snow plant

noun

a leafless, parasitic plant, Sarcodes sanguinea, of the pine forests of the Sierra Nevada in California, having a stout spike of bright red flowers, a thickly scaled stem, and a corallike mass of roots.

snow plant

a saprophytic plant, Sarcodes sanguinea, of mountain pine forests of W North America, having a fleshy scaly reddish stalk, no leaves, and pendulous scarlet flowers that are often produced before the snow melts: family Monotropaceae

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First recorded in 1840–50

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The snow-plant is a curiosity and attracts by its brilliancy of color.

The snow plant (Sarcodes sanguinea) is more admired by tourists than any other in California.

Most interesting of all is the snow-plant (sarcodes san-guinea Torrey).

Indian fire glowed red on the white expanse, blood on marble, and scarlet snow-plant sent up lurid spouts like flaming fountains.

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