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• Pterospora andromedea

Pterospora andromedea — pine-drops

Facts

Pine-drops is a nonphotosynthetic, parasitic plant that obtains nutrients from its host via mutualistic fungal hyphae that form connections between the roots of the parasite and its host plant. In New England this species is represented by a few populations each in New Hampshire and Vermont, in coniferous or mixed woods over limestone or clay.

Habitat

Forests

Characteristics

• Clonal plantlets

  Bulbils

  the plant does not appear to have bulbils

  Bulblets replace flowers

  there are no bulblets where the flowers are located

• Flowers

  Anther opening

  the anthers have narrow slits or furrows that run lengthwise along the anthers

  Anther spurs

  there are spurs on the anthers

  Anther tube length

  0 mm

  Calyx symmetry

  there are two or more ways to evenly divide the calyx (the calyx is radially symmetrical)

  Carpels fused

  the carpels are fused to one another

  Cleistogamous flowers

  there are no cleistogamous flowers on the plan

  Corolla palate

  no

  Corona lobe length

  0 mm

  Epicalyx

  the flower does not have an epicalyx

  Epicalyx number of parts

  0

  Filament surface

  the filament is smooth, with no hairs or scales

  Flower description

  the flower has a superior ovary, and lacks a hypanthium

  Flower orientation

  the flower bends downwards or hangs downwards

  Flower petal color

  • white
  • yellow

  Flower reproductive parts

  the flower has both pollen- and seed-producing parts

  Flower symmetry

  there are two or more ways to evenly divide the flower (the flower is radially symmetrical)

  Flowers sunken into stem

  no

  Form of style

  • the style is knob-like at the tip, and unbranched
  • the style is lobed at the tip, and unbranched

  Fringed petal edges

  the petals are fringed

  Fused stamen clusters

  NA

  Fusion of sepals and petals

  • both the petals and sepals are separate and not fused
  • the petals or the sepals are fused into a cup or tube

  Hairs on flower stalk

  the flower stalk has hairs on it

  Hairs on inflorescence

  at least some of the hairs on the axis of the inflorescence have glands

  Horns in hoods (Asclepias)

  NA

  Hypanthium

  the flower does not have a hypanthium

  Hypanthium length

  0 mm

  Inflorescence length

  150–1700 mm

  Inflorescence one-sided

  the flowers are arrayed in a spiral around the inflorescence axis or branches, or occur singly, or in several ranks

  Inner tepals (Rumex)

  NA

  Interior flower disk

  the flower has an interior disc

  Nectar spur

  the flower has no nectar spurs

  Number of branches in umbel

  0

  Number of carpels

  5

  Number of pistils

  1

  Number of sepals, petals or tepals

  there are five petals, sepals, or tepals in the flower

  Number of styles

  1

  Ovary position

  the ovary is above the point of petal and/or sepal attachment

  Perianth shape

  the perianth is urceolate (urn-shaped, with a swollen tube contracted near the top, then slightly expanded in a narrow rim)

  Petal and sepal arrangement

  the flower includes two cycles of petal- or sepal-like structures

  Petal and sepal colors

  • white
  • yellow

  Petal appearance

  the petals are thin and delicate, and pigmented (colored other than green or brown)

  Petal folding in bud

  the petals in bud are rolled like an umbrella, each petal having one edge tucked inside and the other edge exposed (convolute)

  Petal folds or pleats

  the petals of the flower do not have folds or plaits

  Petal hairs (Viola)

  NA

  Petal hairs on inner/upper surface

  there are no hairs on the inner/upper petal surface

  Petal length

  6–9 mm

  Petal length relative to sepals

  the petals are longer than the sepals

  Petal number

  5

  Petal tip shape

  the petal tip is lobed or fringed

  Petal tips (Cuscuta)

  NA

  Raceme attachment (Veronica)

  NA

  Reproductive system

  all the flowers have both carpels and stamens (synoecious)

  Scales inside corolla

  no

  Sepal and petal color

  the sepals are different from the petals

  Sepal appearance

  the sepals are green or brown, and leaf-like in texture

  Sepal appendages

  the sepals do not have appendages on them

  Sepal appendages (Oenothera)

  NA

  Sepal auricles

  the sepals have no auricles

  Sepal color

  pink to red

  Sepal features

  one or more sepals have glands that are raised from the surface by a stalk

  Sepal length

  4–6 mm

  Sepal number

  5

  Sepal orientation

  the sepals are pressed against the corolla, or jutting stiffly upward

  Sepal shape

  • the sepal outline is lanceolate (lance-shaped; narrow, gradually tapering from the base to the tip)
  • the sepal outline is ovate (widest below the middle and broadly tapering at both ends)

  Sepal uniformity

  all the sepals are about the same size

  Sepals fused only to sepals

  the sepals are separate from one another

  Spur length

  0 mm

  Spur number

  NA

  Stamen length

  3–5 mm

  Stamen number

  10

  Stamen position relative to petals

  NA

  Stamen relative length

  anything

  Stamens fused

  the stamens are not attached to one another

  Stigma position

  the stigmas are positioned at the tip of the style

  Style length

  1–3 mm

  Style petal-like

  the styles are not petal-like

  Style relative length

  the stigma does not protrude beyond the mouth of the corolla

  Surface of ovary

  the ovary surface has no points, bumps or wrinkles

  Umbel flower reproductive parts

  NA

  Upper lip of bilabiate corolla

  NA

• Fruits or seeds

  Achene relative orientation

  NA

  Achene shape

  NA

  Achene surface (Polygonum)

  NA

  Achene type

  NA

  Berry color

  NA

  Capsule color (Viola)

  NA

  Capsule ribs

  the capsule has four prominent ribs or wings

  Capsule splitting

  the capsule splits by four main valves, teeth or pores

  Carpel beak length

  0 mm

  Fruit (pyxis) dehiscence

  NA

  Fruit cross-section

  the fruit is round in cross-section

  Fruit features (Brassicaceae)

  NA

  Fruit length

  5–10 mm

  Fruit length relative to sepals

  the fruit is longer than its associated sepals

  Fruit locules

  five

  Fruit shape

  the fruit is spherical

  Fruit type (general)

  the fruit is dry and splits open when ripe

  Fruit type (specific)

  the fruit is a capsule (splits along two or more seams, apical teeth or pores when dry, to release two or more seeds)

  Fruit width

  7–14 mm

  Legumes (Fabaceae)

  NA

  Mericarp length

  0 mm

  Mericarp segment shape (Desmodium)

  NA

  Other markings on berry

  NA

  Ovary stipe

  the ovary or fruit does not have a stipe

  Ovary stipe length

  0 mm

  Placenta arrangement

  the plant has axile placentation, in which the ovules are attached where the septa of a compound ovary are united, usually on the central axis, or to the septa themselves

  Rows of seeds in fruit (Brassicaceae)

  NA

  Schizocarpic fruit compression

  NA

  Schizocarpic fruit segments

  0

  Seed length

  0.2–0.5 mm

  Seed number

  At least 100

  Seed relative length

  the seed is about as long as it is wide

  Seed surface

  the seed is smooth or without clear markings

  Seeds comose

  no hairs

  Septum in fruit (Brassicaceae)

  NA

  Wings on fruit

  the fruit does not have wings on it

  prickles on fruits

  the fruits do not have thorn-like defensive structures

• Glands or sap

  Glands on leaf blade

  • NA
  • the leaf blades do not have glandular dots or scales

  Sap

  the sap is clear and watery

  Sap color

  the sap is clear

• Growth form

  Growth form

  the plant is an herb (it has self-supporting stems)

  Horizontal rooting stem

  the plant does not have stolons

  Lifespan

  the plant lives more than two years

  Parasitism

  the plant is parasitic on other plants (partially or completely dependent on other plants to supply nutrients)

  Plant color

  the plant lacks green pigments, even on the leaves or young stems

  Plants darken when dry

  yes

  Spines on plant

  the plant has no spines

  Underground organs

  there are only slender roots on the plant

• Leaves

  Bracteole edges

  NA

  Bracteole length

  0 mm

  Bracteole number (Apiaceae)

  0

  Bracteole shape

  NA

  Bracteoles

  there are no bracteoles on the plant

  Bracts in plantain (Plantago)

  NA

  Final leaf segment length (compound lvs only)

  0 mm

  Final leaf segment length to width ratio (compound lvs only)

  0

  Final leaf segment width (compound lvs only)

  0 mm

  Floral bract texture

  the floral bracts are thin, dry and papery, possibly with a narrow green stripe at the center

  Floral bracts

  the flower has one or more bracts associated with it

  Flower bract length

  20–35 mm

  Hairs on leaf stalk

  NA

  Hooked hairs on underside of leaf

  • NA
  • no

  Inflated hairs on leaf

  • NA
  • the leaf blade does not have inflated hairs on it

  Leaf arrangement

  • NA
  • alternate: there is one leaf per node along the stem

  Leaf blade base symmetry

  • NA
  • the leaf blade base is symmetrical

  Leaf blade bloom

  • NA
  • the underside of the leaf has no noticeable bloom

  Leaf blade edges

  • NA
  • the edge of the leaf blade is entire (has no teeth or lobes)

  Leaf blade flatness

  • NA
  • the leaf is flat (planar) at the edges

  Leaf blade shape

  • NA
  • the leaf blade is lanceolate (lance-shaped; widest below the middle and tapering at both ends)
  • the leaf blade is ovate (widest below the middle and broadly tapering at both ends)

  Leaf blade surface colors

  • NA
  • the upper side of the leaf blade is relatively uniform in color

  Leaf duration

  the leaves drop off in winter (or they whither but persist on the plant)

  Leaf form

  • NA
  • the leaves are small and thin and lack leaf stalks

  Leaf sheath length

  0 mm

  Leaf shiny

  • NA
  • the upper side of the leaf is dull or slightly shiny

  Leaf spines

  • NA
  • there are no spines on the leaf edges

  Leaf stalk

  • NA
  • the leaves have no leaf stalks, but attach directly to the stem

  Leaf stalk attachment to leaf

  NA

  Leaf stalk base

  NA

  Leaf stalk length

  0 mm

  Leaf teeth and lobes

  • NA
  • the edge of the leaf blade is entire (has no teeth or lobes)

  Leaf tip

  the tip of the leaf blade is acuminate (tapers to a long, thin point)

  Leaf tufts in axils

  • NA
  • there are no clusters of smaller leaves growing out of axils

  Leaf type

  • NA
  • the leaves are simple (i.e., lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets)

  Leaf types

  • NA
  • There is a gradual change in appearance of the leaves from the base (or near the base) of the plant to those from further up on the stem, with leaves progressively changing as one moves higher on the stem (often becoming shorter, or less toothed/lobed, and/or with shorter petioles).

  Leaf variation

  • NA
  • the leaves are nearly similar in size, prominence of teeth, and length of stalks throughout the stem

  Leaflet number

  0

  Leaflet petiolules

  NA

  Pinnately compound leaf type

  NA

  Specific leaf type

  • NA
  • the leaves are simple (i.e., lobed or unlobed but not separated into leaflets)

  Stipels

  NA

  Stipule edges

  NA

  Stipule features

  NA

  Stipule fused to leaf stalk

  NA

  Stipule length

  0 mm

  Stipule shape

  NA

  Stipules

  there are no stipules on the plant

• Place

  Habitat

  terrestrial

  New England state

  • New Hampshire
  • Vermont

  Specific habitat

  forests

• Stem, shoot, branch

  Branched tendrils

  NA

  Direction of stem hairs

  • NA
  • the hairs point mostly upwards to outwards

  Flowering stem cross-section

  the flowering stem is circular, or with lots of small angles so that it is roughly circular

  Flowering stem width

  5–15 mm

  Hair between stem nodes

  • NA
  • the stem has hairs between the nodes

  Hairs between stem nodes

  • NA
  • at least some of the hairs on the stem have glands

  Hooked hairs on stem between nodes

  • NA
  • no

  Leaves on stem

  the flowering stem has no leaves above the base

  Stem bloom

  • NA
  • there is no powdery or waxy film on the stem

  Stem hair distribution

  • NA
  • the hairs on the stem are distributed more of less uniformly

  Stem nodes swollen

  • NA
  • the stem is not swollen at the nodes

  Stem orientation

  • NA
  • the stems are upright or angled outwards

  Stem roughness between nodes

  • NA
  • the stem does not feel rough

  Stem spacing

  • NA
  • the plant is solitary, or a few plants are growing together

  Stem succulence

  • NA
  • the stems are succulent

  Tendril origin

  NA

  Tendrils

  the plant does not have tendrils

  Wings on stem

  • NA
  • the stem does not have wings on it

Wetland status

Not classified

New England distribution and conservation status

From the dichotomous key of Flora Novae Angliae