THE AMERICAN BOTANIST. 51 



Study classes, and brought a strange story from the alpine 

 slopes of the distant Sierra Nevadas, where they grow near 

 the snow line, often peering out of the rich humus in the shade 

 of green forests as soon as the snow melts. The roots form a 

 yellowish fungus-like mass, similar to the roots of Indian 

 pipe, although much larger. 



Another interesting parasitic plant, seldom discovered, is 

 the pine sap (Hypopitys Hypopitys), closely allied to the In- 

 dian pipes. It grows beneath hemlocks or in mixed wood. 

 The whole plant is of a sulphur or pinkish color, instead of 

 white. The flowers, which grow in a nodding raceme appear 

 more like scales than delicate blossoms. The stem is fleshv, 

 and ornamented with scales as in the Indian pipe. 



The cancer-root {Thalcsia uniflora), of the Broom-rape 

 Family is frequently met with in rich woods, and on the edges 

 of marshlands, among decayed brush heaps. Its bell-shaped 

 flowers are pinkish in color. The roots consist of a large 

 mass of pink, fleshy nodules. The Orchid family produces 

 several species which are destitute of green leaves, and whose 

 flowers are strange and degenerate. The roots are always 

 coralloid masses, similar to those of Monotropa. Some of 

 these plants are root-parasites, while others are saprophytes. 



The coral-roots (Corallorhiza), of the Orchid family pro- 

 duces roots which resemble coral masses. These plants are 

 not regular in their habits, especially in the flowering, dates. 

 There are nine species of Corallorhiza on our Continent, four 

 of which are natives of New England. It is reported that it 

 is impossible for Corallorhiza to absorb substance from the 

 soil except through and by the agency of the fungus attached 

 to the roots. Another Orchid that does not produce green 

 leaves is the ghost orchid {Cephal anther a), found in the dark 

 fir-forests along the Pacific slope in California, Oregon and 

 Idaho. The whole plant is pure white, with three to five 

 dilated sheathes, instead of leaves. The roots consist of wavy 



