Pterospora andromedea Nutt.
pinedrops (woodland pinedrops)
Ericaceae (Crowberry family)
(Previously in Monotropaceae)

Introduction to Vascular Plants

Photograph

© Allan Carson     (Photo ID #47132)

Map

E-Flora BC Static Map

Distribution of Pterospora andromedea
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Species Information

General:
Perennial herb from a thick, ball-like, mass of roots; parasites on mycorrhizal fungi associated with trees; "stems" simple, erect, glandular-hairy and very sticky, 30-100 cm tall, reddish-brown; persistent after seed dispersal; lacking chlorophyll.
Leaves:
Scale-like, lanceolate to linear-lanceolate, thick, crowded and usually overlapping like shingles at the base of the stem.
Flowers:
Inflorescence a many-flowered terminal raceme, usually equal in length to the rest of the stem; flower stalks bent downward, 5-15 mm long, glandular-hairy; corollas urn-shaped, 5-8 mm long, glabrous, pale yellow, the lobes 5, short, curved back; calyces glandular-hairy, about half length of corolla, of 5 free sepals; stamens 10, the anthers awned.
Fruits:
Capsules, nearly globe-shaped, 8-12 mm broad.
Notes:
Stem and leaves can be considered part of the inflorescence.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

Illustration

If more than one illustration is available for a species (e.g., separate illustrations were provided for two subspecies) then links to the separate images will be provided below. Note that individual subspecies or varietal illustrations are not always available.

Ecology

Ecological Framework for Pterospora andromedea

The table below shows the species-specific information calculated from
original data (BEC database) provided by the BC Ministry of Forests and Range.
(Updated August, 2013)

Site Information
 Value / Class

Avg

Min

Max
Elevation (metres)
 850 200 1824
Slope Gradient (%)
 25 0 90

Aspect (degrees)
[0 - N; 90 - E; 180 - S; 270 - W]

 194 10 354
Soil Moisture Regime (SMR)
[0 - very xeric; 4 - mesic;
8 - hydric] 		3 1 6
Modal Nutrient Regime
Class
 B
# of field plots
 species was recorded in:
 69
Modal BEC Zone Class
 IDF

All BEC Zones (# of stations/zone) species was recorded in

 CWH(13), ESSF(3), ICH(8), IDF(20), MS(13), PP(1), SBPS(1), SBS(10)

Habitat and Range

Dry to mesic forests in the lowland and montane zones; infrequent in extreme S BC, infrequent northward along the coast and in C BC; N to AK, E to PQ and PE and S to CA, MX, MI, NY, and VT.

Source:  The Illustrated Flora of British Columbia

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