Sarcodes

Sarcodes sanguinea

Sarcodes sanguinea is the only species of the genus Sarcodes of the family Ericaceae ( Ericaceae ).

Description

Sarcodes sanguinea is a chlorophyll -less, myco - heterotrophic, perennial herbaceous plant, plant height usually 15 to 30 (rarely to 50) cm reached. It is manned with multicellular glandular hairs. Their roots are fibrous, the burgeoning of them shoot and inflorescence axis is red to orange. The leaves are simple.

The unbranched inflorescence is many flowered. The five petals are bell-shaped, at the base weak saccular. The five free sepals are 10 to 15 mm long. The five 12 to 18 mm long petals are fused bell-shaped to about three-quarters of its length. The ten stamens are two-thirds as long as the crown. The extended 3 to 4 mm long anthers and spurred short, end up with clearly marked slots. The nectaries are lobulated low. Five carpels are fused into a superior ovaries. The stylus is 3-8 mm long, ending in a five-lobed stigma.

The capsule opens fruit irregularly and has a diameter of 1 to 2.5 cm. The thick-walled seeds are ovoid and approximately 0.7 to 0.9 mm long; they are reddish brown when ripe.

The chromosome number is 2n = 64

Dissemination

The species is found in western North America from Oregon and California to Mexico ( Baja California) at altitudes 1070-3050 meters.

System

Species and genus were first described in 1853 by John Torrey.

Evidence

• P. F. Stevens et al. Ericaceae. In: Klaus Kubitzki (ed.): The Families and Genera of Vascular Plants - Volume VI - Flowering Plants - Dicotyledons - Celastrales, Oxalidales, Rosales, Cornales, Ericales. 2004, pp. 167, ISBN 978-3-540-06512-8
• James L. Reveal: Sarcodes sanguinea for the Flora of Western North America - Online, 2000