Sarcodes sanguinea is a striking and relatively well known member of subfamily Monotropoideae that grows in California and southern Oregon (see below). On my last field trip to northern California in late May, this species was blooming in full force!
The flowers of S. sanguinea are incredible. All perianth parts are bright red, just like the rest of the plant. Only the carpels are light colored! The flowers also produce copious amounts of nectar, which began oozing out as soon as I sliced the flowers in half. Check out the anthers of this plant– pollen is released through an apical slit-like pore. Fancy, right? How do you think these are pollinated– by bees or by hummingbirds?
Doyel, B. E. and L. M. Goss. 1941. Some details of the reproductive structures of Sarcodes. Madroño 6(1): 1-7.
Wallace, G. D. 1975. Studies of the Monotropoideae (Ericaceae): taxonomy and distribution. The Wasmann Journal of Biology 33(1 and 2).
Jolles Lab 
Isn’t it interesting that most people think of “plants” as green. Sarcodes looks like it belongs on another planet! Love it.
Nice post on a neat plant Diana! Nice sections of the flower also!
You wouldn’t believe how much nectar these flowers produce!!