Share

Native Plant Database

Search for native plants by scientific name, common name or family. If you are not sure what you are looking for, try the Combination Search or our Recommended Species lists.

Search native plant database:
Name:    
Family:    

Pterospora andromedea (Pinedrops)
Miller, Holmes O.

Pterospora andromedea Nutt.

Pinedrops, Woodland pinedrops

Monotropaceae (Indian-Pipe Family)

USDA Symbol: PTAN2

USDA Native Status: Native to U.S.

The stiffly erect, leafless stems of this reddish-brown plant often grow in clusters, and are covered with glandular hairs. Pale yellowish-brown egg-shaped flowers hang in a long raceme.

Stems grow for only one year, but remain as dried stalks for several years. The genus name, from Greek words for winged seeds, refers to the net-like wing at one end of each minute seed that carries it to a new site as it is sprinkled from the capsule.

 

From the Image Gallery

Plant Characteristics

Duration: Perennial
Habit: Herb
Flower:
Fruit:

Bloom Information

Bloom Time: Jun , Jul , Aug

Distribution

USA: AZ , CA , CO , ID , MI , MT , NE , NH , NM , NV , NY , OR , SD , TX , UT , VT , WA , WI , WY
Canada: NB , PE
Native Distribution: Alaska south throughout West to northern Mexico; also from southeastern Canada to northeastern United States.
Native Habitat: Deep humus of coniferous forests; in the West especially common under ponderosa pine.
USDA Native Status: L48(N), CAN(N)

Benefit

Conspicuous Flowers: yes

Mr. Smarty Plants says

Weird-looking rootless plant, perhaps a fungus
August 23, 2008
While out it my backyard (i.e. the Black Hills of South Dakota), I spotted a weird-looking rootless plant (I think it may be a fungus) growing beneath the Ponderosa Pines. It was the only one in the a...
view the full question and answer

Recommended Species Lists

Find native plant species by state. Each list contains commercially available species suitable for gardens and planned landscapes. Once you have selected a collection, you can browse the collection or search within it using the combination search.

View Recommended Species page

Additional resources

USDA: Find Pterospora andromedea in USDA Plants
FNA: Find Pterospora andromedea in the Flora of North America (if available)
Google: Search Google for Pterospora andromedea

Metadata

Record Modified: 2007-01-01
Research By: TWC Staff

Go back