woodland pinedrops
Namewoodland pinedrops
Species NamePterospora andromedea
Common NameWoodland Pinedrops
Estimated Age (years)1
Geographic Originnorth-america
Cultivation Difficultyexpert
Trunk Featuresfleshy stalks, scale-covered
Height (cm)40
Is Floweringtrue
Notable FeaturesMycoheterotrophic plant, lacks chlorophyll, relies on fungi for nutrients, impossible to cultivate as a traditional bonsai due to its specialized ecological requirements.
Description
This specimen is Woodland Pinedrops (Pterospora andromedea), a mycoheterotrophic plant, not a bonsai. It displays multiple erect, reddish-brown stalks covered in scale-like bracts, each topped with a dense raceme of nodding, urn-shaped flowers. This plant lacks chlorophyll and relies entirely on symbiotic fungi for nutrients, making it impossible to cultivate as a traditional bonsai.
