Sugarstick
Ericaceae
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The Basics
Taxonomy: Kingdom - Plantae (plants). Subkingdom - Viridiplantae (Green plants). Superdivision - Embryophyta. Division - Tracheophyta (Vascular plants). Class - Magnoliopsida. Order - Ericales. Family - Ericaceae. Genus -Allotropa Torr. & A. Gray. Species - Allotropa virgata Torr. & A. Gary
Habitat: Occurs in mature, moist, shaded, oak, mixed or coniferous forests from 75 to 3,000 meters.
Identification
Sugarstick (Allotropa virgata), attains a height of 50 centimeters or less. The plant is glabrous. The leaves are scale-like on the flower stalk (peduncle). The flower stalk is distinct in its white and red or maroon stripes from which the common name Sugarstick follows. The inflorescence is a raceme of densely arranged flowers. The flowers are white and are turned outward or upward. The fruit is a capsule. Once ripened, seed is released through a slit occurring from the base to the tip. The plant is persistent after the seeds have dispersed.
Unique Features
This plant is referred to as a Monotropoideae, which is a unique group of plants that do not have chlorophyll and are incapable of photosynthesis. These plants obtain nutrients and carbohydrate from fungi that are associated with their roots and with the roots of various species of conifer or hardwood trees. The fungi are known as mycorrhizae and transport nutrients and photosynthate from host trees to the non-photosynthetic Allotropa virgata.
Distribution
Sugarstick has a geographic distribution in the western United States, California, and Nevada north to Washington and east to Montana, where it is commonly encountered.
Species Distribution
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Citation
USDA Plants Database
USDA, NRCS. 2016. The PLANTS Database. National Plant Data Team, Greensboro, NC 27401-4901 USA.
USFS Plant Database
Habeck, R. J. 1992. In: Fire Effects Information System, [Online]. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station, Fire Sciences Laboratory.
Flora of North America
Flora of North America Editorial Committee, eds. 1993+. Flora of North America North of Mexico. 19+ vols. New York and Oxford.
Integrated Taxonomic Information System
Allotropa virgata
Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture
Burke Museum. 2016. University of Washington.