California Groundcone: The 92nd Flower of Spring & Summer!

This is one of the strangest, coolest wildflowers that I have ever seen! In fact, the first time I saw one, I thought it was a weird pine cone sticking out of the ground, and I certainly wasn't surprised when I found out that it's actually called a Groundcone! :D I was very excited last year when I discovered that these bizarre flowers grow along the top of our ridge line, and this spring I hunted for them every time I went up there until I found them growing!

Like the Yellow-Leaved Iris I posted a couple of days ago, this flower is a pain to photograph because it grows very low to the ground and is usually surrounded by vegetation. I'm not happy with the full size images at all but didn't have a chance to retake them so I'll have to wait for better pictures next year. However, I hope my other views will make up for the not-so-great full size shots!

The California Groundcone is parasitic, getting its nutrients from the roots of its host tree, which, for this species, are either Madrones or Manzanitas. Because this plant is parasitic, it doesn't depend on chlorophyll in its leaves for energy, and therefore has almost none. They can grow up to 12" tall, though most I have seen are 6-7" tall. Groundcones grow in two areas in the world: from British Colombia to California (this species only grows in California and southern Oregon), and in northeastern Asia!!