skip to main content

Name That Plant!

Fungus? What is this?

8 years ago

Every year this delightful whatever-it-is pops up in our garden, about 7 feet from the base of a giant Douglas Fir tree. One of her friends said he feel sit is a fungus that grows on the root of the Douglas Fir, but another one says no way this is a fungus. Anyone know? (As my hand shows, it's about 5 inches off the ground.)

Thanks much.

Featured Answer

macranthos

8 years ago

I considered all of those and myself suggested the albino version of Epipactis helliborine above which is quite common in your area (the plant in general: albino specimens are quite rare). Take a picture of the flower buds and I'll be able to confirm. The albino orchids use their mycotrophic symbionts to fuel their brief sunburnt above-ground experience but usually don't make it to set seed.

Sort by:Oldest

Comments (8)

macranthos
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
The only thing I've ever seen that even comes close to your posting is an albino Epipactis helleborine in the forests of Santa Cruz. Yours does resemble an albino monocot of some sort to me rather than a fungus. Any chance we could have a closer photo showing real detail of the stem and or veination on the leaves... All of this is assuming that it isn't a plastic prank... Where are you located and what sort of siting is the thing experiencing (sun, shade, wet, dry, etc...)?
Samantha
8 years ago
Definitely not fungus. I wonder if this photo is taken right after leaves spread out? Or if it's expired/dried out? Does it eventually bloom?
Related Discussions
tom. fungus: what did I do wrong?
Q
Comments (3)
Absolutely from the re-used potting medium. One of the cardinal rules of in situ tomato culture is to change the planting site from year to year. The same goes for container growing. Bacterium and fungal spores remain in the soil. Thus, for disease free container culture, you need to begin anew every single year. Besides, the typical potting medium collapses after a few months, providing less porosity (the key to successful container growing) as time goes by.
...See More
How do I get rid of this weird fungus? What is it?
Q
Comments (1)
They look like wild Forrest mushrooms. Really does not matter what type they are the presence of wood lice (Rolly Polly) indicates it is decaying wood below the surface.
...See More
Granular Fungus? What is this??
Q
Comments (1)
The fruiting bodies of whatever species of fungus they belong to. Their presence just means conditions favor their happiness, so they show it by fruiting. Plants live side by side with thousands of species of fungi, most beneficial in the end, but not all are. Was all that sapwood in the pictures a part of the mix you used? Al
...See More
Lawn fungus/mushroom--What is it? How do I get rid of it?
Q
Comments (7)
Fungi are a fact of life. There are over 100,000 microbial species in your soil of which a very large fraction are fungi. As gardengal said, you will never be free of them and you don't want to be. Whether they are creating mushrooms is something else. You can minimize the mushrooms by proper watering. Watering: Deep and infrequent is the mantra for watering. This is for all turf grass all over the place. Deep means 1 inch all at one time. Put some cat food or tuna cans around the yard, and time how long it takes your sprinkler(s) to fill all the cans. Memorize that time. That will be the time you water from now on. My hose, sprinkler and water pressure takes 8 full hours to fill the cans. Your time will likely be less. I like gentle watering. As for watering frequency, that depends on the daytime air temperature. With temps in the 90s, deep water once per week. With temps in the 80s, deep water once every 2 weeks. With temps in the 70s, deep water once every 3 weeks. With temps below 70, deep water once a month. Note that you have to keep up with quickly changing temps in the spring and fall. This deep and infrequent schedule works in Phoenix and in Vermont, so it should work for you. The reason for deep and infrequent is to grow deeper, more drought resistant roots and to allow the soil to dry completely at the surface for several days before watering again. If it rains, reset your calendar to account for the rainfall.
...See More
Jordan Gruber
Original Author
8 years ago
This is as much as it blooms. And no, it is not a plastic prank. This is in an ordinary but very shady front yard of a Menlo Park home, about two miles in from the Bay, not far from the San Franscisquito Creek.

I can post more photos tomorrow. People on a FB plant identification site think it might be an albinoid orchid, or something like that.
Jordan Gruber
Original Author
8 years ago
Other things people on the FB group have thrown out include "some kind of kind of saprophyte like Monotropa (but not Monotropa)"; and " if parasitic, all that yellow suggests Orobanche...but this is still a guess"; and "I'm guessing a native orchid"; and "Monotropa hypopithys? Sometimes yellow sometimes pink"; and "It is an albinoid orchid. In the meantime I am pretty shure. Ask an orchid expert to confirm my proposition."

Only the last of these people seemed "pretty shure."
Jordan Gruber
Original Author
8 years ago

OK, here you go. The first 6 pictures are with a pretty good camera on macro, the last 3 are my iPhone. It's a tough spot to photograph, but it looks to me like the very last iPhone p;inure comes about closest to the true color.
Jordan Gruber
Original Author
8 years ago
These were all reduced size photos, but I can upload any of them you'd like to see in particular with a bigger file of the same thing.
macranthos
8 years ago
last modified: 8 years ago
I'd say almost certainly albino Epipactis helliborine. The arrangement of buds on the side and leaf arrangement are perfect. The flowers are the little tiny black dried up buds on the top of the stalk (which would usually elongate) just above each small leaf.

Related Stories

GARDENING GUIDES Edible Gardening Essentials: Tips for Traditional Hand Watering

By Marianne Lipanovich

Save the expense and hassle of a complicated garden system with a simple watering can or inexpensive hose add-ons

HEALTHY HOME What You Need to Know About Dust and How to Fight It

By Mitchell Parker

Breathe easier with these 10 tips for busting mites, dander and other microscopic undesirables

GARDENING GUIDES Pacific Northwest Gardener: What to Do in June

By Genevieve Schmidt

Now's the time to prune pines and vines, prevent pests and buy June-blooming plants to keep your garden healthy and beautiful

GARDENING GUIDES What to Plant Under Western Native Oak Trees

By Lauren Dunec Hoang

Keep your tree healthy by underplanting with ground covers, grasses, perennials and shrubs that thrive in dry summer conditions

GARDENING GUIDES Common Myths That May Be Hurting Your Garden

By J. Peterson Garden Design

Discover the truth about fertilizer, soil, staking and more to keep your plants healthy and happy

HOUSEPLANTS Indoor Winter Gardens for Cheerier Days

By Laura Gaskill

Bring plants inside for drab-days mood boosting — not to mention cleaner indoor air and protection for your greenery

MOST POPULAR How to Get Rid of Those Pesky Summer Fruit Flies

By Mitchell Parker

Learn what fruit flies are, how to prevent them and how to get rid of them in your home

WINTER GARDENING Pruning Secrets for Exquisite Roses

By Annie Thornton

Encourage gorgeous blooms year after year with this time-tested advice on how to prune your rosebush in winter for health and shape

HOUSEKEEPING To-Dos: Your July Home Checklist

By Laura Gaskill

Get your safety and housekeeping ducks in a row so you can splash into carefree summer fun

GARDENING GUIDES Great Design Plant: Corylus Americana Awakens the Woodland Garden

By Pollination Press LLC

Plant American hazelnut for three seasons of interest and to feed our furry and feathered friends

More Discussions

Can anyone ID this plant? PNW

9

Please Help Name This Plant / Weed (?)

2

ID, if you please

2

Pink Flowers in Flowerbed?

5

Is this iris Siberian or Louisiana? 7b

5