|
Pterospora
andromedea
(Pinedrops) Synonym: Ericaceae (Heath Family), Monotropaceae (Pinesap Family) Montane. Woodlands. Spring. Having no chlorophyll, Pinedrops make their living as parasites on the roots of conifers in dry forests. These young Pinedrops, growing in a Ponderosa forest, have probably been showing above the forest floor for no more than a week. They will continue their rapid growth and, depending on the moisture available, will attain a height of one to three feet. "Pterospora" is Greek for "winged seeds". "Andro" is Greek for "male" and "medea" for "genitals". Thomas Nuttall named this genus and this species in 1818 . |
||
|
Pterospora
andromedea
(Pinedrops) Synonym: Ericaceae (Heath Family), Monotropaceae (Pinesap Family) Montane. Woodlands. Spring. The plants at left are over two feet tall and probably will grow another eight inches. Flowers at the bottom of the flower stalk open first.
|
||
|
Pterospora
andromedea
(Pinedrops) Synonym: Ericaceae (Heath Family), Monotropaceae (Pinesap Family) Montane. Woodlands. Spring. |
||
|
Pterospora
andromedea (Pinedrops) Montane. Woodlands. Spring. Pinedrops turn various shades of reds and yellows in the fall and then wither brown and remain a strange sight until crushed and dissolved by snow, or they may stand, as in this photograph, into the next growing season. |
||
|
Pterospora
andromedea
(Pinedrops) Montane. Woodlands. Spring. Maroon Pinedrops capsules split open and spill a myriad of minute seeds, each with a wing about 5 times as large as the seed. The buff-colored wings, not the seeds, are visible on my fingers. |
Range map © John Kartesz,
County Color Key
|
Range map for Pterospora andromedea |
Species present in state and native
Species present in state and exotic
Species not present in state
Species present and not rare
Species present and rare
Species extirpated (historic)
Species extinct
Species noxious
Species exotic and present
Eradicated
Questionable presence