[pct-l] Snow Plants

[scourtway at bpa-arch.com (Steve Courtway)]

I've only seen them twice or so, once on the momyer trail up the flanks of
san gorgonio, and the large bed I viewed ascending bear ridge - both times
right around 7,000 ft. elevation spring and early summer.  A rare sighting
makes a trip.

----- Original Message -----
From: <cmkudija@earthlink.net>
To: "Eric Yakel" <eyakel@earthlink.net>; <pct-l@mailman.backcountry.net>
Sent: Thursday, February 19, 2004 7:33 PM
Subject: RE: [pct-l] Snow Plant


> 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
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