CEPHALANTHERA

Plants generally green (white in North America sp.)
Stem ± scapose
Leaves mostly scale- or bract-like
Inflorescence: raceme; flower bract < flower, scale-like
Flower: sepals free, lower generally ascending, ± curved over column and lip; lateral petals generally > lip; lip generally narrowed at middle, concave or folded below middle, tip ± spreading to reflexed; column subcylindric, anther head-like, short-stalked
Fruit generally erect
Species in genus: ± 15 species: especially Eurasia
Etymology: (Greek: head-like anther)
Some species ± subterranean; closely related to Epipactis.

Native

C. striata Lindl.

STRIPED CORALROOT

Plant 15–50 cm
Stem generally red-brown to purplish (yellowish)
Flower: sepals 6–17 mm, generally yellowish pink to pale brown, with 3–5 longitudinal, reddish to purplish stripes, lower curved forward; lateral petals ± sepal-like; lip 8–15 mm, entire, pale yellow-brown to reddish; column 4–7 mm, purple-spotted
Fruit 12–25 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=42
Ecology: Open to shaded coniferous forest, in decomposing leaf litter
Elevation: 100–2200 m.
Bioregional distribution: Northwestern California (except Inner North Coast Ranges), Cascade Range, Sierra Nevada (except Tehachapi Mountain Area), sw San Francisco Bay Area
Distribution outside California: to British Columbia, e Canada, n Mexico
Plants from SN with sepals 6–10 mm have been called var. vreelandii (Rydb.) L.O. Williams.

Native

C. trifida Chatel.

NORTHERN CORALROOT

Plant 8–30 cm
Stem (greenish) yellow
Flower: sepals 4.5–6 mm, generally 1-veined, white or yellowish, lower curved forward; lateral petals ± sepal-like; lip 3–4.5 mm, white, sometimes faintly red-spotted, base generally short-lobed or toothed, finely crenate above middle; column 2.5–6 mm, white or yellowish
Fruit 8–14 mm
Chromosomes: 2n=42
Ecology: Wet, open to shaded, generally coniferous forest
Elevation: 1400–1700 m.
Bioregional distribution: n High Sierra Nevada (Plumas Co.)
Distribution outside California: to Alaska, e US, New Mexico