Pityopus
| Pityopus | |
|---|---|
| Scientific classification | |
| Kingdom: | Plantae |
| (unranked): | Angiosperms |
| (unranked): | Eudicots |
| (unranked): | Asterids |
| Order: | Ericales |
| Family: | Ericaceae |
| Subfamily: | Monotropoideae |
| Genus: | Pityopus Small |
| Species: | P. californica |
| Binomial name | |
| Pityopus californica (Eastw.) Copeland f. | |
Pityopus is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the heath family containing the single species Pityopus californica, which is known by the common name pinefoot.
It is native to the mountains of the West Coast of the United States from Washington to California, where it grows in coniferous and mixed forest types. It is uncommon throughout its range.
Description
This perennial herb is a mycoheterotroph, parasitizing fungi for nutrients. It is cream or white in color, lacking chlorophyll. It is the smallest mycotroph in the heath family.[1]
It produces a fleshy stemless peduncle above the leaf litter of the forest floor, reaching no more than 10 centimeters tall. It is covered with scale-like leaves, reduced as they do not perform photosynthesis.
The aboveground portion of the plant is essentially just inflorescence, with 2 to 11 cylindrical white flowers blooming for a short time. The flower has four or five white petals and a hairy throat. It produces a berry under a centimeter wide containing many seeds. The mature plant has a scent reminiscent of Brie cheese, which may serve to attract pollinators.[2] After fruiting the plant withers away until the following flowering season.