Wednesday, June 10, 2009
Sarcodes sanguinea
This striking flower is a parsitic plant!
Not only that, it is parasitic on fungi.
To explain further....
Sarcodes snguinea is a member of a parasitic group from the Ericaceae (blueberry, cranberry, azalea, heath & heather plant family) and grows underground by parasitically tapping into the nutrient supplies of a single species of Rhizopogon, a mycorrhizal fungus...that is to say a fungus in a symbiotic relationship with a conifer.
Pretty specific plant.
Sarcodes sanguinea is found in the Sierra Nevada region. My Dad and brother were there hiking, found this strange plant, and emailed it to me.
When I showed it to Adam, he said he saw some in Yosemite 3 years ago and showed me pictures, too!
It's common name is the snow plant.
Here and here are links for more info.
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1 comment:
speaking of really cool plants--this website has free printable, extremely high res images of basically everything. i thought you might enjoy perusing the fungi:
http://vintageprintable.com/wordpress/vintage-printable-botanical-mushrooms-fungi-algae-other-non-vascular/
print one out poster size at a kinkos, pop it into a frame, and voila: really inexpensive, unique artwork for a wall that needs a little something.
cheers!
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