About Hemitomes congestum A.Gray
Hemitomes congestum A.Gray is a myco-heterotrophic herb that lacks chlorophyll. It has thin, white, fibrous roots. An upright shoot and inflorescence axis grows from these roots, and ranges in color from creamy white to reddish. Its leaves are simple, and bracteoles are not present. The inflorescence holds one to multiple flowers, and may be branched. Flowers are most commonly four-parted, and rarely up to six-parted. The corolla is shaped like a tube or bell, with fused petals. Stamens reach roughly two-thirds of the corolla length; anthers are non-versatile and dehisce via longitudinal slits. The style is persistent, and the stigma is widened. The ovary is eight-parted, with parietal placentation. Fruits are berry-like; seeds are elliptical with a thick seed coat. This species is native to the region from British Columbia to California. It is a holomycotrophic perennial that grows primarily in the temperate biome.
