Snowflower

Description:

Sarcodes is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the heath family containing the single species Sarcodes sanguinea, commonly called the snow plant or snow flower. It is a parasitic plant that derives sustenance and nutrients from mycorrhyzal fungi that attach to roots of trees. Mycorrhizal fungi are themselves symbiotic parasites that help plants fix nitrogen from the atmosphere in exchange for nutrients from plant roots.

Habitat:

Found in the forrest of the Sierra Nevadas near Chester California