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|binomial_authority = ([[Alice Eastwood|Eastw.]]) Copeland f.
|binomial_authority = ([[Alice Eastwood|Eastw.]]) Copeland f.
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'''''Pityopus''''' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the [[Ericaceae|heath family]] containing the single species '''''Pityopus californicus''''', which is known by the common name '''pinefoot'''.
'''''Pityopus''''' is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the [[Ericaceae|heath family]] containing the single species '''''Pityopus californicus''''', which is known by the common name '''pinefoot'''. <ref name=jepson>[http://herbaria4.herb.berkeley.edu/eflora_display.php?tid=89089 Jepson eFlora (TJM2): ''Pityopus californicus'']</ref>


==Distribution==
It is native to the mountains of the [[West Coast of the United States]] from [[Washington (U.S. state)|Washington]] to [[California]], where it grows in [[temperate coniferous forests|coniferous]] and mixed forest types. It is uncommon throughout its range.
The plant is native to the mountains of the [[West Coast of the United States]] below {{convert|1800|m|ft}] in elevation, from [[Washington (U.S. state)|Washington]] to the Bay Area in [[California]]. <ref name=jepson/> It is uncommon throughout its range.
It grows in [[temperate coniferous forests|coniferous]] and mixed forest types. Habitats include [[California mixed evergreen forest|mixed evergreen forest]], [[yellow pine forest]], [[red fir]] forest, and coastal coniferous forest. <ref>[http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Pityopus+californicus Calflora: ''Pityopus californicus'']</ref>


==Description==
==Description==
This perennial herb is a [[Myco-heterotrophy|mycoheterotroph]], [[parasitic plant|parasitizing]] [[fungus|fungi]] for nutrients. It is cream or white in color, lacking [[chlorophyll]]. It is the smallest mycotroph in the heath family.<ref>[http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/interesting/mycotrophic/whatarethey.shtml Mycotrophic wildflowers: What are they?]</ref>
''Pityopus californicus'', a perennial herb, is a [[Myco-heterotrophy|mycoheterotroph]], [[parasitic plant|parasitizing]] [[fungus|fungi]] for nutrients. It is cream or white in color, lacking [[chlorophyll]]. <ref name=jepson/> It is the smallest mycotroph in the heath family.<ref>[http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/interesting/mycotrophic/whatarethey.shtml Mycotrophic wildflowers: What are they?]</ref>


It produces a fleshy stemless [[Peduncle (botany)|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]].
It produces a fleshy stemless [[Peduncle (botany)|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 above ground 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 (botany)|berry]] under a centimeter wide containing many seeds. The mature plant has a scent reminiscent of [[Brie|Brie cheese]], which may serve to attract [[pollinator]]s.<ref>[http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/interesting/mycotrophic/pityopus_californica.shtml Mycotrophic wildflowers: ''Pityopus californica'']</ref> After fruiting the plant withers away until the following flowering season.
The above ground 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. The bloom period is May to July. <ref name=jepson/>
It produces a [[Berry (botany)|berry]] under a centimeter wide containing many seeds. The mature plant has a scent reminiscent of [[Brie|Brie cheese]], which may serve to attract [[pollinator]]s.<ref>[http://www.fs.fed.us/wildflowers/interesting/mycotrophic/pityopus_californica.shtml Mycotrophic wildflowers: ''Pityopus californica'']</ref> After fruiting the plant withers away until the following flowering season.


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
*[http://www.calflora.org/cgi-bin/species_query.cgi?where-taxon=Pityopus+californicus Calflora Database: ''Pityopus californicus'' (pinefoot)]
*[http://ucjeps.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/get_JM_treatment.pl?3449,3589,3590 Jepson Manual Treatment]
*[http://herbaria4.herb.berkeley.edu/eflora_display.php?tid=89089 Jepson Manual eFlora (TJM2) treatment of ''Pityopus californicus'']
*[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PICA9 USDA Plants Profile]
*[http://plants.usda.gov/java/profile?symbol=PICA9 USDA Plants Profile]
*[http://www.botany.org/parasitic_plants/Pityopus_californica.php Botanical Society Parasitic Plant Pages]
*[http://www.botany.org/parasitic_plants/Pityopus_californica.php Botanical Society Parasitic Plant Pages]
*[http://calphotos.berkeley.edu/cgi-bin/img_query?rel-taxon=begins+with&where-taxon=Pityopus+californicus UC CalPhotos gallery − ''Pityopus californicus'']


[[Category:Monotropoideae]]
[[Category:Monotropoideae]]
⚫
[[Category:Monotypic Ericaceae genera]]
[[Category:Parasitic plants]]
[[Category:Parasitic plants]]
[[Category:Flora of California]]<!---for regions not below--->
[[Category:Flora of California]]<!---for regions not below--->
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[[Category:Flora of the Sierra Nevada (U.S.)]]
[[Category:Flora of the Sierra Nevada (U.S.)]]
[[Category:Natural history of the California Coast Ranges]]
[[Category:Natural history of the California Coast Ranges]]
⚫
[[Category:Monotypic Ericaceae genera]]




Revision as of 20:24, 23 March 2016

Pityopus
Scientific classification
Kingdom:
Plantae
(unranked):
Angiosperms
(unranked):
Eudicots
(unranked):
Asterids
Order:
Ericales
Family:
Ericaceae
Subfamily:
Monotropoideae
Genus:
Pityopus

Species:
P. californicus
Binomial name
Pityopus californicus
(Eastw.) Copeland f.

Pityopus is a monotypic genus of flowering plants in the heath family containing the single species Pityopus californicus, which is known by the common name pinefoot. [1]

Distribution

The plant is native to the mountains of the West Coast of the United States below {{convert|1800|m|ft}] in elevation, from Washington to the Bay Area in California. [1] It is uncommon throughout its range.

It grows in coniferous and mixed forest types. Habitats include mixed evergreen forest, yellow pine forest, red fir forest, and coastal coniferous forest. [2]

Description

Pityopus californicus, a perennial herb, is a mycoheterotroph, parasitizing fungi for nutrients. It is cream or white in color, lacking chlorophyll. [1] It is the smallest mycotroph in the heath family.[3]

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 above ground 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. The bloom period is May to July. [1]

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.[4] After fruiting the plant withers away until the following flowering season.

References

  1. ^ a b c d Jepson eFlora (TJM2): Pityopus californicus
  2. ^ Calflora: Pityopus californicus
  3. ^ Mycotrophic wildflowers: What are they?
  4. ^ Mycotrophic wildflowers: Pityopus californica

External links


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