Diagnostic Characteristics
From Freudenstein and Senyo (2008): Corallorhiza bentleyi is similar to C. striata in its floral structure, but the flowers of the former are much smaller than those of eastern North American C. striata var. striata and are most similar to those from small-flowered populations of the species from southern Mexico, which are known as C. striata var. involuta. Corallorhiza bentleyi also flowers much later than C. striata (late July as opposed to early June), also resembling the southern Mexican populations.
Habitat
Appalachian deciduous forest, often at edges of forest in somewhat disturbed sites; 800 m.
For example, interface between mixed upland hardwood forest and road right-of-way. Associates include Amphicarpaea bracteata, Tussilago farfara, Coronilla varia, Dioscorea quaternata, Prunella vulgaris, Dactylis glomerata, Dichanthelium boscii, Conopholis americana, Maianthemum racemosum, Potentilla canadensis, Carex digitalis, C. debilis, Asplenium platyneuron, Viola hastata, Allium tricoccum, Pilea sp., Osmunda cinnamomea, Polystichum acrostichoides, Lespedeza cuneata, Microstegium vimineum, Chamaelirium luteum, Goodyera pubescens, Botrychium virginianum, Hypericum mutilum, Prenanthes sp., Galax urceolata, Gaultheria procumbens, Smilax glauca, Kalmia latifolia, Rhododendron maximum, Quercus coccinea, Q. prinus, Q. rubra, Q. montana, Liriodendron tulipifera, Acer rubrum, A. pennsylvanicum, Tsuga canadensis, Pinus strobus, Magnolia acuminata, Nyssa sylvatica, Sassafras albidum, Cornus florida, Oxydendrum arboreum, Castanea dentata, Lindera benzoin, Rosa multiflora, etc. Plants seem to be near or in weedy zone next to road.