88 p 5 t e I s i a 



growths 2-6 centimeters in diameter upon 

 the roots of its host, and from these the 

 pkmt rises. The portion above ground varies 

 from about 6-i6 centimeters and is closely cover- 

 ed with brownish colored scale leaves or bracts 

 which give the plant much the appearance of an 

 old spruce cone struck base end into the ground. 

 Almost the entire visible portion of the plant is 

 inflorescence, a flower standing in the axil of 

 each of the brown scale leaves. At maturity the 

 comparatively large capsular fruits crowd close 

 one upon each other over the entire flowering 

 axis. The parasite appears to be most common 

 where the host jjlant is found growing over steep 

 slopes or embankments. In such position the 

 roots of the salal are more easily reached and 

 therefore the parasitism more readily established 

 than where a thicker and firmer layer of soil has 

 to be penetrated. 



Saprophytism — Where there is such an 

 abundance of decaving vegetable matter and 

 where the soil is so largely humus as it is in the 

 forests of this region, one would reasonably ex- 

 pect to meet frequently with the phenomenon of 



