Pinesap (Hypopitys monotropa)

Timberline trail near McNeil point, Mount Hood, OR, 8/2014.

Along with Mertens’ Coral Root, one of the more common, and less attractive of the chlorophyll lacking plants in northwest forests. We still call these plants saprophytic, but botanists now call them mycotrophic. Pinesap can very in color; the stems can range from pale yellow to salmon. Also the stems begin bent over, as above, then straighten as the flowers become fruits, as below. This is also true for its close relative, Indian Pipe. Also like Indian Pipe, the flowers/fruits blacken with age. Pinesap is common in many parts of the U.S. and Europe.