We live in a lodgepole pine forest and this plant is popping up everywhere. Is this a fungus of some kind?
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Eastern Oregon Pine forest, in the Cascades rain shadow area. I drove through similar on the way to Fort Rock (weathered volcano tuff ring) before we broke out into the plains land.– Fiasco LabsCommented Jun 30, 2014 at 23:15
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1 Answer
Looks like Pterospora Andromeda. From wikipedia:
Pterospora, commonly known as pinedrops, Albany beechdrops, or giant bird's nest is a monotypic genus in the subfamily Monotropoidiae of the blueberry family, the Ericaceae, and includes only the species Pterospora andromedea.1 It grows in coniferous or mixed forests. It is native to North America from southern Canada to the mountains of Mexico and is most commonly found in the western half of the continent, though small isolated populations are found in the northeastern United States and eastern Canada. Along with Monotropa it is one of the more frequently encountered members of the Monotropoidiae.
Photo that looks very much like yours:
answered Jun 29, 2014 at 21:03
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1Similar to Ground Cone. Boschniakia, a homoparasitic plant that absorbs nutrients from tree and brush roots. Commented Jun 30, 2014 at 20:31
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I was also looking at Corallorhiza in an old book. Yours is correct, it has to be. Thank you!!– stormyCommented Jun 30, 2014 at 22:41