I have, on only one occasion seen, witnessed and observed a Western Coralroot orchid Corallorhiza maculata ssp. mertensiana in it’s native habitat. There was only one.  A delicate pinkish white candy-striped stem no more than 6 inches tall.  Nestled in a mossy grove under a great doug fir in the Cascade foothills.  It was like finding treasure.  While orchids make up one of the largest plant species (ca. 23,000) they are mostly found in tropical zones.

Here in the Northwest we only have a dozen or so which is what makes them so special.  From the Mountain Ladyslipper Cypripedium montanum to the Heart Leaved Twayblade Listera cordata.  These aren’t the flashy, impress your date corsage orchids, and you may just not even notice some of them unless you are looking real hard, or, like in my case, get lucky.  All are deserving of up-close inspection to enjoy their delicate intricacies. Please note that many of our orchids have established complex relationships between their roots and other fungi in the forest floor.  Please make sure to take care when observing.

I discovered the Po-mac about a decade ago. Po-mac being slang for the authors of Plants of the Pacific Northwest Coast written by Jim Pojar and Andy MacKinnon. There are other books on the subject, but this is my all time favorite for this region. A favorite family pastime has been to grab this book, grab some snacks, and explore, on a hike, in a vacant lot, or even in the back yard. My kids have been caught reading this book all on their own. It’s got great pictures, and great facts. This book has been invaluable in encouraging our kids to go hiking. We have many precious memories of our native plant treasure hunts. If you are interested in owning a copy you can pick it up at here for around $18.00. It’s worth every penny!

Pete Skenandore
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