A closeup of the recently blooming Ozetta Coralroot. From what I have read, the primary distinction between var. ozettenis and var. occidentalis is the ratio between the tip and the base of the lobe. Ozetta has a ratio of 1.5 or less whereas occidentalis (Western Spotted Coralroot) has a ratio of greater than 1.5. this looks closer to 1.5 or less to me but I didn't actually measure it.

A slightly zoomed out shot of the same orchid as in image 1. The lower flowers were still coming into their own.

Further along the trail I found this beautiful specimen. To my untrained eye it also looks like a Ozetta Coralroot vs a Western Spotted Coralroot. The notch at the end of the lip was gone though and it was more rounded so it could possibly be var. maculata...I'm no botanist so please correct me if I'm wrong. I just love that they get their food from fungi! Even if it might be more of a parasitic relationship vs mutually beneficial, it's still pretty rad. I like to think of it as being an investment on part of the russula fungi. It's their little flower garden they are flagging humans to let them know that they had enough energy to grow these flowers in the spring, so as long as we get some water come look for some nice shrimpy russala in the late summer/ fall.

This was the first time I've "spotted" #SpottedCoralroot sans SPOTS!

I believe these specimens might be the #RareOrchid Corallorhiza maculata var. ozettensis.

I love how these non-photosynthesizing #Mycotropic plants get their food from a relationship with russula fungi. 🍄📸 🌱
#OzetteCoralRoot