''Boschniakia hookeri'' is a species of parasitic plant in the broomrape family known by the common names Vancouver groundcone and small groundcone. It is native to western North America from British Columbia to northern California, where it grows in wooded areas.
Similar species: Lamiales
By morpheme
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Uploaded Apr 10, 2016. Captured Apr 9, 2016 13:43 in Cemetary Trail, Port Townsend, WA 98368, USA.
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The Hooker's Groundcone (Boschniakia / Kopsiopsis hookeri) is a nonphotosynthetic, holoparasitic plant in the Orobanchaceae family. Its range extends along the West Coast of North America, from British Columbia down to Mount Tamalpais in Northern California. It is most often associated with Western Hemlock, Western Red Cedar, Sitka Spruce, or Douglas Fir forests. Typically found in shrubby areas of these coniferous forests, it parasitizes the roots of understory plants like Salal (Gaultheria shalllon), Kinnickinick (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi), and the Evergreen Huckleberry (Vaccinium ovatum).
Growing to around 7-12 cm (aboveground), it has small flowers which grow between scale-like leaf structures. These leaves range from pale yellow to deep burgundy, and the plant is often mistaken for a pine cone when it displays the latter shades. Its inability to produce chlorophyll (and therefore receive proper nutrition through photosynthesis) is counterbalanced by its usage of modified root structures called haustoria. These structures penetrate the roots of host plants and allow for a transfer of nutrients from host to parasite. Whilst one would think its parasitic nature would lend it some disrepute, it is not known to pose a major threat to its host plants.
The Hooker's Groundcone is currently under threat of further decline due to human activities like logging. Its conservation status is listed as S1S2 (Imperiled to Critically imperiled) in California and S3 (Vulnerable) in Washington according to NatureServe Explorer.
{Observed by JungleDragon user, morpheme, in Washington, US.} Posted 4 years ago