Sarcodes sanguinea (Snow Plant)

8/18/11 Whitney Portal, Lone Pine Region, Eastern Sierra, Inyo County, CA 

8/18/11 Whitney Portal, Lone Pine Region, Eastern Sierra, Inyo County, CA 

6/15/03 Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail, Idyllwild, San Jacinto Mountains,

San Bernardino National Forest, Riverside County, CA

LIFE LIST NOTES:

COMMON NAME: Snow Plant

SPECIES: Sarcodes sanguinea

FAMILY: Ericaceae (Heath Family)

LIFE LIST DATE: 6/15/2003

LOCATION: Ernie Maxwell Scenic Trail, Idyllwild, San Jacinto Mountains, San Bernardino National Forest, Riverside County, CA

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Treatment from The Jepson Manual (1993):

Perennial, nongreen, fleshy, glandular-hairy; roots thick, brittle

Stem 0

Leaf scale-like

Inflorescence: raceme, generally 1.5–3 dm, stout, bright red to orange-red, emerging from soil erect, persistent after seed dispersal; axis generally > 1 cm below lowest flower; bracts < 8 cm, margins long-ciliate; bracelets 0

Flower: sepals 5, free; petals 5, ± 3/4 fused, 12–18 mm, urn-shaped, red; stamens 10, anthers < 4 mm, dehiscent by short separate slits, unawned; nectaries barely visible at ovary base; ovary superior, chambers 5, placentas axile, style < 8 mm, stigma 2–3 mm wide, head-like

Fruit: capsule, < 2.5 cm wide, indehiscent, brittle

Seeds many per chamber, < 1 mm wide, ovoid, unsigned

Ecology: Coniferous or mixed forests

Elevation: 1000–3100 m.  

Bioregional distribution: Klamath Ranges, Outer North Coast Ranges, High North Coast Ranges, High Cascade Range, High Sierra Nevada, Transverse Ranges, San Jacinto Mountains 

Distribution outside California: sw Oregon, n Baja California