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Sarcodes sanguinea
This is an older plant of this species. When young, it is bright red and fleshy looking. This plant was about 8 inches tall and was the only plant in the area. It has no chlorophyll so there is no photosynthesis. This is a parasitic plant that gets its carbon from fungi and gives nothing back in return. When in bloom, the flowers are bright red just like the rest of the plant. It gets its name from the timing it emerges when there is sometimes still snow on the ground.
Conifer forest in South Lake Tahoe. This plant is found from northern Baja California to Oregon.
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