GNOMES OF THE REDWOODS
The very unusual and rarely seen Gnome Plant (Hemitomes congestum) typically erupts from the leaf litter around late May or early June.
This plant may be found at higher elevations in the redwood forest and is most commonly associated with Douglas Fir trees.
Like other members of the Monotropoideae in the heath family (Ericaceae), gnome plants lack chlorophyll. These plants are mycoheterotrophic, meaning they steal food from mycorrhizal fungi, which, in turn, get their food by tapping into the roots of trees. They are not considered completely parasitic due to the fact that they are part of a large underground network which aids trees in gaining access to more water and minerals.
Small yellow flowers will soon emerge from between the pink cone-like leaves, eventually producing small round white fruit with a cheesy smell, likely favored by small mammals.
Photograph: S. Krause | NPS
via: Redwood National and State Parks (NPS)
