Hello All I stumbled across a patch of these strange things when on a hike today in old second growth fir in a recovered clear cut. Soils are coarse with a thin layer of humus. At first I thought it was a conifer cone sitting upright, but its firmly attached to terra firma. I wish I saw it in bloom. Looked through Pojar and found nothing remotely similar. Other plants in the vicinity were Douglas fir, Chimaphila umbellata, and Linnaea borealis. I did find another orchid nearby (possibly Corallrhizae mertensiana)
Wild guess---- Member of Orobanchaceae, such as below: Boschniakia rossica - Wikipedia PlantFiles: Boschniakia Species, Broomrape, Ground Cone, Northern Groundcone Vancouver groundcone • Boschniakia hookeri E-Flora BC Atlas Page https://www.dnr.wa.gov/publications/amp_nh_boshoo.pdf
Thanks! It would have the common name of Ground Cone as that is what it looks like at first glance. I will delve into the world of Boschniakia. This beast was no where near water, but in a dry site despite the moss.
Any salal nearby? These are now Kopsiopsis hookeri - FNA I'd have to dig up the reference, but I recall reading it takes 40 years to develop a flowering stalk.
40 years? I've read the root tuber were eaten raw by the First Nations. I can imagine the odd bear digging them up too. How in the heck could any species requiring a such a time duration for recruitment survive? There were about 5 in the small area I found them in. So if I wanted a snack, that would be it for the reproductive population.
Plants nearby were Mahonia, pseudotsuaga menziesii, Chimaphila umbellata, and Linnaea borealis. Not much Gaultheria in this spot which was rather scant for vegetation. Mind you if I looked in the thicker growth of Gaultheria nearby, I might have found a few more. I'm going up again next weekend and expand the search area. Besides the Chimaphila were just staring to bloom and I really want to take some nice pics.
Here is (was) a beautiful little spot - just a few acres in Nanoose Bay where the new and old highways diverge. It was full of wonderful native plants including coral root, rattlesnake orchid and the occasional ground cone until a few months ago when the entire property was razed. I can't even look at the site anymore; just so awful to lose treasures like that. EDIT: Sorry, I forgot to upload the photo.
It hurts my heart when I hear of such destruction and more so when no conservation groups were contacted to help relocate the plants before the bulldozers moved in.
I know - that is so upsetting. I did call the realtors and asked if I could get in touch with the developer but never heard anything back.
That is awful news Margot, sadly it is happening everywhere. The trouble is 8 billion and counting.......
