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Allotropa virgata

Torr. & Gray ex Gray

Sugarstick

G4Apparently Secure Found in 140 roadless areas NatureServe Explorer →
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sugarstick (Allotropa virgata). Photo by Lauren Bosch, CC0 1.0, via iNaturalist.
Lauren Bosch, CC0 1.0
sugarstick (Allotropa virgata). Photo by Jonathan Curley, CC BY 4.0, via iNaturalist.
Jonathan Curley, CC BY 4.0
sugarstick (Allotropa virgata). Photo by Walter Fertig, CC0 1.0, via iNaturalist.
Walter Fertig, CC0 1.0
sugarstick (Allotropa virgata). Photo by James H. Thomas, CC0 1.0, via iNaturalist.
James H. Thomas, CC0 1.0
Identity
Unique IDELEMENT_GLOBAL.2.137508
Element CodePDMON01010
Record TypeSPECIES
ClassificationSpecies
Classification StatusStandard
Name CategoryVascular Plant
Endemicoccurs (regularly, as a native taxon) in multiple nations
KingdomPlantae
PhylumAnthophyta
ClassDicotyledoneae
OrderEricales
FamilyEricaceae
GenusAllotropa
Other Common Names
Allotrope rayé (FR) sugarstick (EN)
Concept Reference
Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
Conservation Status
Rank MethodExpertise without calculation
Review Date2016-06-27
Change Date1985-09-06
Edition Date1993-07-26
Edition AuthorsStoner, N., rev. D. Gries (1998)
Rank Reasons
Allotropa virgata is known from west of the Cascades from British Columbia south to California and east through Nevada, where uncommon, and disjunct north in Idaho and Montana.
Range Extent Comments
Southern Sierra Nevada Mountains and the coastal ranges of California, north to British Columbia from the eastern slope of the Cascade Range to near the coast; disjunct in Idaho and southwestern Montana. Disjunct.
Threat Impact Comments
USFS: the destruction of the overstory or ground cover in mature forests will influence this plant.
Ecology & Habitat

Description

Candystick has pink and white-striped stems, 1-4 dm high and 5-10 mm thick. Stems are clothed in white to pinkish, alternate, lance-shaped leaves that are largest near mid-stem. Flowers are borne in tight clusters in the axils of the upper leaves (bracts). Each flower has 5 separate white to pinkish sepals, ca. 5 mm long, and 10 purple stamens. Petals are lacking. The 5-lobed ovary matures to form a many-seeded capsule.

Diagnostic Characteristics

The pink and white stems lacking green leaves are distinctive.

Habitat

Deep humus or partially decomposed logs, generally in the shaded areas of old growth coniferous forests at 2300-6700 feet.
Terrestrial Habitats
Forest - Conifer
Other Nations (2)
United StatesNNR
ProvinceRankNative
NevadaS2Yes
MontanaS3Yes
CaliforniaSNRYes
OregonSNRYes
IdahoS3Yes
WashingtonSNRYes
CanadaN4
ProvinceRankNative
British ColumbiaS4Yes
Plant Characteristics
Economic Value (Genus)No
Roadless Areas (140)
California (44)
AreaForestAcres
AgnewSequoia National Forest9,561
Bell MeadowStanislaus National Forest7,968
Blue Creek Rare ISix Rivers National Forest12,134
Bucks LakePlumas National Forest680
Castle Crags AShasta-Trinity National Forest113
Castle Crags BShasta-Trinity National Forest1,619
Cow CreekShasta-Trinity National Forest22,627
Dinkey LakesSierra National Forest34,171
East GirardShasta-Trinity National Forest27,894
East YubaTahoe National Forest17,968
Granite ChiefTahoe National Forest6,546
Heart LakeLassen National Forest9,349
Jennie LakeSequoia National Forest2,388
JohnsonKlamath National Forest10,652
KangarooKlamath National Forest40,617
Lake EleanorShasta-Trinity National Forest397
Little French CShasta-Trinity National Forest11,529
Middle ForkPlumas National Forest29,278
Middle YubaTahoe National Forest7,379
Mt. Shasta AShasta-Trinity National Forest676
Mt. Shasta BShasta-Trinity National Forest2,809
Mystic (CA)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest836
North Fork American RiverTahoe National Forest38,495
North Fork Middle Fork American RiverTahoe National Forest11,245
North Fork SmithSix Rivers National Forest37,898
Onion SpringsLassen National Forest2,421
Orleans Mtn.Klamath National Forest49,090
Orleans Mtn. CSix Rivers National Forest15,589
PattisonShasta-Trinity National Forest29,299
Pilot CreekSix Rivers National Forest9,192
Poison HoleEldorado National Forest2,627
PortugueseKlamath National Forest18,915
PyramidEldorado National Forest24,347
Raymond PeakStanislaus National Forest3,646
RussianKlamath National Forest21,771
ShuteyeSierra National Forest7,313
SiskiyouKlamath National Forest54,039
Siskiyou BSix Rivers National Forest18,871
SnoozerKlamath National Forest23,414
Trail LakeLassen National Forest1,124
West GirardShasta-Trinity National Forest37,516
West YubaPlumas National Forest6,071
West YubaTahoe National Forest16,059
Wonoga Pk.Inyo National Forest11,272
Idaho (2)
AreaForestAcres
SeceshPayette National Forest248,088
West Meadow CreekNez Perce-Clearwater National Forest115,949
Montana (4)
AreaForestAcres
Allan Mountain (01946)Bitterroot National Forest104,184
North Big HoleBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest52,227
North CarpBeaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest6,600
Selway - Bitterroot (01067)Bitterroot National Forest114,953
Nevada (4)
AreaForestAcres
Jobs Peak (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest1,342
Mystic (NV)Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest5,644
Rose - Big MeadowsHumboldt-Toiyabe National Forest311
Rose - Davis Mdw.Humboldt-Toiyabe National Forest2,361
Oregon (44)
AreaForestAcres
Bend WatershedDeschutes National Forest14,829
Buck CreekFremont National Forest9,887
Bull Of The WoodsMt. Hood National Forest8,843
Calf - Copeland CreekUmpqua National Forest15,696
Castle Rock AppendageUmpqua National Forest4,649
EagleMt. Hood National Forest16,841
Echo MountainWillamette National Forest8,098
French Pete (a)Willamette National Forest1,668
Frog CampWillamette National Forest491
Gold CreekWillamette National Forest1,364
Gordon MeadowsWillamette National Forest9,463
Hardesty MountainUmpqua National Forest2,597
Hardesty MountainWillamette National Forest3,754
Limpy RockUmpqua National Forest6,782
Maiden PeakDeschutes National Forest26,432
Maiden PeakWillamette National Forest9,627
Mclennon MountainWillamette National Forest8,085
Menagerie (rooster Rock)Willamette National Forest374
Middle SantiamWillamette National Forest7,316
Mt. JeffersonDeschutes National Forest2,282
Mt. BaileyUmpqua National Forest18,401
Mt. HagenWillamette National Forest6,406
Mt. Hood AdditionsMt. Hood National Forest13,061
Mt. ThielsenWinema National Forest1,153
North KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests91,560
OlallieMt. Hood National Forest7,607
Opal CreekWillamette National Forest5,417
Rainbow FallsWillamette National Forest65
Roaring RiverMt. Hood National Forest27,316
Salmon - HuckleberryMt. Hood National Forest17,570
Shasta CostaSiskiyou National Forests14,420
SherwoodUmpqua National Forest2,449
Skimmerhorn AppendageUmpqua National Forest1,820
Sky Lakes AWinema National Forest3,940
South KalmiopsisSiskiyou National Forests104,477
TahkenitchSiuslaw National Forest5,799
TenmileSiuslaw National Forest10,818
Twin LakesMt. Hood National Forest6,055
W. BoundaryWinema National Forest2,345
WaldoDeschutes National Forest4,973
Waldo - FujiWillamette National Forest15,273
West - South BachelorDeschutes National Forest25,994
Wind CreekMt. Hood National Forest5,438
WoahinkSiuslaw National Forest5,309
Washington (42)
AreaForestAcres
Alpine Lakes Adj.Wenatchee National Forest57,104
BackboneGifford Pinchot National Forest1,201
Bear CreekGifford Pinchot National Forest7,980
Big Lava BedGifford Pinchot National Forest19,043
Blue LakeGifford Pinchot National Forest11,359
Boulder RiverMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest32,563
BourbonGifford Pinchot National Forest4,512
Canyon CreekWenatchee National Forest7,983
ChelanWenatchee National Forest74,650
Coal Creek BluffGifford Pinchot National Forest1,164
Dark DivideGifford Pinchot National Forest52,483
Dixon MountainGifford Pinchot National Forest6,339
EntiatWenatchee National Forest72,617
Glacier Peak BMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest19,328
Glacier Peak JMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest26,482
Glacier Peak KMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest47,269
Glacier Peak LMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest14,084
Goat Rocks AdjWenatchee National Forest6,108
Heather LakeWenatchee National Forest10,628
Jefferson RidgeOlympic National Forest6,512
Jupiter RidgeOlympic National Forest10,148
Laughing WaterGifford Pinchot National Forest1,167
Liberty BellOkanogan National Forest108,495
LightningOlympic National Forest7,179
Madison CreekOlympic National Forest1,223
McdonaldOlympic National Forest501
Mt. Baker MaMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest24,847
Mt. Baker Noisy - DiobsudMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest56,039
Mt. Baker NorthMt Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest16,873
Mt. ZionOlympic National Forest3,544
Nason RidgeWenatchee National Forest19,329
Norse PeakWenatchee National Forest10,169
Packwood LakeGifford Pinchot National Forest1,084
PompeyGifford Pinchot National Forest23,985
QuilceneOlympic National Forest18,656
Red LakeGifford Pinchot National Forest2,162
Rock CreekWenatchee National Forest32,239
SawtoothOkanogan National Forest122,194
Stormy Mtn.Wenatchee National Forest32,612
TeanawayWenatchee National Forest72,849
Thorp Mtn.Wenatchee National Forest22,717
Twin LakesWenatchee National Forest22,496
References (12)
  1. Castellano, M. A. and J. M. Trappe. 1985. Mycorrhizal associations of five species of Monotropoideae in Oregon. 77(3):499-502.
  2. Flora of North America Editorial Committee (FNA). 2009. Flora of North America north of Mexico. Vol. 8. Magnoliophyta: Paeoniaceae to Ericaceae. Oxford University Press, New York. xxiv + 585 pp.
  3. Furman, T. E. and J. M. Trappe. 1971. Phylogeny and ecology of mycotrophic achlorophyllous angiosperms. Quarterly Review of Biology 46:219-225.
  4. Kartesz, J.T. 1994. A synonymized checklist of the vascular flora of the United States, Canada, and Greenland. 2nd edition. 2 vols. Timber Press, Portland, OR.
  5. Lichthardt, J. J. 1992d. Population monitoring of <i>Allotropa virgata</i> (candystick) on the Nez Perce National Forest: third-year results. Unpublished report. Idaho Department of Fish and Game. Boise, Idaho. 21 pp.
  6. Lorain, C. C. 1988. Floristic history and distribution of coastal disjunct plants of the northern Rocky Mountains. M.S. thesis. College of Forestry, Wildlife, and Range Sciences, University of Idaho, Moscow. 221 pp.
  7. Poole, J. M. 1992. Results of field surveys for ALLOTROPA VIRGATA on the Beaverhead and Deerlodge National Forests. Unpublished report. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 11 pp. plus appendix.
  8. Roe, L. S. 1992. Status review of ALLOTROPA VIRGATA, USDA Forest Service, Region 1, Bitterroot and Deerlodge National Forests. Unpublished report. Montana Natural Heritage Program, Helena, MT. 13 pp. plus appendices.
  9. Spahr, R., L. Armstrong, D. Atwood, and M. Rath. 1991. Threatened, endangered, and sensitive species of the Intermountain Region. U.S. Forest Service, Intermountain Region, Ogden, UT.
  10. Steele, R. and P. F. Stickney. 1974. ALLOTROPA VIRGATA (Ericaceae), first records for Idaho and Montana. Madrono 22(5):277.
  11. Takahashi, H. 1987. Pollen morphology and its taxonomic significance of the Monotropoideae (Ericaceae).
  12. Wallace, G. D. 1977. Studies of the Monotropoideae (Ericaceae) Floral nectares: anatomy and function in pollination ecology. American Journal of Botany 64:199-206.