The second big group of orchids has a special form of roots, called rhizoms, as storage organs. The most of them have creeping rhizoms which can create runners and develop many daughter plants. Epipactis and Cypripedium belong to this group. Goodyera creates runners above the surface of the earth, like strawberries. All of these orchids tend to form large colonies soon.
Some orchids have very weird rhizoms. The tangled or coral shaped rhizoms of Neottia, Corallorhiza and others are real mycorhizoms and belong to orchids which are very dependent on a fungus. The weird shape of the rhizoms has probably the purpose to increase their surface. These orchids may also have the ability to create runners.
