Phantom Orchid
(Cephalanthera austiniae)
The Phantom Orchid is one of our rarer orchids.
It is unique in several ways.
It is the only North American species that is always white.
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
Cephalanthera is primarily a European and Asian genus.
The Phantom Orchis is the only Cephalanthera species in North America.