Snowplant, Sarcodes sanguinea (21853149104)

Description:

Summary[edit] Description: snowplant, Sarcodes sanguinea, Sierra Nevada, Humboldt Toiyabe National Forest, elevation 1755 m (5760 ft). Also visible are cones and needles of Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi). Endemic to the Californian Floristic Province, this saprophytic plant in the heath family lives off of decaying organic matter in the soil via fungal intermediaries. It emerges during or soon after seasonal snowmelt, while the soil is still moist enough to support good fungal activity. In photographs the plant can almost look like plastic to those unfamiliar with it!. Date: 2 May 2015, 15:15. Source: snowplant, Sarcodes sanguinea. Author: Jim Morefield from Nevada, USA. Camera location38° 41′ 56.51″ N, 119° 49′ 48.29″ W View all coordinates using: OpenStreetMap 38.699030; -119.830081.