Tag Archives: Candystick

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A rare plant has bloomed near Rick’s and my home in Anchor Bay, last year and this year too. We took wildflower aficionados Mel Smith and Linda Bostwick to see the spiky maroon and white flower last weekend. There, growing in sandy soil and forest duff, was a Sugarstick, Allotropa virgata.

Here's a closer view of the flowers - they are quite beautiful.

Sugarsticks, also called Candysticks, are parasitic plants. They feed on fungi in the soil. The two places I’ve found them have Matsutake mushrooms in the fall. If you have known Matsutake spots, look and see if you might also have Sugersticks. Last year’s flowers are still standing as leathery thin stalks.

Interesting that they seem to be associated with Matsutake fungus!

We have had cool, foggy weather on the Mendonoma coast this week. The sun finally appeared mid-afternoon. There are lots of people here with their fancy cars, as there is a car show on Saturday at Gualala Arts. It's free and lots of fun. Here is a link to the Gualala Arts Center about the event: http://gualalaarts.org/2018/07/10th-annual-gualala-arts-auto-show-8th-annual-pinewood-derby/

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They are called parasitic plants because they feed off of tree-nourished soil fungi. One of them is called Candystick, Allotropa. Peter Baye recently found one growing in his forest, the first he has seen in 15 years.

Candystick, Allotropa virgata, by Peter BayeIt's such a treat to find this rare jewel. He also found Shinleaf, Pyrola picta. It looks like a lovely bouquet.

A Pyrola picta bouquet, Shinleaf, by Peter BayeRick and I recently found this in our forest. Since we had a normal rain year here, some plants are appearing that haven't been seen during the drought. They were hunkered down underground.

These plants are only found in mature, old forest soils. Any disturbance of the soil is a threat to these flowers. Keep part of your land wild for the sake of native plants and wildlife!

Thanks to Peter for allowing me to share his photos with you here.

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Sugarstick, also called Candystick, is a very unusual plant that grows on the West Coast. Its Latin name is Allotropa virgata. "Allotropa" means turned differently and refers to the flowers that turn outward or upward on this plant. It's unusual in that it doesn't have chlorophyll and is incapable of photosynthesis. So how does it survive? It obtains its food from fungi that are associated with host trees such as Douglas-Fir and Tan Oak.

It's a rare treat to find one. Nan Brichetto photographed this beauty and I thank her for allowing me to show it to you here.