Photo by Daniel C. Nepstad

Key Characteristics

Tall parasitic plant (30-100 cm) of dry coniferous woods; stems dark red with sticky glands, bearing numerous scale-like leaves; inflorescence with numerous nodding, bell-shaped white flowers and dark red sepals.

Status and Rank

• State Status: T - Threatened (legally protected)
• State Rank: S2 - Imperiled
• Global Rank: G5 - Secure

Occurrences

County Name	Number of Occurrences	Year Last Observed
Alcona	1	1953
Alpena	2	1989
Antrim	1	1902
Baraga	1	2008
Chippewa	5	2001
Delta	1	1999
Dickinson	1	1981
Emmet	6	1999
Grand Traverse	1	1902
Iosco	2	1990
Keweenaw	9	2007
Leelanau	4	1992
Mackinac	4	2009
Marquette	2	1992
Mecosta	1	2006
Ontonagon	5	2008
Ottawa	1	1871
Presque Isle	5	1997
Schoolcraft	1	1929
St. Clair	2	1893

Information is summarized from MNFI's database of rare species and community occurrences. Data may not reflect true distribution since much of the state has not been thoroughly surveyed.

Natural Community Types

• Boreal forest
• Dry-mesic northern forest
• Dry northern forest
• Granite bedrock glade
• Wooded dune and swale complex

Associated Plants

Hemlock, white spruce, red pine, white pine, balsam fir, white cedar, large leaved aster, hepatica, spotted coral root, wintergreen, and various ferns.

Management

Pine-drops is dependent upon a fungus that forms mycorrhizal relationship with a forest tree. Preservation of an intact forest is necessary to maintain this relationship, but research is likely required to determine how forest management practices influence the growth and distribution of the species.

General Survey Guidelines

Random meander search covers areas that appear likely to have rare taxa, based on habitat and the judgment of the investigator.

Survey Methods

• Meander search

  Survey Period: From first week of June to fourth week of September

More Information

References

Survey References

• Goff, G.F., G.A. Dawson, and J.J. Rochow. 1982. Site examination for Threatened and Endangered plant species. Environmental Management 6(4): 307-316

• Nelson, J.R. 1984. Rare Plant Field Survey Guidelines. In: J.P. Smith and R. York. Inventory of rare and endangered vascular plants of California. 3rd Ed. California Native Plant Society, Berkeley. 174pp.

• Nelson, J.R. 1986. Rare Plant Surveys: Techniques For Impact Assessment. Natural Areas Journal 5(3):18-30.

• Nelson, J.R. 1987. Rare Plant Surveys: Techniques for Impact Assessment. In: Conservation and management of rare and endangered plants. Ed. T.S. Elias. California Native Plant Society, Sacramento. 8pp.

Technical References

• Gleason, H. A., and A. Cronquist. 1991. Manual of Vascular Plants of Northeastern United States and Adjacent Canada. Second edition. The New York Botanical Garden, Bronx. 910pp.

• Gray, A. 1950. Gray's Manual of Botany; eighth ed. Van Nostrand Reinghold, New York. 1632pp.

• Holmgren, N.H. 1998. Illustrated Companion to Gleason and Cronquist's Manual. Illustrations of the vascular plants of Northeastern United States and adjacent Canada. New York Botanical Garden, Bronx. 937pp.

• Scoggan, H.J. 1978. The Flora of Canada. National Museum of Natural Science Publications Botany 4: 1711pp.

• Voss, E.G. 1996. Michigan Flora. Part III. Dicots (Pyrolaceae-Compositae). Bulletin of the Cranbrook Institute of Science and University of Michigan Herbarium. 622pp.

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