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sugarstick (Allotropa virgata) observed in San Juan County, WA, USA

iNaturalist: jsjensen

Summary

iNaturalist

A research-grade observation of sugarstick, a rare non-photosynthetic plant that depends on fungal networks for survival, was documented in San Juan County, Washington. This sighting adds to our limited geographic knowledge of this elusive species in the Pacific Northwest.

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Key Findings

1

Research-grade confirmation of Allotropa virgata presence in San Juan County, WA

2

Sugarstick is a mycoheterotrophic plant entirely dependent on fungal symbiosis for nutrition

3

Observation contributes to understanding the species' sparse distribution across western North America

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Original Abstract

Research-grade observation of sugarstick in San Juan County, WA, USA.

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This connects to 9 other discoveries — 1 species, 3 topics, 5 related articles

Species Mentioned

Allotropa
eco Allotropa

Allotropa virgata is in the family Ericaceae and is the only species of the genus Allotropa. It is a perennial plant that gets its common names from the distinct white and red or maroon stripes along its erect peduncle. It is a non-green plant, as it lacks chlorophyll, instead obtaining nutrition...

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