Phantom Orchid

(Cephalanthera austiniae)

The Phantom Orchid is one of our rarer orchids.
It is unique in that:
1) It is the only North American species that is always white.
2) In the genus Cephalanthera the Phantom Orchid is the only species that is saprophytic
(that is, living off decaying material in the soil) and lacking in color
3) Cephalanthera is primarily a European and Asian genus.
The Phantom Orchis is the only Cephalanthera species in North America.

Phantom orchid obtains nutrients through partnership with fungi in the family Thelophoraceae
that in turn gets nutrients from a tree.

That is, the orchid obtains the nutrients from the Fungi
and the Fungi in turn gets nutrients from a tree.

Click Here for pictures from Herman Creek 6/4/14