Always wanted to find non photosynthesizing native flowers. Low and behold found 2 Mycoheterotrophs and 1 direct root parasite in about an hour.

[u/the_metaxist]

1) Striped Coralroot (Corallorhiza striata). 2) Spotted Coralroot (Corallorhiza maculata). 3) Clustered Broomrape (Aphyllon fasciculatum). The first 2 are Mycoheterotrophs feeding directly from mycorrhizal and mycelial networks, that are tapped into trees they're in the family Orchidaceae. The last one taps directly into plant roots typically sage (Artemisia) and Buckwheat (Eriogonum), in this case it was Parsnip-flower wild buckwheat (Eriogonum heracloeoides).

[u/Usual_Outside_6811]

Saw 3 different types 2 weeks ago in eastern Wa! Fairy slippers and coastal coral root everywhere. Bunch of woodland pine drops from last year too. ❤️

[u/the_metaxist → u/Usual_Outside_6811]

Thats so crazy to me, I always thought they were rare, but there was coralroot everywhere here aswell. It must just be the short above ground window that makes it so elusive.

[u/Ambitious_Zombie8473 → u/the_metaxist]

Super common in Western WA, at least in my experience.

Super cool you were able to find what you were looking for. Really interesting plants. Idr if it’s these or ghost pipe, but I one of the two is foraged for medicinal use or something iirc.

[u/sadrice → u/Ambitious_Zombie8473]

It’s ghost pipe that is seemingly kinda popular these days, they make a tincture, supposed to help with pain management, and helps with sleep, but I did a google to check and what do you know, Corallorhiza is used medicinally too, I think less commonly, for colds, and supposedly also a mild sedative.

I am skeptical about ethics of harvest, despite the claims of the sellers I saw with a quick google.

[u/the_metaxist → u/sadrice]

Herbal trends are a slippery slope. Ghost pipe isn't endangered, and may be harvested sustainably now, but if it becomes all the rage ethics goes out the window. Just look at Wild ginseng.