Indian pipe

Description:

white stem, leaves and flower with black edges, occurring in twos or in a clump; no chlorophyll

Habitat:

Douglas fir/Sitka spruce forest, near sword fern and Doug. fir, at 92 ft. maybe a mile from the ocean up on the ridge but protected by forest, by the trail.

Notes:

This saprophyte takes its food energy via fungi from the fir. BC natives called it "wolf piss" because it was said to arise from where a wolf urinated. It was used as a poultice for wounds that would not heal (maybe it would work on hobo spider bites?) This is only the second time I've ever seen this plant; it is very rare in the Pacific Northwest.