Pterospora andromedea
 
Pine Drops

Flower Top Dissected

West Block, Cypress Hills
23-July-2006

The corolla tube has been removed in order to reveal the internal structures.  Note the ten stamens.  Note also that each anther has a pair of reflexed awns.

Pterospora: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora and Flora of Alberta leading to this genus. 

stem with an enlarged bulb-like base

stem sticky

petals united; NOT [petals distinct]

raceme 1-3 dm long; NOT [flowers solitary or in a short raceme]

anthers with deflexed awns; NOT [anthers awnless]

 

Monotropaceae: Answers to key questions in Budd's Flora  leading to this family. 

herbs; NOT [shrubs or trees]

plants parasitic or saprophytic, without chlorophyll; NOT [plants green or with some chlorophyll]

plants growing out of soil or attached to roots of other plants; NOT [plants twining and attached to stems of other plants]

flowers with two floral rings, but with the petals wholly or partly united forming a tube or bell

corolla regular; NOT [corolla 2-lipped]

stamens 6-10; NOT [stamens 4]