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MONTANA FIELD GUIDE™

MONTANA FIELD GUIDE™

 

Giant Pinedrops - Pterospora andromedea

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Native Species

Global Rank: G5
State Rank: S4
(see State Rank Reason below)
C-value:


Agency Status
USFWS:
USFS:
BLM:


 





State Rank Reason (see State Rank above)
Pterospora andromedea is occasional in montane, conifer forests across Montana. Population levels are poorly documented but are likely robust enough that its viability is not a concern. Trends are also unknown but populations are likely relatively stable or experiencing only small declines. No significant and widespread threats to the species are known.
Giant Pinedrops (Pterospora andromedea) Conservation Status Summary
State Rank: S4
Review Date = 09/30/2026
See the complete Conservation Status Rank Report
How we calculate Conservation Status Ranks
CC BY NC
 
General Description
Achlorophyllous, mycotrophic, perennial herb. Stems erect, unbranched, to 170 cm, dark reddish-brown, densely glandular hairy; stalks hardened, persistent, drying dark brown. Leaves scale-like, alternate, sessile, lance-shaped, reddish-brown. Inflorescence a crowded, elongate, terminal raceme of numerous, nodding flowers. Flowers hypogynous, 5-merous; calyx lobes linear-lanceolate, red, glandular-hairy; corolla urn-shaped, lobes revolute, yellowish, glabrous; stamens 10; ovary superior. Fruit a globose, 5-chambered capsule (Stickney in Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).

Species Range
Montana Range Range Descriptions
Range in Montana
Montana Natural Heritage Program Logo
Native
 


Range Comments
Western North America from British Columbia to Saskatchewan south to California and west Texas and disjunct in the east from from Ontario to Prince Edward Island south to Wisconsin and New Hampshire (historical) (Kartesz 1999). May also occur in Sonora.

Observations in Montana Natural Heritage Program Database
Number of Observations: 273
(Click on the following maps and charts to see full sized version)
Relative Density

Recency

 

(Observations spanning multiple months or years are excluded from time charts)



Habitat
Drier, coniferous forests; valleys, montane (Stickney in Lesica et al. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. BRIT Press. Fort Worth, TX).


References
  • Literature Cited AboveLegend:   View Online Publication
    • Lesica, P., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2012. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 771 p.
  • Additional ReferencesLegend:   View Online Publication
    Do you know of a citation we're missing?
    • DuBois, K.L. 1979. An inventory of the avifauna in the Long Pines of Southeastern Montana. M.Sc. Thesis. Bozeman, MT: Montana State University. 113 p.
    • Jones, W. W. 1901. Preliminary flora of Gallatin County. M.S. Thesis. Bozeman, MT: Montana State College. 78 pp.
    • Lesica, P., M.T. Lavin, and P.F. Stickney. 2022. Manual of Montana Vascular Plants, Second Edition. Fort Worth, TX: BRIT Press. viii + 779 p.
  • Web Search Engines for Articles on "Giant Pinedrops"
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Citation for data on this website:
Giant Pinedrops — Pterospora andromedea.  MONTANA FIELD GUIDE™.  .  Retrieved on , from