Unidentified saprophytic plant

[Anonymous]

From: Jesse Jones, jessito@yahoo.com
Date: 09/07/00
Time: 06:28 PM


I have found a plant in the Tahoe area that is apparently not in Weeden's flora. It is a saprophytic, non-green plant with flowers that look just like Pyrola strictas, but the inflorescences have fewer flowers and the stems are pale, pink, as are the flowers. Any advice on how to identify this?

[Anonymous]

From: Carol Witham, cwitham@ncal.net
Date: 09/11/00
Time: 05:31 PM


Hi Jesse,

I don't know a Pyrola strictas from the Sierra. Do you perhaps mean P. Picta? If so, The Jepson Manual describes this species as variable and that it may hybridize with other species. The plant can be leafless and as I recall... pink.

Hope this helps!

Cheers, Carol