The Group

Sometime the trail was hard to follow

Most of the trail was quite nice

There was a somewhat challenging stream corssing This bridge was about as safe as the Sellwood Bridge

The clouds spoiled the view

The falls were spectacular

Phantom Orchid
Also called:
Snow orchid

Scientific Name:
Cephalanthera austiniae

These are very rare and they should not be picked or disturbed

This is a mycoheterotrophic orchid. It has no chlorophyll, so it makes no energy for itself.

This orchid is a nonphotosynthetic parasite. It uses fungal intermediaries to withdraw nutrients from other plants. There is no direct contact of the parasite with its host plant. Instead, it is attached to a host indirectly through fungal intermediates.

The plant can stay dormant for years before sending out a new stem. It may bloom once and then go into remission for up to 17 years.

These are very rare and should not be picked or disturbed

Prunella vulgaris

Also called: Self heal or
Heal all

This plant is edible and the stems can be eaten raw in salads.

The plant can be powdered and brewed to make a beverage

It also supposedly has a multitude of medicinal qualities

Common names:
Indian pipe,
corpse plant goast plant

Scientific name:
Monotropa uniflora

Indian pipes do not contain chlorophyll. They are parasitic. They hosts are certain fungi that are mycorrhizal with trees. They get their energy from the photosynthetic in the trees. Since it is not dependent on sunlight to grow, it can grow in very dark environments