Allotropa facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Allotropa |
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| Scientific classification | |
| Genus: |
Allotropa
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| Species: |
virgata
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Allotropa virgata is a unique plant in the Ericaceae family. It's the only species in its group, called Allotropa. This plant lives for many years and is known by fun names like sugarstick, candystriped allotropa, and barber's pole. These names come from the cool white and red or maroon stripes on its main stem.
Unlike most plants, Allotropa virgata is not green. This means it doesn't have chlorophyll, which is what plants use to make their own food from sunlight. Instead, it gets its food from other green plants. It does this with the help of a fungus. This special plant feeds only on the underground parts (called mycelium) of the Matsutake mushroom (Tricholoma matsutake).
Where it Grows
You can find Allotropa virgata in the forests of the Pacific Northwest. It likes oak, pine, and other hardwood forests. It grows at high elevations, from about 75 to 3000 meters (about 246 to 9,842 feet) above sea level. You can see it in the High Sierra Nevada and High Cascade Range mountain ranges. It also grows north into British Columbia, Canada. You might even find it in Idaho and Montana.
What it Looks Like
Allotropa virgata has an underground stem called a rhizome, which has roots that break easily. Its main stem, which is striped, has small leaves that look like scales. The flowers grow in a cluster, like a bunch of grapes, at the top of the stem. After the seeds are spread, the main stem stays standing but turns brown. The small leaf-like parts near the flowers are usually less than 3 centimeters (about 1.2 inches) long. The small stalks that hold each flower do not curve backwards.
The individual flowers usually don't have sepals, which are the outer leaf-like parts that protect the bud. If they do, there are only 2 to 4. The flower has 5 white petals that form a cup shape. These petals are separate and curved inward. From the center of the flower, 10 maroon-colored parts called stamens stick out. These stamens have parts that open up to release pollen. The part of the flower that holds the seeds is at the top and has 5 chambers. It has a short stalk (called a style) and a flat, disk-shaped top (called a stigma) that collects pollen. There's also a small, disk-shaped part that makes nectar, and it has 10 small lobes.
The fruit of A. virgata are capsules. These capsules split open lengthwise through the wall of the seed chambers. This allows the many spindle-shaped seeds from each chamber to be spread.
Why is it Called Allotropa?
The name Allotropa comes from Greek words. Allo means 'different' or 'other', and tropus means 'nourishment'. So, Allotropa means 'different nourishment', which makes sense because this plant gets its food in a very unique way!
