentalis have been encountered. Dr John Freudenstein, has referenced two specimens of variety maculata collected in Manitoba. One location is in the Grand Rapids area in central Manitoba, the other at Riding Mountain National Park in western Manitoba. A photograph of variety maculata, taken in Turtle Mountain Provincial Park by Ian Ward, appears in the book "Orchids of Manitoba - a field guide".

The Manitoba herbarium specimens reported by Dr Freudenstein were collected in bloom in August which occidentalis. However, specimens photographed by both the author and Ward (personal communication) were found blooming coincidentally with var occidentalis observed in the same area. The blooming date of var occidentalis in Manitoba extends from mid-June to mid-July.

Variety occidentalis throughout its range in Manitoba, has been observed in several colour forms. These include: stem, petals and sepals flesh-coloured, the lip white, spotted with purple; stem, petals and sepals red, the lip white, spotted with purple; stem, petals and sepals yellow, the lip white, unspotted. Intermediate colour forms have been observed as well.

Variety maculata, based on the limited number of specimens observed in the province, have all had flesh-coloured petals and sepals, and a white lip spotted with purple.