The Mysterious Snow Plant
Submitted by Carson Now Reader on Tue, 11/18/2014 - 2:06pm
Event Date:
November 20, 2014 - 6:30pm The public is invited to attend the Nevada State Museum's Frances Humphrey Lecture Series featuring The Mysterious Snow Plant, by Pat King, PhD, botanist, naturalist, and dedicated museum volunteer. November also marks the 22nd anniversary of the museum’s Frances Humphrey Lecture Series which began in 1992. The lecture runs from 6:30 - 7:30 pm; doors open at 6 pm.
Once you have seen a snow plant, Sarcodes sanguinea, you’re likely never to forget it. The botanist, John Torrey, named the species. Neon red, this plant appears psychedelic, fleshy, and frankly “almost fake.” The snow plant is one of the first plants seen poking up through the pine forest in the spring — it looks blood red in the snow —hence its name.
The mysterious snow plant has no chlorophyll; it derives its nutrients from fungus-roots (mycorrhizae) that feed off the roots of conifers. Snow plant is closely related to the heath family. Although seen by some as a “cheater” or indirect parasite by the way it gets its food, the snow plant nevertheless provides nectar for hummingbirds and bees. It blooms from May – July at elevations between 4,000’ – 8,000.’
The example in the Nevada State Museum’s exhibit, Finding Frémont, Pathfinder of the West, was modeled after a specimen found at nearby Spooner Summit.
Cost: $8 for adults; free for museum members and ages 17 and under. Location: Nevada State Museum, 600 N. Carson Street, Carson City
