A year ago I posted a picture of a plant that we regularly see up here. I didn't know what it was and several people told me that it is called a snow flower. It's real name is Sarcodes Sanguinea which means blood colored flesh like thing.
It is a parasite with no ability to photosynthesize and so it feeds on the fungus roots of trees, mostly firs. The plant provides fixed carbon to the fungus and in return, the fungus provides mineral nutrients, water and protection in return.
These plants are coming to the end of their growing season, but we always enjoy their sudden appearance out of the earth - always close to a big pine tree.
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