[pct-l] Snow Plant

[cmkudija at earthlink.net (cmkudija@earthlink.net)]

Okay, gotta weigh in on this one...

The snow plant, Sarcodes sanguinea, is most definitely NOT A FUNGUS, but is
a true flowering plant generally lumped into the heath family (Ericaceae) -
related to manzanitas, rhododendrons, heathers, etc.  It is indeed a
saprophyte, meaning that it does not make chlorophyll and thus cannot
photosynthesize (simply, use light energy to make food)  it survives by
deriving energy from decaying plant or animal matter.  Parasites, by
comparison, often send roots into the host plant and such out carbohydrates
that the host plant makes.  Hemiparasites, like some species of mistletoe,
may both photosynthesize themselves and draw nutrients and water from the
host plant.   Check out this description:
http://reference.allrefer.com/encyclopedia/S/saprophy.html

Getting back to the PCT - you'll find snow plants in conifer forests in
spring.  For more lovely info and photos, including an individual flower,
see http://www.calflora.net/bloomingplants/snowplant.html  .  The last time
I checked they were federally listed as rare & endangered - so don't harvest
them to eat the edible root.  (see Norman Weeden's Sierra Nevada Flora for
that info).

Thanks for the opportunity to refresh my memory cells!

Christine "Ceanothus" Kudija
PCT partially '94

-----Original Message-----
From: pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net
[mailto:pct-l-bounces@mailman.backcountry.net]On Behalf Of Eric Yakel
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2004 4:24 PM
To: pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
Subject: [pct-l] Snow Plant

It's actually a fungus.
                                Eric
_______________________________________________
pct-l mailing list
pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net
unsubscribe or change options:
http://mailman.hack.net/mailman/listinfo/pct-l