Montana: Allotropa virqata is currently ranked as 

 critically imperiled in Montana (state rank SI = 5 

 or fewer occurrences) (Achuff 1991) . Survey work 

 in 1991 found 11 new, large populations for a 

 total of 27 populations. The state rank will be 

 revised to S3 (21-100 occurrences) . 



Idaho: This species is on the monitor list in 

 Idaho where it is ranked as a State Priority 2 

 species (Moseley and Groves 1990) , "taxa likely to 

 be classified as Priority 1 within the foreseeable 

 future in Idaho, if factors contributing to their 

 population decline or habitat degradation or loss 

 continue." It is currently known from about 4 5 

 locations in the state, all in Idaho County 

 (Lichthardt and Mancuso 1991) . 



DESCRIPTION 



1. GENERAL NONTECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Allotropa virqata is 

 a striking plant, most notable for the thick reddish- 

 brown and off-white candy-striped stems that are up to 

 ca. 15.5 inches (40 cm) tall. It lacks green 

 coloration. Single stems or clusters of stems arise 

 from deep-seated, branching roots. The unbranched 

 stems bear numerous flowers near the top. Flowers face 

 away from the stem but do not droop and each is 

 composed of 5 sepals that are white to pinkish or 

 brown. Stems from previous years are often present. 

 These are dark reddish-brown and often hollow 



(Lichthardt and Mancuso 1991, Hitchcock et al_. 1959) 



2. TECHNICAL DESCRIPTION: Achlorophyllous , simple-stemmed 

 herbs with single to numerous stems from a diffuse, 

 deep-seated root system with branch roots and 

 adventitious buds at intervals along its length. Plants 

 10-40 cm tall, stems white and pink-striped, 5-10 mm 

 thick; leaves linear-lanceolate; flowers in terminal 

 spikelike racemes, 5-20 cm long, axillary and exceeded 

 by the subtending bract, often with 1-2 bracteoles 

 below the calyx; sepals 5, distinct, white or pinkish 

 to brownish, ca. 5 mm long; corolla lacking; stamens 

 10, without appendages, purplish, opening by basal 

 (falsely terminal) pores, from about egual to tv/ice as 

 long as the sepals; pistil 5-carpellary , styles very 

 short, stigma shallowly 5-lobed; ovary superior, 5- 

 celled, with axile placentation; fruit a capsule 

 (Hitchcock et al. 1959) 



3. LOCAL FIELD CHARACTERS: Allotropa virqata is 

 distinguished from other achlorophyllous members of the 

 Ericaceae by longitudinally pink and white-striped 



