Snow flower

''Sarcodes'' is a monotypic genus of a single springtime flowering plant in the heath family containing the single species ''Sarcodes sanguinea'', commonly called the snow plant or snow flower. It is a parasitic plant that derives sustenance and nutrients from mycorrhizal fungi that attach to roots of trees. Lacking chlorophyll, it is unable to photosynthesize. Ectomycorrhizal symbioses involve a mutualism between a plant root and a fungus; the plant provides fixed carbon to the fungus and in return,.. more